Labourer's Friend Society
Encyclopedia
The Labourer's Friend Society was a society founded by Benjamin Wills in the United Kingdom
in 1830 for the improvement of working class conditions. This included the promotion of allotment of land to labourers for "cottage husbandry" that later became the allotment
movement, which the Society campaigned for after the Swing riots
of 1830 as "the most plausible remedy for the social problems of the countryside". It published the Labourer's Friend Magazine, and in 1844 changed its title to the Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes, becoming the first Model Dwellings Company
in 1844.
The Society received support from many influential figures of the time, including Montagu Burgoyne
, Mary Ann Gilbert
and Lord Ashley
, who was the primary influence behind the transition of the Society into a more powerful body. The new Society had the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort as president and Ashley as chairman. The company's architect was Henry Roberts
, best known for Fishmongers' Hall in London
.
In 1959, the company became the 1830 Housing Society, which was taken over in 1965 by the Peabody Trust
.
Buildings included:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1830 for the improvement of working class conditions. This included the promotion of allotment of land to labourers for "cottage husbandry" that later became the allotment
Allotment
Allotment may refer to:* Allotment , a small area of land, let out at a nominal yearly rent by local government or independent allotment associations, for individuals to grow their own food...
movement, which the Society campaigned for after the Swing riots
Swing Riots
The Swing Riots were a widespread uprising by agricultural workers; it began with the destruction of threshing machines in the Elham Valley area of East Kent in the summer of 1830, and by early December had spread throughout the whole of southern England and East Anglia.As well as the attacks on...
of 1830 as "the most plausible remedy for the social problems of the countryside". It published the Labourer's Friend Magazine, and in 1844 changed its title to the Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes, becoming the first Model Dwellings Company
Model dwellings company
Model Dwellings Companies were a group of private companies in Victorian Britain that sought to improve the housing conditions of the working classes by building new homes for them, at the same time receiving a competitive rate of return on any investment...
in 1844.
The Society received support from many influential figures of the time, including Montagu Burgoyne
Montagu Burgoyne
Montagu Burgoyne was a politician of Essex.Burgoyne was a younger son of Sir Roger Burgoyne, 6th Baronet of Burgoyne of Sutton, Bedfordshire. He was a member of Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he gained his M.A. in 1774. Lord North gave him the sinecure office of Chamberlain of the Till office in...
, Mary Ann Gilbert
Mary Ann Gilbert
-Marriage:On 18 April 1808, she married Davies Giddy, a Cornish landowner, who had served as High Sheriff of the Duchy. He was an M.P. for Cornish constituencies from 1806 to 1832. Among his roles in Parliament was as Chairman of the Board of Agriculture. Mary Ann Gilbert was passionately concerned...
and Lord Ashley
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury KG , styled Lord Ashley from 1811 to 1851, was an English politician and philanthropist, one of the best-known of the Victorian era and one of the main proponents of Christian Zionism.-Youth:He was born in London and known informally as Lord Ashley...
, who was the primary influence behind the transition of the Society into a more powerful body. The new Society had the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort as president and Ashley as chairman. The company's architect was Henry Roberts
Henry Roberts
Henry Roberts may refer to:*Henry Roberts , 19th-century architect of Fish Hall for the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers*Henry Roberts , officer in the British Royal Navy who served with Captain Cook on his last two voyages*Henry Roberts , English first class cricketer*Henry Roberts , English...
, best known for Fishmongers' Hall in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1959, the company became the 1830 Housing Society, which was taken over in 1965 by the Peabody Trust
Peabody Trust
Peabody Trust , founded in 1862, is one of London's oldest and largest housing associations with over 19,000 properties. It also a charity and urban regeneration agency...
.
Buildings
Roberts' buildings made the SICLC a high profile company with royal patronage and a display at the Great Exhibition; however, functional, utilitarian design of Roberts' buildings led to criticism that they were grim and unpleasant.Buildings included:
- Model Buildings, Bagnigge Wells, PentonvillePentonvillePentonville is an area of north-central London in the London Borough of Islington, centred on the Pentonville Road. The area is named after Henry Penton, who developed a number of streets in the 1770s in what was open countryside adjacent to the New Road...
for 23 families, and 30 aged women - George Street, BloomsburyBloomsbury-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, for 104 single men - Streatham Street, BloomsburyBloomsbury-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, for 48 families - 76 Hatton GardenHatton GardenHatton Garden is a street and area near Holborn in London, England. It is most famous for being London’s jewellery quarter and centre of the UK diamond trade, but the area is also now home to a diverse range of media and creative businesses....
, for 57 single women - 2 Charles Street, Drury LaneDrury LaneDrury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
, for 82 single men - A small lodging-house also for men, in King Street, Drury Lane
- Turner Court, HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...