July 1999: Robert Kett – The Rebels Return

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  •   Latest info: Diggers 350 email list archive   http://www.egroups.com/group/diggers350
  • Kett’s 1999 Occupation of David Rice Hospital, Norwich  –   contact details:
  • Thursday 15th July – Latest
  •   Ketts claim hospital as common land
  •   Work begins on Kett memorial
  •   Police request activists’ assistance
  •   If you want to come and stay

    Contact details:

      Rory/Linda site mobile (0961) 460 171

      Rory Kett: 01523 773915 (pager)   Greta: 01603 484412

      Email  kett99@hotmail.com


    Thu 15 Jul 1999 Kett camp latest

      Kett camp, David Rice Hospital, Drayton High Road, Drayton, Norwich.

    So far we haven’t recieved a court summons from the NHS trust which claims to ‘own’ the site.

    Quite a bit of good regional media coverage for TLIO.

    Chestnut tree planted and work started on marble memorial to Robert Kett and the thousands killed resisting loss of commons.

    Good local support for our action.

    Have done some clearing of vandalism debris from buildings on site. weather good, come down and get a tan!!!

      Objectives achieved…

    Commerate Kett…Done Create arena for public debate of issues re land use…Done Have a memorial…Done Let people know TLIO Norfolk exists…Done Act as catalyst and focus for locals…Done

    Even if we are evicted soon we can say this has been worth the effort, also got some good leads on useful tat for further TLIO actions.

      Other events and bits of info:

    Local police asked us to keep eye on neighbouring land.

    ‘Common Lot’ theater group coming to site on Saturday 17th they say it’s best thing happening in Norwich.

    Public meeting re site organised & ‘open day’ with display boards etc.

    Increasing offers of help from locals.

    1st letter of support in local papers today.

    Apologies for spelling but as I’m sure you’ll appreciate we’ve been working like crazy here and so head not too clear at present.

    Rory Bowskill, Norfolk TLIO.


    Ketts claim hospital as common land

      12 July 1999

    Over 20 landrights activists have occupied the 20-acre site of the former David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich.

    To mark the 450th anniveresary of Kett’s rebellion (see note 1) against enclosure of common land, three days ago (Saturday 10 July) The Land Is Ours set up camp in the grounds of the old NHS hospital. As well as the state of disrepair of the building, the

    Activists at the camp intend to stay until, as they see it, there is a positive result for the use of this land. The TLIO Norfolk Group contact, Rory Bowskill, said: “The squandering of this potential resource would be a travesty where there is a deficit

    Campaigners have already cordoned around the building with security tape to warn the public of safety hazards in the derelict old hospital. The NHS trust have failed to carry out this measure themselves.

    The Land Is Ours have made the link between the landrights struggles of Kett’s rebellion and present day issues of homelessness and public access to land.

    Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171

      Notes to editors:

    1 During a two-month fight in 1549 to defend their rights to common land, four thousand people died while destroying fences erected under the Enclosures. “Part of the timing of this action is to pay tribuite to those who died at that time,” said Mr Bowskill.


    Work begins on Kett memorial

      Handcarved marble plaque to Norfolk’s missing dead

    13 July 1999

    Activists from The Land Is Ours Norfolk Group and East Anglia region have begun work on a permanent memorial to Robert Kett.

    Occupants of ‘Kett Camp’ at the former David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich have planted a chestnut tree as a living memorial. They are also making a marble plaque to be left on the site. The inscription will read “1549 Remeber Robert Kett, 1999 The Land

    Camp spokesman Rory Bowskill said: “As the threat of eviction from this site grows nearer we feel the need to honour those who died defending their rights.”

    It is hoped that the tree and stone will remind local people of the thousands of East Anglians who lost their lives in 1549 for resisting being forced from their land as part of the enclosures.

    Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171

      Notes to editors:

    1 During a two-month fight in 1549 to defend their rights to common land, thousands of people died while destroying fences erected under the Enclosures.


    Police request activists’ assistance

    13 July 1999

    Norfolk Police have this afternoon requested help from land rights campaigners to maintain a watch on neighbouring fields to deter poachers.

    Land rights activists from The Land Is Ours camped in the grounds of the David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich, today received a request to keep watch over adjacent land.

    Group spokesman Rory Bowskill said: “This request not only validates our statement that we will be providing greater security at the site, but also can be seen as vindicating how we are viewed by the local community.”

    As some members of the camp are also involved with animal rights issues, there was no hesitation in offering full co-operation in this matter.

    Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171


    If you want to come and stay at the site please bring:

    Food, plate/bowl/mug etc, tools (household & gardening), tarps / polythene sheeting, good boots and gloves, rope, screws, nails and anything else useful

     

    ========= was http://www.tlio.org.uk/campaigns/kett/kett_returns.html

a landrights campaign for Britain

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