Mass trespass of Kinder Scout
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The mass trespass of Kinder Scout was a notable act of willful trespass by ramblers. It was undertaken at Kinder Scout, in the Peak District of England, on 24 April 1932, to highlight weaknesses in English law of the time. This denied walkers in England or Wales access to areas of open country, and to public footpaths which, in previous ages (and today), formed public rights of way. Political and conservation activist Benny Rothman was one of the principal leaders.
A commemorative plaque now marks the start of the trespass at Bowden Bridge quarry near Hayfield (which is now a popular area for ramblers). This was unveiled in April 1982 by an aged Benny Rothman during a rally to mark the 50th anniversary. The trespass proceeded via William Clough to the plateau of Kinder Scout, where there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. The ramblers were able to reach their destination and meet with another group. On the return, five ramblers were arrested, with another detained earlier. Trespass was not, and still is not, a criminal offence in any part of Britain, but some would receive jail sentences of two to six months for offences relating to violence against the keepers.
The mass trespass had a far-reaching impact, some of which is still playing out today. Eventually, changes in the law would allow all citizens access to public footpaths (and bridleways and byways), regardless of whether they crossed private land. This culminated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which legislates rights to walk on mapped access land (see Open Country). Some people might call this a right to roam although this is a misnomer, as the rights only apply to mapped access land, and not gardens or fields everywhere. The phase right to roam truly refers to a campaign by the Ramblers Association in the 1990s, which has subsequently been adopted by the media. Introducing the CROW Act 2000 was a key promise in the New Labour manifesto which brought them to power in 1997.
Ewan MacColl, the poet and folk singer, celebrated these events in his song The Manchester Rambler, and it is also the subject of the song "You Can (Mass Tresspass, 1932)" on Chumbawamba's 2005 album A Singsong and a Scrap.
[edit] See also
[edit] Bibliography
- Rothman, B. (1982) 1932 Kinder Trespass: Personal View of the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass ISBN 0-9506043-7-2
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kinder Scout |
- Newspaper report of the mass trespass
- Website about the event which includes the lyrics of the "Manchester Rambler"
- Right To Roam Act of Parliament (explained by BBC News)
- Newspaper clipping of the first Act of Parliament to arise from the mass trespass - the Access to Mountains Act 1939
- Article on Benny Rothman from WCML website
- Details of Benny Rothman archives at WCML
