Here the notorious Judge Jeffreys tried 542 people in one day in 1685 for joining the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion against King James II, and all but one, were convicted and 94 executed.
The Blue Plaque on Barclays bank in Wells Market Place was unveiled by manager Alison Potter, after a witty poem read by Town Crier Len Sweales.
The plaque records how the notorious Judge Jeffreys came to Wells and tried 542 people in one day in 1685 for joining the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion against King James II. All but one, were convicted and 94 executed.
“It is good to take part in celebrating and recording the history of Wells,” said Alison Potter before unveiling the plaque. “We had comments from people even before the plaque was unveiled. The Duke of Monmouth was the Protestant illegitimate son of Charles II. When Charles died, his Roman Catholic brother James II ascended the throne, but was unpopular and Monmouth used this as an opportunity to overthrow the King and claim the crown for himself. However his army, which reached 6,000 men at one stage was mainly formed of poor armed peasants and were soundly defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor at Westonzoyland in Somerset.
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