Ten years ago this week a rebellion was brewing in the county of Kent, which was almost identical in its objective to the uprising led by Dartford’s Wat Tyler in the 14th century.

The rebels were plotting the downfall of Tony Blair and their grievance concerned the decision of his goverment to ban hunting with hounds.

In 1381 Tyler and his rebels marched on London from Kent and Essex burning property on the way.

Their mission was to bring about the downfall of the government following the introduction of the iniquitous poll tax, which had caused such resentment among country people.

There was, of course, a big difference. Tyler was leading a peasants’ revolt, the first great popular protest in English history.

Ten years ago, it was those representing the grassroots of country life planning a campaign of civil disobedience. And they included the bluest bloods of Kentish society.

Fox hunting with hounds did not exist in Tyler’s day. At that time, the aristocracy went hunting for deer and it was not until 1793 that Sir John Dyke of Lullingstone formed a pack of hounds that used to meet in the hilly countryside of Beckenham and Sydenham.

The landed families of Kent were quick to join in. John Warde of Squerryes, Westerham, and Squire Evelyn of St Clere, Kemsing, were soon enjoying the thrill of the chase from Meopham down to the flinty countryside near the Swanley Maidstone road.

The grassland vale extending to Groombridge, Cowden and Edenbridge was a favourite area, and so were the flat marshlands of the Isle of Grain.

In 1830, Mr Percival Thomas Dyke took over the mastership of his family pack and turned his attention to the hunting of the fox only.

The pack became known as the West Kent Foxhounds and the members enjoyed such good sport that efforts were made to discourage the “influx from Cheapside into the field”, which was causing annoyance to the local sportsmen.

By 2004 (when hunting was banned) the sportsmen included lawyers, policemen, surgeons, teachers, journalists and even nurses.

They believed that the ban on hunting with hounds was not about cruelty; but about class – a fact confirmed at the time by a Labour minister lubricated with red wine, who was asked why he supported the ban. “Because”, he said, “I don’t like toffs in red jackets.”

On September 15, 2004, on the day of the final reading of this controversial act, two protestors staged the first invasion of the House of Commons since Charles 1 in 1641. It was quickly quelled.

Since those difficult days there have been many private prosecutions against the hunts and individuals who have defied the ban.

The police have continued to be busy and so have the courts.