ST. LUKE’S CHURCH.
The church occupies a picturesque situation on the side of the hill, opposite to the bridge, from which it is approached by a long flight of steps on one side, and a circuitous path winding round the hill on the other. It was built in 1836, and like the bridge, is of a material with which the district abounds. It would however have been equally in character with the place, and more pleasing to the eye, had it been built of stone. It has a tower, a nave, a chancel, and side aisles, and a richly stained glass window, with full length figures of St. Peter, St. James, and St. John. The endowment has been augmented very much of late years through the munificence of the Madeley Wood Company, who subscribed £1,000, and the liberality of the late Rev. John Bartlett, and others. Also by the purchase of the unredeemed rectorial tithes. The sum of upwards of £1,000 was raised too for better school accommodation for the place.
Ironbridge is one of the polling districts for municipal and parliamentary purposes; and has about 450 electors for the borough franchise. The Mayor and Borough Magistrates hold here alternately with Broseley and Wenlock Petty Sessions, every six weeks. Its central position gives it advantages which outside towns cannot lay claim to; both in point of trade, and as the seat of various local institutions.
It is the head quarters of the Sixth Shropshire Rifle Corps, of which John A. Anstice, Esq., is Captain, and R. E. Anstice, Esq., Lieutenant, and Searj. Johnson drill instructor.
The corps was first formed on the 20th of February, 1860, when the first batch of recruits (fifty in number) were sworn in, in the Guildhall at Wenlock, by Mr. Nicholas, of Broseley, (then Mayor for the borough), Captain Lowndes, Lieutenant Blakeway, and Ensign W. R. Anstice were amongst that number. Only three of the old hands now remain in the corps, Cr. Sergeant W. Y. Owen, Sergeant W. Roberts, and Sergeant Walton. Up to the present time 453 men have passed through the ranks: the last recruit that joined in 1879 being No. 453.
The company stands well in the battalion as a shooting company, having won the county challenge cup twice, viz: in 1876 and 1878. Cr. Sergeant Owen has also twice placed himself in the first sixty at Wimbleton, and consequently has two Queen’s Badges, as well as the St. George’s Cross. He has also been the winner of the Martin’s Challenge Cup. The company are in possession of four of Major Owen’s Memorial Cups out of nine that have been shot for at Berwick since 1870.
William Reynolds Anstice, Esq., uncle of the present captain, on the retirement of W. L. Lowndes, Esq., commanded the corps, and his name is still revered among the men.
The Shropshire Banking Company, which was formed by the union of the Coalbrookdale, Wellington, and Newport Banks, for many years had an office here in the Market Square. The Dale Bank was in the hands of the Coalbrookdale Company. The Wellington Bank stood in the names of Reynolds, Charlton, and Shakeshaft, the former being Joseph Reynolds, late of Bristol, who received his interest in it from his father, Richard Reynolds; and Mr. Eyton, grandfather of the present T. C. Eyton, Esq., was at one time, we believe, another partner.
The Shropshire Company, which embraced a large number of shareholders, underwent great strain in consequence of delinquencies to the extent of £120,000 by the manager, Mr. Allen, of Shifnal. The noble act of Henry Dickinson, one of the directors at the time, who felt it his duty personally to stave off the ruin, which threatened so many, has already been recorded under the head of Coalbrookdale; he first lent and then gave £100,000. The appalling discovery of these frauds practised by the absconding manager spread the utmost alarm through the parish, and the county generally, and gave hundreds of widows, old maiden ladies, and others, reason to fear that the investments on which they depended were irretrievably gone. The generous act of Henry Dickinson however—who like the heroic Roman of old threw himself into the gap—restored confidence; the bank rallied, soon regained its position, and continued in existence till the shares and business were purchased by Lloyd’s Banking Company, Limited, in 1874. This enterprising and wealthy company purchased the two houses belonging to Mr. William Hartshorne, chemist and druggist, who for many years carried on business in one, and Mrs. Aston in the other, and erected the present commodious building, where they do a large business, half-yearly paying a handsome dividend to shareholders. The subscribed capital of the company is £2,750,000; in 55,000 shares of £50 each. Capital paid up (55,000 shares, £8 paid) £440,000. It has thirty-one other branches, and twelve sub-branches and agencies.
Of that valued institution the Dispensary we have spoken ante p.p. 240–1. The 51st annual meeting has since been held; at which meeting
“the committee desired to place on record their acknowledgments of the considerate feeling which prompted the late Edward Edwards, Esq., of Coalbrookdale, to bequeath the sum of £50 for the general purposes of the institution, which sum, less legacy duty of £5, has been invested in the purchase of £42 Midland Railway 4 per cent. debentures stock, in addition to the sum of £880 of the game stock already standing in the names of the Rev. W. H. Wayne, W. Nicholas, W. G. Norris, and B. B. Potts, Esqrs., on behalf of the society. It was also stated that from the opening of the Dispensary the number of cases has been 57,105. In the last year the number was 1,019, of which 843 had been cured, 78 relieved, 32 renewed, 2 sent to the Salop Infirmary, and 38 remained under treatment.”
The Temperance Society and Good Templars have branches here and in other parts of the parish. Members of the former can date back their conversion to its principles from the commencement of the movement, forty or more years ago. We have mentioned the “British Workman” at Coalbrookdale; there is one also at Madeley Wood. And besides the regular religious services at the various places of worship, and means of instruction carried on through the established schools, others might be mentioned, on Sundays and week-days, the active promoters of which are Mr. D. White, Mr. A. Maw, Mr. W. R. Bradshaw, Mr. G. Baugh, &c., &c.
