If there’s one thing reading newspapers of the 1800s will teach you, it’s that for all our moaning about modern health and safety regulations and the state of the NHS, without them, human beings are apt to die like lemmings.
It’s fortunate therefore, that Whitsuntide Friendly Societies, or Benefit Clubs, existed—often centred around pubs, to plug a gap not yet filled by a modern benefits system. In exchange for a regular payment, such organisations existed to help their members financially when they fell on ill health. Some might even pay a pension should you be lucky enough to reach old age. They also organised social events for their members (including parades around Whitsuntide—hence the name) and even paid out occasional dividends when the coffers were well filled.
It’s a bit early in the year for putting on the nativity isn’t it?
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The first time that a Friendly Society at the Cups appeared in the newspapers was for an incident in May 1806 when it comprehensively failed to meet its goal of protecting the health of member Thomas Carter. Carter was “dining with the members of a benefit club, or friendly society, at the Three Cups Inn”.
It seems likely that Carter had more than the three cups the pub’s name recommends, leading him to fall victim to nominative determinism. Having got absolutely handcarted, four of his drinking companions threw him into a wheelbarrow and carted him off to the George Inn. Finding no room at the inn, like some sort of inverse messiah, they threw him into a stable—where he was later found to have been carted off into the afterlife.
From the London Star on Saturday the 6th of June 1812
It’s not possible to say exactly when the Three Cups Friendly Society was established although we can make some inferences from a September 1886 case when, “John Cooper (treasurer), Richard Chappel and Samuel Curtis (stewards), as officers of a friendly society called “The Three Cups Club,” Malmesbury, were summoned by Thomas Clark, laborer, of Malmesbury” for non-payment of sick pay.
Clark had been a paid-up member of the Society for the 38 years since 1848, when he was 33. Now aged 71 and suffering from chronic rheumatism and bronchitis, for about two years he’d been receiving sick pay—“6s. per week for 26 weeks, and 4s. per week ever since up to nine weeks ago”—roughly £35 then £23 a week in today’s money. He wanted them to settle the 36 shillings (about £208) he felt they now owed him—the Society disagreed, although his ill health wasn’t in question. Dr. Edmund Arthur White was the club’s own medical officer and had certified him.
According to John Cooper (treasurer) an older version of the Society, which had different rules, was broken up and re-established in 1854 under new rules which didn’t provide for payments due to old age—it wasn’t even known if the old rules did for certain.
In the rather undiplomatic opinion of the Society, Clark’s inability to work was no longer down to illness, but to his being too much of a codger. A technicality in all of this is that the new society’s rules had, unfortunately, never been registered—equally however, the old society no longer existed. “The bench, after a long hearing, decided that he was not entitled to sick benefit, but advised the officer to get the society registered.”
It probably came as cold comfort to Thomas Clark to learn that not only was he going to continue waking up breathless and stiff as a board every morning, but now he was too old to be worth anything in the eyes of the Three Cups Maybe Not So Friendly Anymore Society. In fact, it probably made him wonder exactly what he had been paying in for all those 38 years. Which is ironic, because it actually helps us to figure that out:
Up until 1854, the Three Cups Friendly Society might have provided a pension of sorts once you reached old age. This certainly wasn’t the case after 1854 though.
The Society would provide financial support for people with illnesses that prevented them from working, which could include chronic rheumatism and bronchitis.
The Society retained a doctor who would certify people to receive payments and who presumably would have provided some treatments.
Although Dr. White was the medical officer in 1886, Dr. Salter appears to have been the medical attendant in 1869, and Dr. Pitt was among the honorary members in attendance in 1872.
That’s not all though—because the Three Cups Friendly Society was quite literally…
Your front-row ticket to the biggest events (in Malmesbury)
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Referred to in an 1893 article as “this old established society”, it clearly held a place of some standing in Malmesbury. In 1865, when the Countess of Suffolk picked up her silver shovel and turned the first sod on the Wilts and Gloucester Railway, “Members of the Three Cups and the Castle Benefit Clubs with their band” made up part of the procession to see the event.
According to the Bristol Mercury, when the town marked Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in 1887, the Three Cups marched to the Abbey church as part of a grand civic procession—slotted in among the Malmesbury Brass Band, the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, the Wilts Rifle Volunteers, the police, the Mayor and Corporation, and a clutch of rival benefit clubs. Importantly, places inside the church were “allotted… to the various bodies, the general public not being admitted until those in the procession had taken their places.”
