59/197

Polehead in the form of a spear with cut outs of a leopard, the intials 'IL' (probably the name of the friendly society) and the date '1761'.
This brass polehead is in the form of spear with cut outs of a leopard, the intials 'IL' (probably the standing for the name of the friendly society) and the date '1761' (probably indicating when it was founded). It is unknown to which friendly society this polehead belonged. This polehead may have been carried by an officer or have been carried by the society's banner. Poleheads were carried on processions by members of village clubs or parish friendly societies on their annual ‘walks’. The friendly societies were formed to provide some insurance for members against sickness or death, and also played an important role in the social life of the village.

1 polehead: metal

Object research project, Gabby Price, July 2019 – ‘This spear-shaped polehead, measuring at 17 cm in height and 12.5 cm in width at its widest point, was used an emblem for a Friendly Society. Friendly Societies, some of which still exist today in a different context, were a group of local like-minded individuals who had a centralised funding system, funded by members which was used to provide healthcare, pensions, and savings for the village before the introduction of the welfare state. Funding would be used to provide aid in times of hardship to contributors, and would be used to buy necessities such as coal. Although we know where roughly area wise this Friendly Society was based, its exact origins are unknown. The polehead was used in society parades such as for the society’s annual feast day or for Stave dances, carried by the society’s officer, which were performed during processions. The artefact is made of brass, and poleheads made of this material meant that the society was largely confined to the West Country region of England, and this is narrowed down further with the cut out of a leopard at the centre. The leopard represents a public house where the society would meet, normally an inn, or would represent something that had meaning to the society. Symbols were popular in the Somerset/ Gloucestershire area of England, most likely where this society hailed. The initials ‘IL’ are also cut out in the polehead, probably the initials of the society it belonged to, but it is unknown which, and the date, ‘1761’ being the year the society was founded.', Club brasses, mounted on poles, were carried in procession by the members of village clubs on their annual ‘walks’. These clubs were parish friendly societies formed to provide some insurance for their members against sickness or death, though in addition they played an important part in the social life of the village. The majority of these societies dated from about 1793 when the Government passed an act to encourage their foundation. Several more acts followed during the first 60 years of the 19th century, until excessive government protection led to the decline of the clubs. A few however remained in existence until the National Insurance Act of 1911. Most clubs had a strict code of behaviour laid down in their constitutions and usually the annual meeting was followed by a church service and a ‘walk’ round the parish. Although poles were carried in this procession in many districts, the use of brass heads was confined to Somerset and the adjoining counties. The design of the brasses was sometimes conventional or sometimes represented an interest of the club such as the inn in which the meetings were held., Letter, Margaret Fuller to G. C. C. Atkinson, 12 September 1958 – ‘…The brass spear is unlike any I have seen from Somerset and the borders of the surrounding counties but I am fairly certain, nevertheless, that it is a Friendly Society emblem. It may possibly have been a single example borne by an officer of the society or it may have been the pole head of the society’s banner. Under either of these circumstances the initials IL would probably stand for the name of the society and the date 1761 would represent the year of its foundation. Of course this is only speculation…’