MIDDLETON ON THE WOLDS HERITAGE

FORESTERS AND FEASTS

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A Beloved Tradition

In Middleton, the Feast was an eagerly anticipated event, even more so than Christmas. It provided two days of fun and frivolity. However, the organization behind it, The Foresters, had a serious purpose that greatly contributed to the village’s social fabric.

The Foresters’ Role

Before the welfare state, there was little provision for sickness and unemployment, and what existed was often humiliating. The Foresters helped alleviate these problems, reducing financial burdens on the Parish and workhouse systems. Even critics like Henry Strickland praised it as a good example of Victorian “self-help.”

Membership Benefits

Members paid regular subscriptions and received:

  • Cash benefits for sickness or accident-related unemployment
  • Medical help
  • Travel expenses for job seeking
  • Cash payments upon the death of a member or their spouse

Historical Background

  • Founded: 1834 (Ancient Order of Foresters)
  • Middleton Chapter: Court Devonshire, founded on February 15, 1839, at the Robin Hood Inn by Thomas Thurlow, William Moat, Robert Syron, and Thomas Petch.

Notable Members

Early members included:

  • John Wood (Surgeon)
  • Manners Lamplough (Schoolmaster)
  • Halder Wood (Veterinary Surgeon)
  • Boulby Bell (Solicitor)
  • Wilsh Crowe (Miller)

Significant Events

  • May 8, 1840: Revd John Blanchard was presented with a sash, signifying the support of a powerful village figure.
  • Membership Growth: From 50 in the first year to 94 by 1844. Consistent membership numbers were maintained even after 1911.

Membership Requirements

Applicants needed to be:

  • Fit and proper persons
  • Sober and discreet
  • Of good character
  • In perfect health

Challenges and Changes

  • Record Loss: Many early records were destroyed in the 1970s.
  • Fraudulent Claims: In 1863, a claim against Thomas Thurlow was settled in his favor.
  • Expulsion and Rejoining: Expelled in the 1860s, Middleton rejoined the Ancient Order in 1963.
  • Medical Services: Provided from 1841 by Dr. John Wood, later replaced by Dr. William Bulmer in 1843 due to neglect charges.

The Annual Feast

The Feast was a public celebration of the Foresters’ existence, featuring:

  • Processions with regalia and sashes
  • Services in the Parish Church
  • Annual Dinner with notable guests

Notable Speeches

  • Revd. Loten: Urged the need to preserve village and rural life.
  • Mr. S. G. Hogarth: Spoke about raising the school leaving age and technical education.

Additional Historical Insights

The serious part of the celebration consisted of the Church service at which the Rector preached the sermon (his son continued the practice) preceded by the Procession with a colourful banner and band. The dinner was followed by guest speakers who would address serious topics of the day, such as in 1894 when the Revd. R.C.G. O’Callaghan called on all Societies to be affiliated with a more powerful one to meet the coming challenge of Old Age pension provision.

After 1884, when agricultural labourers gained the vote, local politicians or their agents were keen to attend. Luke White MP once rushed to the Feast from London after taking part in a midnight debate in the House of Commons. In the late 1890s, there was a growing emphasis on patriotism and military preparedness, as reflected in Colonel Staveley’s offerings.

The Government provision of old age pensions for the over 70s in 1911, together with the earlier basic health insurance, gave a warning that the work of the Friendly Societies could be put in jeopardy in the future. This was reflected in a 1913 newspaper article about the village when the reporter said that “this club in common with kindred societies has had its best days.”

The Feast was suspended during World War I but resumed afterwards. In 1920, it was arranged that the Market Weighton Jesmond Jesters would provide the entertainment together with that town’s band. On that occasion, there was to be a cold dinner. The Feasts continued throughout the 1930s with Corrigans providing the sideshows and roundabouts.

