URPoint Details
Joseph Arch was born 10 November 1826 in Barford and started work at the age of nine as a crow-scarer, working 12 hours a day. Afterwards he became a plough-boy, progressing to mastery of all-round skills, which enabled him to move around the Midlands and South Wales, earning a reasonable wage. At the same time he observed the terrible conditions in which the majority of agricultural labours lived.
He played a key role in unionising agricultural workers and in championing their welfare. On 29 May 1872 in Leamington he founded the National Agricultural Labourers' Union. He became its president and subscriptions were set at twopence a week.
He was a member of the United Kingdom Parliament for North West Norfolk from 1885 to 1886.
Retiring from Parliament before the 1900 General Election, Arch returned to his home in Barford, where he continued to live until his death nineteen years later on the 12 February 1919 (aged 92).
- Type:
- Famous Locals