Little Heath

The Diggers are usually remembered for their action on St George's Hill, but after being violently evicted from there they wrote:

In Cobham on the little Heath our
digging there goes on
And all our friends they live in love, as if
they were but one.

Here they enjoyed more success: eleven acres were cultivated, six houses built, winter crops harvested, and several influential pamphlets published.

Their numbers also increased, and among those whose names first appear at this time are Anthony Wren and the noted London poet Robert Coster.

If the Diggers hoped for less hostility here than at St George's Hill they were disappointed. Parson John Platt, lord of the manor of Cobham, after professing sympathy with them became their chief enemy. He organised gangs to attack the Diggers and their crops and houses. He also used his power as landlord to prevent local people from supporting them.

When the pressure became intense early in 1650 two Diggers set out from here to visit other communities in the south and midlands to appeal for support and funds. They eventuall reached Wellingborough where they were arrested. In April Parson Platt and the landowners finally drove the Diggers from Little Heath.