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.