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On Christmas Eve 1830, a huge crowd assembled on Penenden Heath to witness the execution of William and Henry Packman, two young brothers from Blean (near Canterbury). A third man, William Dyke from Bearsted, also met the hangman. The same day, seven prisoners were removed from Dover Town Gaol and taken to a convict ship for transportation to Australia.
The draconian sentences were part of attempts to repress a massive movement of agricultural labourers that was sweeping 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 Kent, 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 of Charge
The Kent History and Library Centre is situated just off the A229 Medway to Maidstone Road (Royal Engineers Way), by the White Rabbit Roundabout on the edge of Maidstone Town Centre.
Arriva bus 101 stops outside the Centre. Maidstone East (10 minutes) and Maidstone Barracks (15 minutes) railway stations are short walks away.
| Season (12 Oct 2026) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday | 13:00 | - 14:00 |
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