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Fete Poster Found:
Underground Discovery Mark Jenkinson December 2015 We hoped that there would be more photographs arising after we published the article in Issue 10 about the Victorian Friendly Societies and the Annual Box Fete but we never expected a poster of the event. And it came from a most unusual source, the underground quarry workings where amazingly it had not been totally destroyed by damp and stone dust. Box resident, Mark Jenkinson, records this fabulous discovery and his research into the fragments of the poster to tell us more about the annual Box Procession and Fete operated by Box's Loyal Northey Lodge of Oddfellows and the Ancient Order of Foresters (Bold Robin Hood Court). All photos courtesy Mark Jenkinson |
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Researching the Poster
The article on Box’s Friendly Societies is particularly relevant to some photographs I took a couple of years ago. One of my hobbies is caving, and I have explored and researched Box Freestone Mines a great deal over the past five years or so. The quarries are a treasure trove of local history, since the Victorian quarrymen left all sorts of names, dates, drawings, and messages throughout the miles of quarried passages. Tucked away in a remote passage are the remains of a fascinating, brightly-coloured poster.
There are so many historical nuggets underground, most inscribed with charcoal pencils on the walls by the quarrymen themselves but this poster is a unique artefact, an absolute gem, even in its partially preserved form. Furthermore, it's off the main routes; it was once near an entrance, but that is now long blocked, so few explorers encounter it.
Parts of the poster have decayed away rather badly, but there is still plenty of enticing information to see when the photos are enlarged. I was able to make some sense of it when I first studied the poster, but the earlier article shed a great deal more light on the subject. I had some incorrect assumptions initially for some of the poster gaps, but the original article matched up certain wordings so closely that I realised the poster probably mirrored them. For example, I had assumed that in the top line -oyal Northey was Royal, but then the article revealed it would have been Loyal, which of course all fits together in context. Also the E after Parish Church is indistinct, but, seeing such a close match with the article text, suggested to me that it is probably Eleven, the time of the service. And so on, as you can see from my reconstruction of the wording below, which brings more light on Box's Friendly Society Annual Procession and Fete.
The article on Box’s Friendly Societies is particularly relevant to some photographs I took a couple of years ago. One of my hobbies is caving, and I have explored and researched Box Freestone Mines a great deal over the past five years or so. The quarries are a treasure trove of local history, since the Victorian quarrymen left all sorts of names, dates, drawings, and messages throughout the miles of quarried passages. Tucked away in a remote passage are the remains of a fascinating, brightly-coloured poster.
There are so many historical nuggets underground, most inscribed with charcoal pencils on the walls by the quarrymen themselves but this poster is a unique artefact, an absolute gem, even in its partially preserved form. Furthermore, it's off the main routes; it was once near an entrance, but that is now long blocked, so few explorers encounter it.
Parts of the poster have decayed away rather badly, but there is still plenty of enticing information to see when the photos are enlarged. I was able to make some sense of it when I first studied the poster, but the earlier article shed a great deal more light on the subject. I had some incorrect assumptions initially for some of the poster gaps, but the original article matched up certain wordings so closely that I realised the poster probably mirrored them. For example, I had assumed that in the top line -oyal Northey was Royal, but then the article revealed it would have been Loyal, which of course all fits together in context. Also the E after Parish Church is indistinct, but, seeing such a close match with the article text, suggested to me that it is probably Eleven, the time of the service. And so on, as you can see from my reconstruction of the wording below, which brings more light on Box's Friendly Society Annual Procession and Fete.
