Dover and the ‘Captain Swing’ Rebellion, 1830-31
On Christmas Eve 1830, seven prisoners were removed from Dover Town Gaol and taken to a convict hulk at Gosport, the first stage of their journey to Van Diemen’s Land, today’s Tasmania.
The draconian sentences were part of attempts to repress a massive movement of agricultural labourers that swept southern, eastern and central England. Known today as Captain Swing – the signature on menacing letters sent to farmers and landowners – the movement was a rebellion against poverty, unemployment, threshing machines and the workhouse.
In this talk, John Bulaitis outlines events in and around Dover, which were crucial in the genesis and evolution of the Swing revolt.
John Bulaitis was senior lecturer in History at Canterbury Christ Church University. His book, The Tithe War in England and Wales (Boydell & Brewer, 2024) won the 2025 Joan Thirsk Memorial Prize for the best book on British and Irish rural history.
Free to members and non members of The Dover Society.
Raffle and refreshments on the night.