The Beanfield

In time for the 40th Anniversary of the Beanfield (1 June 2025), when the army and police brutally attacked a convoy of people heading to Stonehenge for the annual free festival in 1985, we are releasing hours of previously unseen video testimony taken in 1990/91 during the making of our documentary ‘Operation Solstice’. Footage that survived over 30 summers and winters, saved from inevitable deterioration largely thanks to Dale Vince, who funded the salvage operation. Some once familiar voices, now long since passed, brought back to bear witness to the shameful barbarism of that day, ‘the worst police treatment of people’ in living memory, for which there was no public inquiry, but about which we will neither forgive nor forget.

The Beanfield

 

Extra viewing

FACING SOUTH -

A TVS Special on the Convoy (1986)

A TVS Special report on the Convoy and the threat to civil liberties (1986) A documentary about travellers parked up in Bristol after the police operation to clear them from Stoney Cross in 1986.

A landmark BBC2 documentary from 1986, with lots of witness accounts of the Beanfield from the travellers, the Earl of Cardigan, and the Observer’s Nick Davies.

Trashed, BBC2 1986

An Englishman's Home -

BBC Debate on Right to Roam (1986)

A BBC 2 studio debate focussing on the right to roam, to live the travelling lifestyle, and to gather at Stonehenge. Lots of familiar faces, and loads of fair comment from the likes of Brig, Eavis, and Phil the Beer. According to Moz, who was in the audience, they made sure that there was plenty of booze laid on to encourage 'the verbals', and a confrontational vibe..