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Top Section
In the first line (left) we can see ODDFELL, a reference to the Loyal Northey Lodge of Oddfellows that the original article mentions. Then we move on to the Members of Bold Robin Hood Court of the Ancient Order of FORESTERS. Together, they are holding A GRAND AMALGAMATED Fete. Patrons To one side of the top section of the poster (below), we seem to have a list of sponsors or patrons. You can see the names: P Pinchin Esq, Major Hunter, Marsh, Son & Gibbs, Jas. --rt-y Esq (Northey?), Mrs Walmsley, Mrs Watson, Mrs Har---- (Harston?) |
Major Hunter
Major-General Frederick Ernest Arundell Hunter (1854 - 31 December 1906) lived at Ashley House from 1900.[1] He had been a regular soldier serving in the Royal Horse Artillery and had fought in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882. Afterwards he was a prominent Wiltshire Magistrate.[2]
The Hunters were close friends and relatives of the Northey family; Major Hunter's sister had married George Northey and Lillian Northey married Douglas Hamilton Keats Hunter.[3] The families shared mutual interests and social standing. Major Hunter helped the Northey family with the training of the North Somerset Yeomanry at Kingsdown in 1901 and the Bath Horse Show in 1906.[4]
Major-General Frederick Ernest Arundell Hunter (1854 - 31 December 1906) lived at Ashley House from 1900.[1] He had been a regular soldier serving in the Royal Horse Artillery and had fought in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882. Afterwards he was a prominent Wiltshire Magistrate.[2]
The Hunters were close friends and relatives of the Northey family; Major Hunter's sister had married George Northey and Lillian Northey married Douglas Hamilton Keats Hunter.[3] The families shared mutual interests and social standing. Major Hunter helped the Northey family with the training of the North Somerset Yeomanry at Kingsdown in 1901 and the Bath Horse Show in 1906.[4]
Mrs Watson
Mrs Amelia M Watson, wife of Dominic Watson, was one of those grand matriarchs who ran social life in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain. She only lived in Box for a short time owning Box House from about 1898 until 1906 and the poster is the only known reference to her supporting an event in the village.[5] Her main interest was maintaining the old order in society; she frequently subscribed to the Bath Reservists' Fund (sometimes called the Territorial Army), the Bath Horse Show and the Bath & County Harriers Hunt.[6]
We get an image of the person from her support of The Women's Anti-Suffrage League and the Anti-Socialist Union but her commitment to the needy was expressed in her support of Help the Unemployed and the Factory Helpers' Union.[7] Perhaps her most charitable work was opening her house at Bathampton as a Red Cross Hospital during the Great War.
The essence of Mrs Watson's character must be the indomitable strength of purpose of this renowned Welsh woman. The death of her husband Dominic McGotterick Watson in 1890, at the age of 47, was only the start of her sad story. Her elder son was killed in the Boer War and in 1901 she lived without family support at Box House surrounded by six servants and a female visitor, Edith Eaton, from Swansea. Worse followed when her only surviving son, Lieutenant Dominic Watson, aged 30 years and former Master of the Bath Harriers, was killed in France serving with the Somerset Light Infantry in 1917. She lived on to honour their names when she moved out of Box to Bathampton House and after at 21 Royal Crescent, Bath, where she died in 1927.[8]
Mrs Amelia M Watson, wife of Dominic Watson, was one of those grand matriarchs who ran social life in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain. She only lived in Box for a short time owning Box House from about 1898 until 1906 and the poster is the only known reference to her supporting an event in the village.[5] Her main interest was maintaining the old order in society; she frequently subscribed to the Bath Reservists' Fund (sometimes called the Territorial Army), the Bath Horse Show and the Bath & County Harriers Hunt.[6]
We get an image of the person from her support of The Women's Anti-Suffrage League and the Anti-Socialist Union but her commitment to the needy was expressed in her support of Help the Unemployed and the Factory Helpers' Union.[7] Perhaps her most charitable work was opening her house at Bathampton as a Red Cross Hospital during the Great War.
The essence of Mrs Watson's character must be the indomitable strength of purpose of this renowned Welsh woman. The death of her husband Dominic McGotterick Watson in 1890, at the age of 47, was only the start of her sad story. Her elder son was killed in the Boer War and in 1901 she lived without family support at Box House surrounded by six servants and a female visitor, Edith Eaton, from Swansea. Worse followed when her only surviving son, Lieutenant Dominic Watson, aged 30 years and former Master of the Bath Harriers, was killed in France serving with the Somerset Light Infantry in 1917. She lived on to honour their names when she moved out of Box to Bathampton House and after at 21 Royal Crescent, Bath, where she died in 1927.[8]
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We know something about the other people. Peter Pinchin was the owner of the Box Brewery who died in 1906, which helps to date the poster.
