Glastonbury's rebel past brought to life at Tribunal

By Laura Linham 2nd Sep 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Glastonbury's rather bloody links to one of England's most notorious rebellions will be brought back to life this weekend at the town's Tribunal.

A special event on Sunday, 6 September will look at the Glastonbury men who followed the Duke of Monmouth during his failed rebellion against King James II in 1685 — and the grim consequences which followed defeat.

The Monmouth Rebellion ended at the Battle of Sedgemoor, near Bridgwater, where Monmouth's forces were decisively beaten.

For men from Glastonbury who had joined the rebellion, defeat was only the beginning.

The aftermath brought the Bloody Assizes, the series of trials overseen by Judge Jeffreys which became infamous for the harsh punishments handed down to those accused of supporting Monmouth.

The event at Glastonbury Tribunal will explore the stories of local men who followed the rebel duke and were condemned to die after the uprising collapsed.

It will also look at what happened to those wounded during the fighting, including the role of the barber-surgeon in caring for injured men at a time when medicine was rather less reassuring than a trip to today's GP.

The Tribunal itself provides a fitting setting for the event.

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Standing on Glastonbury High Street, the medieval building is one of the town's most distinctive historic landmarks and today houses the Glastonbury Lake Village Museum.

The Monmouth Rebellion remains one of the darkest episodes in Somerset's history, with the county providing significant support for Monmouth after he landed in the West Country in an attempt to seize the throne.

His defeat at Sedgemoor in July 1685 was followed by executions, imprisonment and transportation for many of those who had backed him.

For Glastonbury, Sunday's event offers a chance to look beyond the national story and focus on what that upheaval meant for people from the town itself.

The Monmouth Rebellion event takes place at Glastonbury Tribunal, High Street, on Sunday, 6 September.