St. George's Hill
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St. George's Hill:
St. George's Hill was the site of the most famous community started by the Diggers. It existed from April to August 1649.
Digging the waste:
On Sunday, 1st. April 1649, a group of poor people moved on to the uncultivated common land at St. George's Hill in the parish of Walton-on-Thames. (That they began on a Sunday may well have been a provocative rejection of traditional christian piety.) They began to dig, and sow the land with corn, parsnips, carrots and beans. They had the aim of working together, sharing food and living together communally. At the same time, they prepared their manifesto. This was sent to the printers on the 20th. "The True Levellers Standard Advanced" explained their reasons for the action and was signed by Gerrard Winstanley and 14 other Diggers. It appeared on the 26th April, and was later published without comment in the Levellers' newspaper, "The Moderate". The Diggers' numbers soon reached between 20 and 30. The original 15 Diggers had invited all poor people to come and join them, proposing a communal economy where all members would be entitled to food, drink and clothing. They hoped to become a large group in a short period. St.George's Hill was just outside London, and within fairly easy reach of any poor person who might have been interested in joining the community. Kingston, the nearest town, had a long radical tradition, and the Diggers may have hoped for support from there too.
Military non-intervention:
The local gentry and land-owners were very concerned, taking the intentions of the Diggers seriously. They called on the Council of State for military assistance. The Council delegated General Fairfax to send a couple of troops to check what was happening. The officer who reported to Fairfax took the threat of the Diggers less seriously. Nonetheless, on 20th April, two of the leading members of the group, Winstanley and William Everard, were brought before Fairfax. They told the general that their intention was to cultivate the waste lands as a communal group, but would restrict themselves to what was common and uncultivated. They hoped that the poor everywhere would follow their example, and that land-owners would also see the sense of their community and give up their land and join in communal production. Fairfax saw no reason to act, but visited St.George's Hill at the end of May to see what was going on. He spoke to Winstanley, who told him that the Diggers had no intention of using force. This expression of non-violence was important. In April 1649, there had been mutinies in the army when soldiers were demobilized without payment of arrears. The rebellious regiments had been defeated at Burford (Oxfordshire) on 14th. May, and some of the leaders had been executed. The Diggers wanted to avert any possible military repression.
Repression:
The local gentry continued to see the Diggers as a threat. More than once, they sent men to raid the community. Crops and huts were destroyed, horses killed and people beaten up. As a reaction to the repression, the Diggers published a second manifesto, "A Declaration from the Poor oppressed People of England". Furthermore, the Diggers were taken to court for trespass, where they were condemned unheard because they had refused to hire an attorney. They could not pay the fines and court costs, so their property was distrained. Winstanley's cows changed hand many times and took on a symbolic meaning for him.
The end at St. George's Hill:
Due to the repression, the Diggers decided to move to a site at Cobham Heath, a mile or two away. The colony at St. George's Hill was abandoned at some time in or before August 1649.
Sources:
Intoduction to "Winstanley:The Law of Freedom" by Christopher Hill, Penguin Books, 1973.
Wikipedia.
Etexts:
"The True Levellers Standard Advanced"
2nd Manifesto: "A declaration from the poor oppressed people of England."
External Links:
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