Helen Hatt, a New Age traveller and witness to the 1985 Battle of the Beanfield, shares her gripping account of that tumultuous day. She recounts how a peaceful convoy heading to Stonehenge was met with a violent police blockade, sparking chaos and confusion. Hatt discusses the cultural significance of the gathering and the emotional aftermath faced by participants, including trauma and legal challenges. Her stories shed light on a pivotal moment in British counterculture history, illuminating the clash between freedom and authority.
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Helen's Violent Detainment
Helen Hatt experienced the police violently stopping her convoy en route to Stonehenge in 1985.
She was pulled by her hair and endured a terrifying detention at just 19 years old.
insights INSIGHT
Travellers' Alternative Lifestyle
New Age travellers sought an alternative lifestyle focused on self-sufficiency and community.
Festivals like those at Stonehenge united them through music and shared ideals.
insights INSIGHT
Clash of Perceptions
Authorities viewed travellers as dirty and disruptive with no societal contribution.
Travellers saw these claims as unfair stereotypes lacking real understanding.
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On 1 June 1985, a convoy of New Age Travellers set off for the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge in the south of England. They were planning to hold a festival there for the summer solstice, but they were stopped by police blocking their access to the site.
The authorities had heard the travellers were carrying chainsaws and petrol bombs. The police smashed the hippies’ vans and tents in what became known as the Battle of the Beanfield. It was a turning point for British alternative culture.
Lucy Burns speaks to Helen Hatt who was one of more than 500 people arrested that day.
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(Photo: The Battle of the Beanfield. Credit: Getty Images)
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