From the Bristol Mercury on Saturday the 25th of June 1887
Put in those terms, the Three Cups Friendly Society sounds a lot like the 1800s Malmesbury equivalent of a private box at an England Wembley World Cup final, doesn’t it? That’s not all though, because every year the Friendly Society held its own annual procession through the town.
Every Whitsuntide Wednesday, the members of the Friendly Society followed a timetable so consistent you could set your watch by it:
The meeting—When the coffers were healthy, a dividend was paid at the meeting every third year. At the triennial meeting of 1 June 1872 the secretary, Mr. Clark, reported the society’s finances in a “flourishing state” and declared a dividend of 11s. 6d. (about £58), leaving a substantial balance. The North Wilts Herald was less impressed, noting that while the club looked healthy—“the greater part of the members being young men in the prime of life”—“dividing the reserved fund is not a wise practice.”
The procession—A procession "[through] the principal streets" was led by the Malmesbury Rifle Corps Band (which seemed to become the Malmesbury Brass Band by the late 1870s)—although in 1881, the Didmarton Brass Band paid a visit. Numbers in the procession ranged year-on-year from as low as 50 to over 100 (about 107 at its height in 1872). The Friendly Society even had their own flag which they carried—during their parade in 1878 they “managed to supply the place of their old, worn, and tattered flag with a new one, at a cost of several pounds.”. An 1878 article describes them parading with a banner made of silk.
The dinner—A dinner would be held at the pub, laid on by the landlord—in 1861 a special booth was erected for the occasion. Later years refer to meals being held in the “Club Room” which in 1869, “was tastefully decorated with certain devices of evergreens, wreaths, and boquets [sic] of flowers”
Halcombe House—The revellers would head to Halcombe House, seat of the Luce family, where Colonel Luce would ensure they were “liberally entertained” with rural sports, games and a good deal more refreshment.
Back to the pub—Now having presumably worked themselves into a considerable drunken frenzy, the Society would return to the club room “where they were supplied with something to drink, and where dancing, etc, was kept up till a late hour.”
It wasn’t unusual for trouble to occur at these events. As early as 1861, The Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard commented, “These so-called festivities unfortunately appear to have lost none of their attractive features”. In 1882, Abel Gray was fined £1 (about £100 in 2026) after pensioner Frederick Clark, who was serving as a waiter at the event, shooed some boys away, prompting Abel to black his eye. The bench at the trial noted: “It was one of the evils of public-house clubs, that men saved their money for the well meant purposes of a benefit society and then on these days squandered it in drinking.” Only a year beforehand, in 1881, the North Wilts Herald had observed, “The various club anniversaries in the villages at Whitsuntide and Trinity have passed off satisfactorily. We understand this is attributed to there being no extension of hours granted to any public-house, all of which were closed at the ordinary hour.”
Ding ding! That’s time at the bar ladies and gentlemen!
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Unfortunately by 1893, the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard reported:
“On Wednesday last, the members of the Three Cups Inn Friendly Society, Westport, Malmesbury, celebrated their anniversary. The members of this old established society have for very many years paraded the town headed by the Malmesbury Brass Band, but this year as the funds were low it was decided to do without the band. The members sat down to an excellent dinner supplied by Host James of the Three Cups, and in the afternoon and evening dancing was kept up in the club room to the strains of Bristowe’s String Band.”
One has to wonder whether the cautious North Wilts Herald reporter was somewhat prophetic with his 1872 comment, “dividing the reserved fund is not a wise practice”. After the 1893 article the Three Cups Friendly Society went quiet in the newspapers, leaving our story formally unfinished—though the likeliest reason it stopped appearing is that it simply went bust. There is however a certain poetry in a story that opens with a man who drank too much at the Three Cups, and finishes with the Three Cups having been drunk dry.
An inquest was taken on Wednesday, the 20th ult. before the Alderman of the Borough of Malmesbury, on the body of Thomas Carter. It appeared that the deceased had been dining with the members of a benefit club, or friendly society, at the Three Cups Inn, that in the evening, having become intoxicated, he was placed in a wheelbarrow, and by four of his companions wheeled from the Inn where he had been dining to the George Inn, and there thrown into a stable, where he was soon after discovered in a lifeless state. Medical assistance was immediately called in, but every effort to restore animation was vain.
