One dawn, in the bitter February of 1834, six Tolpuddle farm labourers were arrested after forming a trade union. A frightened squire’s trumped up charges triggered one of the most celebrated stories in the history of human rights. That dawn arrest created the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were punished with transportation as convicts to Australia. Every third Sunday in July the museum holds the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival. Summer: Tuesday-Sunday. Please phone for winter opening.