Loyal Nelson Lodge, Beeston, Notts
Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows - June 1912

Beeston Oddfellows

This group, from about June 1912, is standing in front of the Council Offices building, then in The Square, Beeston.
We know that it is dated after May 1911 as there are residual marks on the brickwork from the decorations displayed for the Coronation of King George V (visible on the original, slightly higher than the limits of this copy)

Top Row: Bros. J Monk, T Clarke, J H Cross, C Whadcote, Rev. A J Price, Arthur Nicholls (P.G), J Scothern, H Cropper
Middle Row: Bros. H Ford (P.G), W Schofield (P.G), H Charlton (P.G), F Stansfield (G.M), H Pegg (Per Sec, C.A, M.U), G Drinkwater (P.G) G Saunders (Ass. Sec), P Drinkwater (P.G), G Taylor, W Simmons, Abram Nicholls (PPGM), E Price
Bottom Row: Bros W Gilder, S Peel, S Martin, J Hart, W H Walsh, C Attlee, R Cropper, H Fox, F Warrington

Position your mouse pointer on any face to show the name

Names from Beeston Gazette & Echo, 8 June 1912

The Independent Order of Oddfellows Society (Manchester Unity) was one of several friendly and fraternal organisations which were particularly popular before the establishment of the Welfare State in the United Kingdom, including universal unemployment and sickness benefits and the National Health Service. As a non-profit, mutual organisation, it supported its members in time of need by the redistribution of its income. The local Loyal Nelson Lodge was founded in 1833 and was supported strongly by local tradesmen and working men in particular. In the early days it met at the Cadland Inn in Chilwell but was eventually able to open its own meeting place on Middle Street - popularly known as the 'Manchester Unity' in the house previously built and occupied, as Vicar and in retirement, by Rev John Woolley. The building later became the Beech Tree pub, then the 'Cow at Beeston' and in recent years was demolished to become the site for the Tesco Petrol Station. The above photograph, complete with names, allows us an insight into the membership of the local Lodge. Accordingly, the following table is an attempt to identify individual, based largely on his 1911 census entry and birth and death registrations.While every care has been taken to match these entries with the person shown on the photograph, this cannot be guaranteed.

NameBirthIn 1911 
ForenameSurnameYearPlaceAddressOccupationDiedNotes
JamesMonk1844Market Harborough, LeicsPost Office SquareConfectioner,.
Thornton ShiphamClarke1876Nottingham, NottsLinden GroveDesigner & Draughtsman1951.
John HenryCross1873Hucknall, NottsGladstone StreetLabourer..
CharlieWhadcote1891Beeston, NottsCommercial AveCycle Hand..
Arthur JohnPrice1875St Clears, CamarthenNewcastle AveClergyman (Cof E).1
ArthurNicholls1891Beeston, NottsUnion StreetMoulder19162
JohnScothernc1856Sutton-in-Ashfield, NottsChilwell RoadFramework Knitter..
ArthurCropper1876Halam, NottsCollin StreetBrass Bobbin Winder19533
HarryFord1866Wymeswold, NottsImperial AveInsurance Agent1928.
WilliamSchofield1865Ragnall, NottsHumber RoadRailway Platelayer1939.
HenryCharlton1851Chilwell, NottsChilwellRate Collector & Grocer1933.
FredStansfield1881Rotherham, YorksGladstone StreetPlumber1942.
HarryPegg1883Beeston, NottsWilloughby StreetCoal Merchant's Clerk19404
RobertDrinkwater1859Chilwell, NottsChilwellLace Maker1912.
GeorgeTaylor1874Wollaton, NottsWollaton RoadBeer-off keeper1932.
WSimmons??,....
AbrahamNicholls1849Stanground, HuntsUnion StreetCarter19375
EdwardPricec1843Hampton, WarwicksMiddleton StreetRetired Signalman1927.
WalterGilder1865Thaxted, EssexDenison StreetIron Foundry Labourer1926.
SamPeelc1888Beeston, NottsLong EatonLace Maker.6
Samuel JohnsonMartin1882Beeston, NottsChapel StreetBoiler Fitter1938.
JosephHartc1866Hathern, LeicsMona StreetFoundry Labourer1938.
William HarveyWalsh1864Southwell, NottsCity RoadFoundry Labourer1935.
CAttlee??.....
RichardCropper1885Fiskerton, NottsHumber RoadTester in Foundry1961.
HenryFoxc1869Sheffield, YorksWindsor StreetGrinder..
FletcherWarrington1877Heckington, LincsClifton StreetBaker's Vanman1959.

 

Notes
1. In 1901, Arthur Price was the Master of Carmathen Workhouse.
2. Arthur Nicholls served with the 11th Btn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) during the Great War. He was killed on 1st July 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and on his parents' memorial in Beeston Cemetery.
3. Named as 'H Cropper' in the newspaper but probably Arthur Cropper, as detailed here.
4. Became a Registrar of Births & Deaths and was the father of Harry Pegg, the Pork Butcher.
5. Harry Pegg, Secretary of the Manchester Unity, was granted probate of his estate.
6, Probably the brother-in-law of Harry Pegg senior



Close this window to continue



J Monk T Clarke J H Cross C Whadcote Rev. A J Price Arthur Nicholls J Scothern H (?Arthur) Cropper H Ford W Schofield H Charlton F Stansfield H Pegg G Drinkwater G Sanders R Drinkwater G Taylor W Simmons Abram Nicholls E Price W Gilder S Peel S Martin J Hart W H Walsh C Attlee R Cropper H Fox F Warrington