This weekend I was at a festival in Wellingborough.Though not a town known on the festival circuit this was an excellent event. The day commemorated the actions of a collection of 17th century activists, the Wellingborough Diggers.
Most famous of these was Gerrard Winstanley who came to represent the group. He and his followers believed in equality and called themselves the 'True Levellers' cultivating common land to feed the poor. By challenging the enclosures and rights of landlords they set themselves against the establishment in a chaotic post-Civil-War period.
Though the Diggers were ultimately driven off the land their efforts had a long-term impact. By suggesting that men shouldn't rule over men and that wages and property should be abolished, they can be seen as some of the first English socialists and communists. Their connection with the land has also suggested a Green connection and they were certainly anarchist in action, their behaviour copied by modern Guerrilla Gardeners.
But what of the festival? In keeping with the socialist theme the performers all were political, being verbal and musical. They were all great, but for me The Mobbs stood out for their contradictions (Hipster looks and punk music) while Attila the Stokebroker and Plumhall gave the most memorable performances. Alan (V for Vendetta) Moore was quirky and fascinating. Without a single note or prop he gave an amusing talk for an hour about Northampton's history. Quite a feat.
And what would the original Diggers have made of it? With all the drinking, dancing and singing-along it was a great event though it may have been a little too loud for some 17th century ears. But at the end of it all there was a feeling that we were some kind of community. That we had come together around a common purpose.
And I think Winstanley and his friends would have liked that.