In the late-19th century, the National briefly became one of the biggest trade unions in the country as tens of thousands of farmworkers joined together to contest their conditions. It is usually associated with two places: Barford, the home of its leader Joseph Arch; and Wellesbourne, the site where Arch first rallied his fellow labourers. What is less well-known is that they were headquartered in Leamington and regularly had large meetings just across from the Pump Room. This talk explores the National’s ties to the town and their impact upon the countryside.