Ironbridge too is the head quarters of the Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale Building and Land Society, which has since its establishment been uniformly progressive, and led very many to become not only investors but owners of the houses they live in.
We may here give details of other means of promoting providence and thrift, such as Benefit Societies and Sick Clubs, which are numerous in the parish, and place on record the amounts raised in ways so creditable to the industrial portion of the population, and which added to those raised annually for various religious and other purposes reaches a very large amount indeed.
Let us take first the Coalbrookdale and Madeley Temperance Benefit Society.—This Society was founded during the infancy of the Temperance movement, before total abstinence societies were established. Spirits were forbidden to members, and beer was only to be taken in moderation, rules which have not been strictly adhered to. The members at one time fell away, but they have since increased, and the annual statement just issued for 1879 shews them to be 123 in number. The amount received in monthly contributions for the year ending midsummer was £115 13s. 3d. From interest of money invested £61 5s. 4d., which with the balance of the previous year £1239 10s. 4d. made £1416 8s. 11d.
Shropshire Provident Society.—Number of members 74; contributions £92 18s. 11½d.; Secretary Mr. Walter Sharpe; Surgeons M. Webb, Esq., and H. Stubbs, Esq.; endowment £10. Annual subscribers to the General Fund:
| £ | s. | d. | |
| W. R. Anstice, Esq., Ironbridge | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| John Arthur Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| George Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Richard Edmund Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Charles Pugh, Esq., | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Meets in one of the rooms of the Anstice Memorial Institute.
Loyal Royal Oak Lodge, No. 3665, of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, Friendly Society.—The place of business is the Royal Oak Inn. Number of members 159. Annual subscriptions £137 16s. 0d. Nett worth of the society £1267 1s. 9½d. Secretary Mr. Joseph Haynes; Treasurer Mr. Henry Ray.
Rose of the Vale Lodge.—This lodge is held at the Tontine Hotel, Ironbridge, and numbers 175 members, who pay into the funds on an average £360 per annum. They have standing to their credit the sum of £781 12s. 7d. Of this sum £400 has been lent on mortgage; £220 has been invested in the Building Society, and the remainder is in Lloyd’s Bank and the treasurer’s hands. Secretary Mr. E. Good; Treasurer Mr. William Skelton.
The Free Masons also meet at the Tontine; but as this does not strictly come under the head either of a sick or benefit society it does not come within the above category.
Ancient Order of Foresters, Pride of the District, No. 4345.—This lodge was founded in 1864, and meets in one of the rooms in the Anstice Memorial Institute on alternate Saturdays. Secretary Mr. T. Beddow, Bridge Street; Treasurer Mr. J. W. Fletcher. Number of members 265; average age 31; amount of funds £872. Annual Subscriptions £341 5s.
Ironbridge, Royal George, meets at the Robin Hood Inn, Madeley Wood, fortnightly. F. Johnson, Secretary; J. Page, Treasurer. It has 114 members of the average age of 34; and £444 in the court fund. Annual Subscriptions £143 2s.
Honourable Order of Modern Masons.—Meets at the Barley Mow Inn, Court Street, Madeley. Number of members 75; contributions per month 2s.; funeral levy per quarter 9d.; sick pay per week 8s.; member’s death £10; member’s wife £5; amount of sick funds £40 3s. 2d. William Instone, secretary.
In addition to these societies there is the United Brothers, but we did not obtain particulars. Also others in connection with the Coalbrookdale and Madeley Wood works. The object of the former society, as stated in the rules, is to secure to its members weekly allowance and medical aid in sickness, and an allowance at the decease of a member or member’s wife. The cashier of the company is treasurer, and Mr. John Hewitt is secretary. Each man and boy employed in the Company’s works at Coalbrookdale, is required to be a member of this society, and to pay his contribution through the work’s office. Every member above the age of eighteen pays one shilling per month; under the age of eighteen, sixpence per month; and any workman entering this society at the age of forty-five years, or upwards, one shilling and sixpence per month. Every workman is considered a member until he has a regular discharge from the Coalbrookdale Company or their agent, provided that he continues paying his contribution and resides in the neighbourhood. The number employed are from 700 to 800; and the income of the society is from £32 to £33 per month. About 440 of the members pay 9d. per quarter to the surgeon, Mr. James Proctor. One of the rules is that should the funds of the society at any time attain £200, the money shall be divided; such divisions of money took place at Christmas 1868, 1870, and 1872; since which dates the society has not been so fortunate in its surplus.
There is a similar society in connection with the Madeley Wood Company’s Works, from which we get no particulars, but the annual subscriptions to which may probably be put at about the same as those at Coalbrookdale.
There is also a similar institution in connection with the Madeley Court Works, with about 350 members, who pay annually £113 15s.
Adding all these together we find that, without taking the United Brothers and a sick society at Coalport called the Pitcher into account, there are 2985 members of clubs, subscribing a total of £2380 1s. 10d. annually, and possessing a capital of £4721 6s. 5d.!!
These facts may be considered as a reply in a great measure to the charge sometimes made against the working classes of an utter want of thrift and forethought, and suggest the question whether men making so much provision for the future for themselves and families ought not to be excused to some extent the payment of poor rates.