Joseph Arch
Encyclopedia
Joseph Arch was an English
politician, born in Barford, Warwickshire
who played a key role in what Karl Marx
called the "Great awakening" of the agricultural workers in 1872.
The first spark of resistance came from a brave band of agricultural workers at Weston under Wetherley
, who wrote a letter to the local newspaper, setting forth their small earnings and suggesting that farm labourers' pay be raised to at least two shillings and sixpence a day.
An initial meeting was held on 7 February and a meeting was agreed for the following week on of 14 February 1872. Expecting fewer than thirty in the Stag's Head public house in Wellesbourne
, Arch found on his arrival that there were over 2,000 agricultural labourers present to hear him speak, on a dark, wet, winter night, the labourers holding flickering lanterns on bean poles to illuminate the proceedings.
On 21 February under the chestnut tree in Wellesbourne it was agreed to elect a committee. The committee met at the old farmhouse of John Lewis in Wellesbourne.
Reg Groves states "Here by the light of a solitary lamp, the committee members sat on the old farmhouse chairs or stood on the stone-flagged floor round the table, compiling the list of newly-joined members, counting the union funds heaped in two large tea cups - and discussing ways and means of building the union."
On Good Friday, 29 March 1872, farm workers from all parts of South Warwickshire met in Leamington to form the Warwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union.
On 29 May 1872 in Leamington the National Agricultural Labourers Union was established; Arch became its president and subscriptions were set at twopence a week.
A rise then came in the wages of agricultural labourers; this had the unforeseen effect of destroying the union for labourers, who, deeming their object gained, ceased to agitate. Later, lock-outs of union members by farm owners became widespread.
The union finally collapsed in 1896 but was resurrected as the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
in 1906.
Arch nevertheless retained sufficient popularity to be re-elected to parliament for North-West Norfolk as a Liberal
in 1885; and though defeated next year owing to his policy regarding Irish Home Rule, he regained his seat in 1892, and held it in 1895, retiring in 1900. He was said to be well respected in the House of Commons
.
Such were the “messiah” qualities of Arch that many self-respecting union-minded agricultural labourers would display a portrait of Arch in their homes.
There used to be a poem recited by the labourers which went:
- presumably because the labourers felt he had abandoned them when he became an MP.
However a more popular song of the time sung by the labourers had a chorus of
"Joe Arch he raised his voice,
'twas for the working men,
Then let us all rejoice and say,
We'll all be union men"
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
politician, born in Barford, Warwickshire
Barford, Warwickshire
Barford is a village and civil parish in the Warwick district of Warwickshire, England, about three miles south of Warwick. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,171...
who played a key role in what Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
called the "Great awakening" of the agricultural workers in 1872.
Biography
Arch had become a well-respected and experienced agricultural worker, and Primitive Methodist preacher and it was to him that the agricultural workers turned.The first spark of resistance came from a brave band of agricultural workers at Weston under Wetherley
Weston under Wetherley
Weston-Under-Wetherley, often known by locals as just "Weston" is a village and civil parish in Warwickshire, UK. It is found on the B4453, 3 miles north east of the closest town, Royal Leamington Spa. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 the village had a population of 454 living in 164...
, who wrote a letter to the local newspaper, setting forth their small earnings and suggesting that farm labourers' pay be raised to at least two shillings and sixpence a day.
An initial meeting was held on 7 February and a meeting was agreed for the following week on of 14 February 1872. Expecting fewer than thirty in the Stag's Head public house in Wellesbourne
Wellesbourne
Wellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of the UK. In the 2001 census the parish, which also includes the village of Walton, had a population of 5,691 Wellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire,...
, Arch found on his arrival that there were over 2,000 agricultural labourers present to hear him speak, on a dark, wet, winter night, the labourers holding flickering lanterns on bean poles to illuminate the proceedings.
On 21 February under the chestnut tree in Wellesbourne it was agreed to elect a committee. The committee met at the old farmhouse of John Lewis in Wellesbourne.
Reg Groves states "Here by the light of a solitary lamp, the committee members sat on the old farmhouse chairs or stood on the stone-flagged floor round the table, compiling the list of newly-joined members, counting the union funds heaped in two large tea cups - and discussing ways and means of building the union."
On Good Friday, 29 March 1872, farm workers from all parts of South Warwickshire met in Leamington to form the Warwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union.
On 29 May 1872 in Leamington the National Agricultural Labourers Union was established; Arch became its president and subscriptions were set at twopence a week.
A rise then came in the wages of agricultural labourers; this had the unforeseen effect of destroying the union for labourers, who, deeming their object gained, ceased to agitate. Later, lock-outs of union members by farm owners became widespread.
The union finally collapsed in 1896 but was resurrected as the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.It was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham on 20 July 1906...
in 1906.
Arch nevertheless retained sufficient popularity to be re-elected to parliament for North-West Norfolk as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
in 1885; and though defeated next year owing to his policy regarding Irish Home Rule, he regained his seat in 1892, and held it in 1895, retiring in 1900. He was said to be well respected in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
Such were the “messiah” qualities of Arch that many self-respecting union-minded agricultural labourers would display a portrait of Arch in their homes.
There used to be a poem recited by the labourers which went:
- Joseph Arch he stole a march,
- Upon a spotted cow.
- He scampered off to Parliament,
- But where is Joseph now?
- presumably because the labourers felt he had abandoned them when he became an MP.
However a more popular song of the time sung by the labourers had a chorus of
"Joe Arch he raised his voice,
'twas for the working men,
Then let us all rejoice and say,
We'll all be union men"