On Tuesday last, the anniversaries of friendly societies were celebrated at the Bell Inn, the Castle Inn, and the Three Cups Inn, in connection with the societies held at those places.
These so-called festivities unfortunately appear to have lost none of their attractive features, the clubs in the town aud neighborhood having as usual celebrated their anniversaries at the various public houses during the past week. On Tuesday last the members of the Friendly Society, held at the Castle Inn, Westport, dined together in the club-room, and on the following day (Wednesday) the Three Cups Club celebrated its anniversary, the members parading the streets and afterwards dining at the “Three Cups.” The Malmesbury rifle corps band was engaged on each of the above occasions.
On Wednesday, the 29th ult., the members of the benefit society, to the number of 89, held their annual meeting at the Three Cups Inn, Westport, Malmesbury. Before dinner they paraded the principal streets, headed by the Rifle Corps band and the secretary and trustees, the band playing appropriate pieces. On their return they partook of an excellent dinner, provided by Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, in a booth erected for the occasion, the chair being taken by Edward Harris, Esq., and the vice-chair was occupied by Mr. G. Salter. After dinner they proceeded to the residence of T. Luce, Esq., and from thence returned to the Three Cups Inn, where a most pleasant evening was spent. The band performed in a very creditable manner during the day.
Following in the wake of other towns, the inhabitants of Malmesbury have not only determined to have their railway, but have lent a most ready and helping hand in the carrying out of the undertaking, and on Saturday last, when the first sod of that railway, which is to pass close by their town, connecting them on the one side with the south and west coasts of the country as well as with the Metropolis, and on the other side with the great coal and iron fields of Wales, and the manufacturing industry of the North, was turned, they determined upon making the occasion one of rejoicing, and vied with each other in showing their interest in the undertaking.
Two of these clubs have this week held their annual festivals at Westport—one at the Castle Inn, on Tuesday, and the other at the Three Cups, on Wednesday last. The members went in procession through the streets to the music of the rifle corps band. On Tuesday evening the band proved a source of great attraction to many of the rustics assembled at the Castle while enjoying their dance in the street, which proved a pursuit of the art of dancing under difficulties better to be imagined than described, as
Many of these societies in the town and neighbourhood have been holding their anniversaries during the past and present weeks. The quiet and romantic village of Brokenborough was dressed in holiday attire on Whit Thursday, it being the anniversary of the parish club. This society, which has on the books 95 old and 8 new members, started from the Rose and Crown Inn, where the club has been held for many years, and headed by the Sherston Brass Band, marched through the village and thence to church, where a most appropriate and forcible sermon was preached by the Rev. G. H. H. Hutchinson, vicar of Charlton and Brokenborough. After service the procession retired to the club room, where they sat down to a substantial dinner served up in hostess Pitt’s usual good style. The Rev. Mr. Hutchinson presided, and was supported by Dr. Salter and the honorary members. The day passed off pleasantly. We are happy to be able to state that this society is in a most flourishing condition, there having been but little sickness throughout the past year.—On Trinity Tuesday, the Castle Friendly Society celebrated its anniversary in its usual loyal and demonstrative style. This society, which is also in a healthy state, has the goodly number of 86 old members, while several new members enrolled their names on the day in question. The Malmesbury Rifle Corps Band, which by-the-bye is second to none in the county, discoursed some most excellent music throughout the day. Host Harper provided a most excellent dinner and which reflects much to his credit. Dr. Kinneir, the medical attendant of the society, presided at the table, and Mr. Bryant Robins most humourously supported the doctor on the right, while other honorary gentlemen and members of the society attended. The day, which was a very pleasant one from beginning to end, passed off satisfactorily.—The day following the Three Cups Club celebrated their anniversary in their usual festive style. At about ten o’clock the strains of the fine old band of the Malmesbury Rifle Corps was heard, thus dispelling all doubt from the minds of those who really had any misgivings from the unfavourable morning, as to this being a day’s pleasure. The band and members of this society which numbered 91 old members, while several new entries were made before dinner, after perambulating the town for two or three hours retired to the club room, which was tastefully decorated with certain devices of evergreens, wreaths, and boquets of flowers, &c., and sat down to an excellent dinner which was served up in hostess Hayes’ usual good style. C. R. Luce, Esq., presided, and was supported by Dr. Salter, the society’s medical attendant, and other honorary members of the club. After dinner, the band and members repaired to Halcombes House, the seat of C. R. Luce, Esq., where the whole company entered into sundry amusements in the pleasure grounds. After subsequently perambulating the town until night had fairly set in, the band with the members of the society retired to the club room, where they spent the remainder of the evening in conviviality. It is very gratifying to know that this society, after suffering severely from sickness, is still in a flourishing condition, and leaves a fair balance in the hands of the treasurer.
