Tony Benn will unveil Peasants’ Revolt plaque at Highbury Barn Tavern

Published: 3rd June, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

FORMER Labour minister Tony Benn will unveil a plaque commemorating a rally in Islington by the people who led the Peasants’ Revolt. 

Rebelling peasants led by Wat Tyler and Jack Straw held their final major rally in Highbury in June 1381.

Now, residents have voted to commemorate the event with the first Islington People’s Plaque, which will be unveiled at Highbury Barn Tavern on Saturday, June 11.

In 1381, the rebels were objecting to an unpopular poll tax introduced by Richard II. Opposition to the tax started in Essex and Kent, but soon spread to London, with villagers marching on the city and storming the Tower of London. 

Several officials were beheaded by the peasants, including Sir Robert Hales, the Lord Treasurer, who was in charge of collecting tax. 

Hales was Prior of St John of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell, which was burnt to the ground by the rebels. An estimated 20,000 insurgents then converged at Highbury and destroyed Highbury Manor, Hales’s fine residence.

The revolt was ultimately crushed and the leaders executed, but for many years afterwards the ruins of Highbury Manor were known as “Jack Straw’s Castle”. Although the revolt failed to achieve its stated aims, it did succeed in showing the nobles that the peasants were dissatisfied and that they were capable of wreaking havoc. 

Mr Benn and Islington Council Labour leader Catherine West will unveil the green plaque.

Mr Benn said: “The Peasants’ Revolt was one of the early examples of a long series of public campaigns to secure freedom and democracy in Britain and can be loosely compared to the Arab Spring, which is now transforming the politics of the Middle East. 

“In recalling its importance we are celebrating a great moment in our long political history.”

The People’s Plaque unveiling is at 2pm on June 11 at Highbury Barn Tavern in Highbury Park.