In Praise of Mischief
Below is an article adaptation of Paul Crofts’ 2013 blog post “In Praise of Mischief: the Wellingborough Diggers of 1649”, including an image of the original Digger Declaration from 1649. The image represents the outline of the Diggers’ vision and ideals.
The orginal blog can be found here: https://paulcrofts.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-praise-of-mischief-wellingborough.html?m=1
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In Praise of Mischief: The Wellingborough Diggers of 1649
Seeds of Disruption
In titling his reflection “in praise of mischief,” Paul Crofts intentionally evokes the language used by the authorities of the time to describe the Diggers. In a letter dated April 15, 1649, addressed to Mr. Pentlow, Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire, the government warned of “the mischief these designs tend to, and of the necessity to proceed effectively against them.” This framing reveals how threatening even simple acts—like sowing seeds on common land—were perceived by the ruling powers.
Who Were the Wellingborough Diggers?
With actions as straightforward as digging, fertilizing, and sowing crops on communal lands known as Bareshanks, the Wellingborough Diggers boldly asserted their right to cultivate the earth for communal sustenance. Facing starvation and increasing poverty—one declaration notes families of five to nine people unable to feed themselves, with begging fruitless and theft punishable by death—their desperation was the catalyst for radical action.
A Vision Rooted in Divine Justice
Their motivation and philosophical grounding came from a spiritual belief that the Earth was made by God “for the use and comfort of all mankind.” They rejected private property as corrupt and contrary to divine intention, arguing that no one had the exclusive right to land. This perspective was framed as a moral imperative rooted in Scripture and reinforced by Parliament's acts opposing monarchy and advocating for a commonwealth.
Suppression and Legacy
The experiment was short-lived. Local authorities, acting on Cromwell’s government's instructions, swiftly suppressed the Diggers. Leaders were arrested on charges of riot and affray, and the Wellingborough community was dismantled soon after. Yet, while their physical settlement failed, their ideas endured—echoing through centuries as a vision for a society without exploitation, embracing equality, environmental respect, and communal ownership.
Why “Mischief” Matters
What was perceived as dangerous was not the act itself but the radical ideas beneath: communal land use, spiritual egalitarianism, and resistance to private property. The term “mischief,” deployed by authorities, speaks volumes about what they feared most—movements that reimagined society’s foundation.
From Past to Present
Paul Crofts draws a powerful parallel between the Diggers’ cause and modern movements like Occupy or UK Uncut, Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil and more recently Palestine Action —groups challenging systemic injustice through direct action, often deemed disruptive by those in power. We owe a debt of inspiration to the Diggers’ “ragged band”—to carry forward their vision of a fairer world.
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An image of the Wellingborough Diggers’ original declaration of 1649 can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rSXcXbQimN7EoWxaA
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This post has largely been generated by ChatGTP with amendments.
Paul Crofts
15.8.2025