The members of the Castle Inn Benefit Club held their annual meeting on Trinity Tuesday, at the above inn, when upwards of 80 sat down to a dinner, provided by Host Hobbs. It being the triennial meeting, notwithstanding the unusual heavy demands which the club had met, a dividend was declared of £1 for each member, leaving a balance in hand.—On Wednesday, the Three Cups Inn Benefit Society held a festival, when about 100 sat down to a good spread, provided by Host Harper. The band of the Malmesbury Rifle Volunteers enlivened the company with a selection of music. The members, headed by the band, paraded the principal streets of the town, and in the evening marched to Holcomb, the residence of Mr. C. R. Luce. Dancing and various other amusements again took place on their return to their club house.
On Wednesday the Three Cups club held their anniversary, and the splendid music that was discoursed by the Malmesbury Rifle Corps Band brought, as is usually the case, hundreds of people together. A splendid dinner was served up by Host Harper in the long club-room. Capt. C. R. Luce, Dr. Pitt, and a few other honorary members attended. Appropriate toasts and songs followed the removal of the cloth, and thus the afternoon was very pleasantly spent. In the course of the proceedings Mr. Clark, the secretary, had again the satisfaction of announcing that the financial condition of the society is still in a flourishing state. This being its triennial meeting he was able to declare a dividend of 11s. 6d., leaving a substantial balance in hand. The members, who number nearly 100, formed in procession with hundreds of others who were bent on pleasure, and paraded the town, the band marching ahead of them. At length the company set out for Halcombe House, the residence of Capt. C. R. Luce, where they were well received. After some considerable time had been spent in sundry amusements, the band closed the sports with the National Anthem, and all returned to the club-house, where the remainder of the evening was very pleasantly spent.
THE ANNIVERSARY of the Friendly Benefit Society, held at the Castle Inn, was celebrated on Tuesday by dining at the above inn, where an excellent dinner was provided by Host Hobbs. The society numbers 70 members, and the accounts appear in a satisfactory condition. On Wednesday, the members of the Three Cups Inn Friendly Society, about 107 in number, also held their anniversary. It being the triennial year, a dividend was declared for each member of 11s. 6d. The club appears in a healthy condition, the greater part of the members being young men in the prime of life, though dividing the reserved fund is not a wise practice. Previous to dinner, the principal streets of the town were paraded, the procession being led by the band of the Malmesbury Rifle Corps, after which the members returned to the club room, where a good spread awaited them, got up in Host Harper’s good style. In the evening the company marched to Halcombs, some little distance from the town, the residence of Mr. C. R. Luce, where they were liberally entertained. Various games were also indulged in for some considerable time, and, as night drew on, they returned to their club room.
On Trinity Tuesday, the Castle Inn Club, Westport, celebrated their anniversary and although this society had been called upon to disburse the expense of much sickness, they still have a handsome balance in hand, and are going on well.—On Wednesday, was celebrated the feast of the Three Cups Club. After parading the town to the strains of their Band, they returned to their club room and dined. In the evening they paid a visit to Halcombs House, the residence of Major Luce, where they were hospitably entertained.
On Trinity Tuesday and Wednesday were celebrated as usual the annual festivals of the Castle Club and the “Three Cups” Friendly Society. The societies have suffered severely from sickness among their members during the year, with several deaths. Notwithstanding these heavy strains upon their exchequers, each society has managed to carry a small balance over to the next year’s account. The Castle members contented themselves with a little modest music indoors, without street parading or outdoor demonstrations, save a little dancing in front of the Castle Inn, where the anniversary is held. The Three Cups Society, as usual, engaged the famous Rifle Corps band, who both before and after dinner paraded the town as far as Burton hill. In the evening, the company proceeded, accompanied by several hundred friends to Halcomb House, the residence of Major Luce, where they enjoyed themselves for two or three hours in rural sports, &c. After playing the National Anthem, the band struck up a lively march, and returned to the club room, where the remainder of the evening was spent in songs, harmony, &c.
