BattlefieldsPeasants Revolt — Storming of Maidstone Gaol 1381
Medieval

Peasants Revolt — Storming of Maidstone Gaol 1381

1381
Kent, England
Also known as: Maidstone 1381 · Wat Tyler frees John Ball at Maidstone
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown authorities at Maidstone
Forces
c. 50-100 gaol guards
VS
Victor
Kentish rebels (Wat Tyler)
Forces
c. 1000-2000 Kentish rebels
Outcome
Maidstone gaol stormed; John Ball freed; rebel army swelled; march to London began
The Battle

History & Significance

The Kentish rising under Wat Tyler marched on Maidstone where John Ball, the radical itinerant priest who had been imprisoned for years for his preaching, was freed from gaol. John Ball preached the famous sermon containing the rhyme 'When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?' Ball's release gave the revolt its ideological voice and the movement swelled dramatically. From Maidstone the rebel army marched to Blackheath on the Thames.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Kent

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Kent