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Historical Review, 1898 |
       
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THE following article on the history of the Dudley Book Society by Joseph Ridgway appeared in the Dudley Herald newspaper on 15 October 1898:
" Of the exact age of the society there is nothing very certain. No data is left behind - being only a yearly one. ... Nevertheless it has a long continuous history, built up of these yearly fragments.
The Baylies's were members of the Old Meeting House, Dudley. The brothers Robert and Samuel with their sister Ann having prospered in life and having some idea of the benefits which might accrue to the rising generation, endowed and founded the school bearing their name in Pease Lane, now Tower Street, in 1832. From their tastes, which were mainly educative, we infer from many incidents, that they were of a literary nature, and somewhat in advance of the age.
As all education seemed to be incomplete without a Catechism, the Baylies's being Nonconformist chose and included in their scheme the Assembly's Shorter Catechism as being least Anglican.
The origin of the 'Protestant Dissenters' in Dudley dated from the ejection of the 2000 ministers occasioned by the Act of Nonconformity, which came into force on St Bartholomew's Day, August 24th, 1662. ... In the Birmingham 'Church and King Riots', June 1791, ... many of the chapels round about were dismantled, the Dudley Old Meeting House being among the number.
As stated before, the Baylies's possibly were of this Nonconforming body. The history of the Dudley Book Society is intimately blooded with the history of the chapel - it is really an emanation from it. Of the exact date of its origin, or how brought about are matters mostly of deduction from the following train of reasoning:- As our forefathers had their social evenings at the most respected hostelry of the towns in which they resided - among kindred spirits - so we find Dudley no exception. The chief tradesmen of that time met at the Saracen's Head, at least the nonconforming portion, where they smoked their pipes over a quiet tankard of home-brewed; talking over the events of the day, business, politics, and religion. It was in such a region and under such circumstances that this society germed. This conjecture bears strong confirmation from the fact that from the beginning of this century - the nineteenth - to the present day this society has been located at the hotel mentioned, with only some small interims - one at the Dudley Arms and again at the Bush Hotel. Their meetings were monthly.
Of the age of this society, it may be coeval with the Baylies's family. Why we may be allowed to think so is this: in the first decade of this century it flourished as a society that had existed a long time before.
At the annual dinner in 1805, Mr William Maurice, printer, Market Place, Dudley, now Mr Tanfield's place of business was elected secretary. The pastors of the Old Meeting House were generally presidents. The Rev Hews Bransby occupied that position. Associated with him we have the respected names of John Bradley, Josiah and John Twamley, and Alexander Gordon. From this period we have data, and can dispense with tradition. The intimate connection of the Book Society with the Baylies's foundation is seen in the fact that the masters of the school have for the last 70 years held the office of secretary.
The history of the society carries with it the record of the school and Old Meeting House. The ministers and members of the chapel form the trustees of the school. From the earliest period known the members have held their monthly meetings at the Saracen's Head. That hostel was not in appearance what it is now - the hand of progress has made its impress there. The house belonged to the Hughes family (Bolton and Hughes, Russells Hall Furnaces). Mr William Maurice, secretary, married Miss Hughes. This accounts to some degree how it was the meetings were not held in one of the then two principal hotels of the two [sic].
I have shown that the Trust was more or less vested in the Old Meeting. Old scholars of Baylies's will call to mind a board over the master's entrance door to the desk. It contained an abstract of the will relative to the conduct of the master and his school. It bears the date 1819. Among the names of the then trustees are J W Hodgetts, Charles Twamley, Mark Hughes, John Finch, Hews Bransby (Pastor).
John Finch, above mentioned, was a merchant. His office and warehouse were next to Lloyds' Bank. He presented to the Old Meeting House a silver communion service before he removed his business to Liverpool.
Mr Bransby was succeeded by the Rev John Palmer. Mr Joseph Pitchfork, schoolmaster, was elected secretary in 1836. He held this office for 30 years till his death.
It may appear to some that the society was a close one, yet such was not the case. It may have been in the political vernacular of that day called Whiggish, but that prevented not the society from receiving into its company most sorts and conditions of men. Then, as now, the circulation list of members comprehends every shade of creed and politics. In that cosy meeting room of the society many schemes for the advancement of education, reforms - municipal and parliamentary - were hatched. Church rates were opposed and some of the members suffered their goods to be sold on principle, notably Mr W C Wood, who had acquired the business of Mr John Twamley, grocer.
The change in the representation of the borough was effected through the return of Mr H B Sheridan. The Mechanics' Institute was floated in the premises once occupied by J Finch, merchant before mentioned. The library of the Old Meeting was lent as a nucleus of the present library. Its members found the very efficient chairmen of the School Board in Mr E Grainger, George Thompson, and the Rev Matthew Gibson. In the Council Chamber they have done much honourable work. The late Town Clerk (W H Brooke) took up the secretaryship in 1856-60, when he handed the office over to Mr Ridgway.
Among the families figuring from 1805, to the present, occur the well known and time-honoured names of Bradley, Twamley, Hodgetts, Hughes, Thompson, Wood, S H Blackwell (Russells Hall Furnaces), Grainger, Timmins, Maurice, Wilkinson, Cartwright, Bellingham and E M Warmington (Town Clerk). The pastors of the Old Meeting from 1805 are Hews Bransby, John Palmer, Richard Steven, Dr Davidson, John Thomas, Matthew Gibson, H Rylett, and A H Shelley, the present incumbent.
After a service extending over thirty-two years, as Secretary, Mr Ridgway handed the office to the present master of the Baylies's School, Mr H A Lewis.
The health of the society has been well maintained through the century and shows no sign of age or decadence. Its membership has been sustained - circling around twenty. More members have been tried, but the books were too long in circulating. Mr Lewis well maintains the society's stamina and efficiency; and all wish well and God speed. "
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