SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

In last night's YEP - never heard of these guys before - mind you I've always known that Leeds had a lot of them!http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 2766.jpThe Blue Plaque will be placed on their former Georgian headquarters in Queen Square in WoodhouseToday the Oddfellows exist as a social, charitable and welfare organisation with 2,500 members in the city.Any members of SL also an Oddfellow? Blue Plaque to be unveiled on Thursday 20th 2:30 pm will read"The 33 lodges of the Leeds District of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society were administered from here 1910-1979. They offered workers and their families mutual financial protection in times of illness, unemployment and bereavement. Facilities here included meeting rooms, a ballroom and a club."(I didn't think there was enough room on the plaque for this - does this qualify as the longest description on any Leeds Blue Plaque?)Also mentioned herehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2011/jan/16/bl ... llowsCan't believe that despite the fact that I walk through this square every day I didn't know the significance of this building.    

Yes I came across them when I was doing some research on the Skulls thread. It was something to do with the skulls and possible masonic links I seem to recall. Interesting tale about them, and I do beileve the Ancient Order of Foresters was founded in Leeds. They were a similar kind of charitable group. Both with Masonic links of sorts. http://www.forestersfriendlysociety.co. ... foresters/    

There were lots of quasi masonic groups set up in the 18th and 19th century such as the Oddfellows,foresters etc.The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes,The Ancient Order of Druids, and the Grand Order of Water Rats are other orders still going and of similiar age.I used to belong to the R.A.O.B myself in my late teens/early 20's.Means I can say I used to be in a secret society<LOL>!

You just like running naked through the woods at midnight Mr Jones

Its amazing how many people have no idea what the Oddfellows are . I am a lifelong member of the Kingston Unity which has its main office in Park Square. The societies were originally burial clubs for the working man and at the introduction of the welfare state one of the ways to get your stamp paid was to pay via a friendly society ( the KU had a club house on the Headrow ) they were basically an investment club and are still active and very successful as an investing society providing much better returns than banks or building societies , Those of you with grandchildren would be well advised to look at them. There used to be a strong whiff of the masonic about them and I am indeed a holder of the purple degree ( damned if I can remember the password though) . I have lots of info on their history if anyone is interested just email me.

Up here north of the Border, there were vigourous and succesful Oddfellows Lodges throughout the Lothians and Fife in the mid 19th Century but seem to have been riven with internal dispute and competion between individual lodges and orders.The last remaining Oddfellows Lodge in Scotland is The Caledonian Lodge of Oddfellows based in one of the northern most outposts of Fife, the town of Newburgh (an old quarry, malting and milling port on the Tay estuary midway between Dundee and Perth). They were formed in 1827 and remain active to this day.On Hogmanay the Caledonian Lodge set forth on their annual procession along the high street by torchlight, with a brass band, a piper, wearing a variety of costume and masks (the symbolism of which escapes me and frankly every one I spoke to when I went to see it myself a few years back) ........... but its a grand way to begin the night!See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=418-uzbt2OA for one locals recording of this years bash!

DOBBO wrote: Its amazing how many people have no idea what the Oddfellows are . I am a lifelong member of the Kingston Unity which has its main office in Park Square. The societies were originally burial clubs for the working man and at the introduction of the welfare state one of the ways to get your stamp paid was to pay via a friendly society ( the KU had a club house on the Headrow ) they were basically an investment club and are still active and very successful as an investing society providing much better returns than banks or building societies , Those of you with grandchildren would be well advised to look at them. There used to be a strong whiff of the masonic about them and I am indeed a holder of the purple degree ( damned if I can remember the password though) . I have lots of info on their history if anyone is interested just email me. The Friendly Societies also owned a lot of property. The Kingston Unity Friendly Society owned the freehold on the building of the Marquis of Granby pub at the bottom of Eastgate and leased the property to Melbourne Brewery.

And their crest is above the door on the matching building on the other side of the headrow, see signs of old leodis thread.

Phill_dvsn wrote: You just like running naked through the woods at midnight Mr Jones Now don't you start,I get enough from csosni<LOL>.

Steve Jones wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: You just like running naked through the woods at midnight Mr Jones Now don't you start,I get enough from csosni<LOL>. I thought i'd throw in a quick jibe seen as csnosi seems to be keeping a low profile these days lol.All in good nature as i'm sure you know mate