The Friendly Society held at the Castle Inn celebrated its anniversary on Trinity Tuesday. The society, which numbers about 70 members, sat down to a good dinner provided by Host Exton. On Wednesday a similar society at the Three Cups Inn held its anniversary, when the members dined together, an excellent repast being provided by Host Harper. The Malmesbury Brass Band was engaged and enlivened the company with some choice music.
The Whitsuntide and Trinity Friendly Societies of this town and neighbourhood have been holding their several anniversary meetings, amid sunshine and rain, and from what we see many of them are far from insolvency. One club, the “Three Cups,” Westport, in spite of much sickness for a year or two past, has not only declared a dividend to each member with a very decent balance in the hands of the treasurer, but they have also managed to supply the place of their old, worn, and tattered flag with a new one, at a cost of several pounds.
The members of the benefit society held at the Castle Inn, Westport, held their anniversary on Trinity Tuesday. Dinner was provided by Host Exton.—On Wednesday, the members of the benefit society held at the Three Cups Inn celebrated their anniversary by parading the principal streets of the town, headed by the Malmesbury Brass Band, after which the members and friends sat down to a substantial repast provided by Host Harper. Dancing and other amusements were freely indulged in, and a pleasant evening was spent.
CLUB ANNIVERSARIES.—The various club anniversaries in the villages at Whitsuntide and Trinity have passed off satisfactorily. We understand this is attributed to there being no extension of hours granted to any public-house, all of which were closed at the ordinary hour. CLUBS IN THE TOWN.—On Trinity Tuesday the members of the Castle Inn Benefit Society celebrated their anniversary, when Host Exton provided a capital spread. During the evening the Malmesbury brass band was in attendance. The following day a similar society, held at the Three Cups Inn, held their anniversary, Host Harper catering well for the members. The Didmarton brass band was engaged, and the society paraded through the various streets in the town; during the evening dancing was kept up in right earnest.
The annual festival of the members of the Castle Inn Friendly Society was held on Trinity Tuesday, when the members of the society sat down to a capital dinner provided by Mr. and Mrs. Exton. The Malmesbury brass band attended during the evening and played a selection of dance music.—On Wednesday the members of the Three Cups Inn Friendly Society held their anniversary.
On Trinity Tuesday the anniversary of the friendly society held at the Castle Inn took place, Host Exton catering well for the members. The following day a similar society held at the Three Cups Inn celebrated their anniversary, a good spread being provided by Host Harper. The Malmesbury brass band was engaged and enlivened the company during the day.
(before Mr T. H. Chubb and Alderman Fullaway).
Abel Gray, labourer, of Corston, was summoned by Frederick Clark, a pensioner, charged with assaulting him. Complainant was engaged at the Three Cups Inn, Malmesbury, as waiter on the club anniversary day, and in the afternoon he had orders to clear the clubroom of a lot of boys who were there. He went into the clubroom and found six or seven boys, and ordered them off. The defendant’s brother was among them, and the defendant invited him to stay. A man named Stephen Miles said that if one went all ought to go. The defendant then pulled off his jacket to fight Miles. Complainant tried to pacify him, when the defendant hit the complainant a very severe blow under the eye, cutting it open and blacking it very badly. Witnesses were called on both sides. The bench remarked that it was a most unjustifiable assault. It was one of the evils of public-house clubs, that men saved their money for the well meant purposes of a benefit society and then on these days squandered it in drinking. Defendant, against whom there were two previous convictions, would be fined £1.
On Wednesday the members of the Three Cups Inn Friendly Society, Malmesbury, celebrated their anniversary. The members met at the house of Host Harper. After transacting the usual business, at one o’clock they formed a procession, carrying a handsome banner, and, preceded by the Malmesbury Brass Band, they paraded the principal streets of the town, after which the members partook of a substantial dinner, provided by Host Harper, under the presidency of Colonel Luce. The usual loyal toasts were given. In the evening the members, accompanied by the band, proceeded to Halcombes, the residence of Col. Luce, where refreshments were provided. The remainder of the evening was spent in dancing to the strains of the band.