A panoramic archival black and white photograph showing a large crowd of villagers gathered on the village green and street for a festival, with fairground stalls, caravans, and historic houses in the background.
A historic view of a lively village feast day celebration on the green, featuring local residents, fairground stalls, and caravans.
A black and white historical photograph showing a Foresters Feast Day parade marching along lower Front Street past low brick outbuildings, with a brass band and banner carriers trailing behind.
A historic Foresters parade moving along lower Front Street past traditional village workshops.
A black and white historical group photograph of dozens of male members of the Middleton Foresters Club posing in suits and flat caps under a large tree on Feast Day during the interwar era.
A historic Feast Day group portrait of the Middleton Foresters Club members, dating from the 1920s or 1930s.
A grainy black and white historical postcard showing a Foresters Friendly Society parade walking down the unmade road of higher Front Street, flanked by brick terraced houses and local shopfronts on the left.
A historic Foresters Friendly Society procession making its way down higher Front Street past local terraces.
A black and white historical photograph from an elevated angle showing a Foresters Friendly Society parade walking past the village pond, with a large banner reading "Middleton on the Wold Foresters".
The Foresters Friendly Society procession marching past the village pond with their ceremonial banner.
A black and white historical photograph showing a large group of men posing with brass instruments, marching staves, and a massive Foresters ceremonial banner on the grounds outside the grand brick Reading Rooms building.
Members of the Foresters Friendly Society gathered with their banner outside the village Reading Rooms.
A sepia-toned historical photograph capturing a massive Foresters friendly society parade marching through the village street, led by a brass marching band and a large decorative banner.
A historic view of the Foresters Friendly Society procession marching down the village street.
A black and white historical photograph capturing a large crowd gathered on a village street outside a stone church building for a Foresters friendly society parade, featuring men holding a massive decorative banner aloft.
A historic Foresters parade and community gathering outside the village church.

Archival group photographs capturing members of the Middleton Foresters Club assembled on their annual Feast Day in Middleton on the Wolds. The photographs date from the interwar period. Source unknown, c 1920-1930s

It was perhaps fitting that the last full Feast was held in June 1939, its centenary year. The Driffield Times reported:

“Streets were thronged with people when the procession formed at the Robin Hood Hotel and headed by members of the club with regalia and sashes, carrying clubs, horns and green staves looking most picturesque and resembling foresters. Their gaily illuminated banner was carried in front followed by the Nafferton Silver Band and club members. They paraded the village before the service in church. The Rector of Middleton, Dr Clements and the Revd. R.A. Loten walked in the procession.

The Rector paid tribute to the club and hinted at the possible future threat to democracy. The collection of £2.2s.4d was for the Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield.

The service in the Parish Church was conducted by the rector the Revd D.T. Silian Evans and the church was crowded. Popular hymns were heartily sung by the choir with Mr W. Eastwood at the organ.”

The procession reformed and paraded the village prior to the Annual Dinner which was held in the village hall and about 130 guests and members sat down to an excellent spread provided by Percy Dove of the Rose and Crown Hotel.

As he had done for 15 years, Dr Clements presided, supported by Ald. T. Beachell (Dalton Holme), Ald. W. S. Temple JP (Skerne), Mr W. Prince-Smith (Middleton Hall), Mr R. F. Byass (North Dalton), Mr Thomas Holtby (County Coroner), the Revd. R.A. Loten, the Revd D. T. Evans BA Rector of Middleton, Mr F. F. Hepworth, Mr S. G. Hogarth, Mr W. Eastwood and Mr J. W. Parratt. Mr Hugh Brooksbank could not be there because of his wife’s illness.

A newspaper clipping from the 2016 Driffield and Wolds Weekly Memories page, featuring a historic black and white group photograph of the Middleton on the Wolds Foresters with their banner.
A 2016 Driffield & Wolds Weekly feature requesting information on a historic Middleton Foresters group photograph.

Source unknown, date unknown

“I have the honour to be, sir, your most respectful and obedient servant, Mark Vary, Secretary. Dinner on the Table at half past one o’clock.”

The Revd. Loten (Methodist minister) made a prophetic speech in which he urged the need to preserve village and rural life. Mr S. G. Hogarth, the Schoolmaster, spoke about the raising of the school leaving age and technical education. Ald. Beachell praised Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax for their peace efforts and the East Riding County Council for providing the village with water and electricity.

The immediate post-war years were a period of austerity, and the full Feast was not revived, but Corrigans roundabouts and fairground attractions made their visit in 1947. In 1950, following a discussion and vote, 33 of the 40 members assembled voted against reviving the Feast.

It is said that the Society continued to function until the 1980s, but by then the full impact of the post-war welfare state had weakened the voluntary sector. Regrettably, the whereabouts of the colourful banner is not known.

East Riding Friendly Societies

In 1988 David Neave wrote a book published by the East Yorkshire Local History Society. It explores the history and activities of friendly societies in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This book delves into the role these societies played in the local community, their development, and their impact on social welfare in the region, and is an interesting read.

The book cover of "East Riding Friendly Societies" by David Neave, published in 1988, featuring a colourful illustration of the Middleton on the Wolds Foresters ceremonial banner.
Book cover of David Neave’s “East Riding Friendly Societies”, published in 1988 by the East Yorkshire Local History Society.

Source East Yorkshire Local History Society


We hope to add more to the website in this area.

Written by M. Gillum using Geoff Wisher Heritage Sheet 16

June 2025

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