An English politician, born in Barford, Warwickshire he played a key role in unionising agricultural workers and in championing their welfare

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Joseph Arch began his campaign in Wellesbourne in February 1872, to improve life and conditions for the agricultural labourer

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In April 1872 Arch held the first meeting of what would become the Oxford District of the National Agricultural Labourers’ Union on the Green at Milton and fifty men joined there and then. By the end of May over 500 men in the area, divided amongst 13 branches, had become members and amongst that number must have been labourers from Ascott.