Marsh, Son & Gibbs were one of the quarry companies whose offices were in Bath. And the story of some of the Northey Family is also recorded on the website. Middle Section We have some partial words that are not clear to decipher (right).The top missing red word is possibly Procession, followed by Corsham, Col (onel Northey?), to the Parish Church at Eleven... Dinner will be provided in the School. Then a clearer Colonel Northey, and notice of the procession. |
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Bottom Section
We appear to have a description (below) of some of the novelty races that are mentioned in the article:
Competitors in this race stop Take Off Coat, and later they Take Off Night Shirt … 110 yards mark … Carrying coat and waistcoat. There are first and second prizes one of which is perhaps 10 something.
We appear to have a description (below) of some of the novelty races that are mentioned in the article:
Competitors in this race stop Take Off Coat, and later they Take Off Night Shirt … 110 yards mark … Carrying coat and waistcoat. There are first and second prizes one of which is perhaps 10 something.
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Additional Words By converting the photograph to black and white and adjusting the contrast and other parameters, it is possible to deduce a little more text, such as: Entry Fee for each Event 6d with the exception of the ---iles Societies’ Race which will be Three (pence) Mr W Sawyers will receive all Entries for Sport. It’s a shame we can’t see what ---ett’s Celebrated ------- is. |
I have found no date on the poster remains, but it appears to be after 1898 and before 1906. It reads very much like the excerpts of the September 1903 Parish Magazine that was quoted in the original article and was possibly part of a campaign to give the event more publicity.
In Situ
The wide-angle photo below shows the remains of the poster in its original position. Noticed the regular mud/clay marks around the poster’s perimeter which appear to be an early form of blue-tack? My assumption is that the clay marks the size of the original poster, before it started disintegrating; so it was a little taller.
In Situ
The wide-angle photo below shows the remains of the poster in its original position. Noticed the regular mud/clay marks around the poster’s perimeter which appear to be an early form of blue-tack? My assumption is that the clay marks the size of the original poster, before it started disintegrating; so it was a little taller.
Can You Help?
There are other underground references to the Friendly Societies but they are not always as obvious as the poster. One reference refers to the cancellation of a fete, The Foresters will not have a Fate (sic) this December the 18th 1887.[9]
Are you able to add to Mark's research? We would love a photograph of the procession of the Friendly Society Fete, so please have a good look in your family photo album and let us know if you can complete our story of the old Box Fete.
There are other underground references to the Friendly Societies but they are not always as obvious as the poster. One reference refers to the cancellation of a fete, The Foresters will not have a Fate (sic) this December the 18th 1887.[9]
Are you able to add to Mark's research? We would love a photograph of the procession of the Friendly Society Fete, so please have a good look in your family photo album and let us know if you can complete our story of the old Box Fete.
References
Biographical research contributed by Box People and Places.
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 12 July 1900
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 10 January 1907
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 6 October 1904
[4] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901 and 6 September 1906
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 3 November 1898 and 22 February 1906
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 25 January 1913 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 October 1927
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 22 February 1906, 11 March 1909 and 19 October 1911 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette,
1 October 1927
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 12 June 1890 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 October 1927
[9] RJ Tucker, Scripta Legenda Vol 1, Free Troglophile Association Press, p.27
Biographical research contributed by Box People and Places.
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 12 July 1900
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 10 January 1907
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 6 October 1904
[4] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901 and 6 September 1906
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 3 November 1898 and 22 February 1906
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 25 January 1913 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 October 1927
[7] The Bath Chronicle, 22 February 1906, 11 March 1909 and 19 October 1911 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette,
1 October 1927
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 12 June 1890 and Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 1 October 1927
[9] RJ Tucker, Scripta Legenda Vol 1, Free Troglophile Association Press, p.27