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: