Dartford, DA1 - High St

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 30 Sep 2012

Bullace Lane, off the A226 (High Street), that runs along one side of The Wat Tyler pub. This is said to be one of the halts of Walter "Wat" Tyler (1341-81), leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381, on his way from Kent to London. Reacting to the introduction of an oppressive poll tax that King Richard II had imposed because insufficient income had been collected during the previous year, Tyler led a mixed group including peasants, craftsmen and tradesmen and entered the city of London at the head of a rabble of over 50,000 souls. After crossing London Bridge without any resistance the rebels gained entry to the Tower of London and captured Simon Sudbury, the unpopular Archbishop of Canterbury and behead him and several of his followers. During subsequent rioting, the rebels also destroyed the Savoy palace that belonged to John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster (the king's uncle). Richard II agreed to meet the leaders of the revolt and listen to their demands. Wat Tyler decided to ride to meet the king alone and parley with him but the unarmed leader was suddenly attacked without warning and killed by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Walworth, and John Cavendish, a member of the king's group. This unprovoked betrayal of the truce flag and the death of Tyler's threw the rabble into a panic. Not being organized as a military force, they broke ranks and fleed for their lives.

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