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This Foresters' collar is made of red silk with a green border and fringed ends. It is decorated with a green, red, gold and silver badge depicting an eye looking down on a stag's head, crown and quartered shield. It is inscribed with 'Ancient Order of Foresters Unity Benevolence & Concrd'. The sash belonged to a Forester who wore it in the 1850s. The Ancient Order of Foresters was a large Friendly Society formed to provide some insurance for members against sickness or death.

1 Collar (Foresters'): silk; good condition

Letter, Assistant Keeper to Mr Lorie, 23 October 1959 (55/799–55/1180) – The Order of Oddfellows, the Ancient Order of Foresters and the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds were large Friendly Society. The Oddfellows comprised numerous affiliated branches and is said to have originated in the first half of the eighteenth century. These Orders primarily existed to form a central fund by subscription for the relief members and their families who, as a result of sickness or death, were in need of financial assistance. The National Insurance Act of 1911 greatly lessened the need for their activities., Press cutting [Valley News. July 1999] – 'Slap-up dinners, pubs and savings // some early Friendly Societies provided thrift and fun. // In the middle of the last century, if you wanted to put money aside in case of sickness you did it through a Friendly Society. In many Sussex villages these small societies were often based on a local Public House. As a member you would have made weekly payments and the society provided you with protection against unemployment and sickness, with funds for funerals, and sometimes for pensions too. // In 1848 a Society calling itself The Ancience Order of Free Foresters based one of their branches at the Horse & Grrom in Singleton. It was a nation-wide organisation and its proceedings were very formal. But other, smaller societies were more relaxed. After paying out the necessary funds, they used the remaining money for a feast day once a year. This was a great local event. Members gathered in a central area and marched to church for a service preceded by a band. After the service they paraded through the village again and visited the homes of the more affluent members of the community, who responded by making donations to the funds. Members then marched back to the village where a slap-up dinner was served in the public house to which the group was affiliated. Even though these 'feast days' were often held in summer, the usual fare was boiled beef and Christmas pudding! // The official name of Singleton's society was Court "Royal Victoria" No. 2288 and pomp and ceremony were considered to be most important. The President wore a chain of office, members addressed each other as Brother, and strict secrecy was upheld regarding the affairs of individual members. The society became very popular, and in 1896 when William Staples was secretary of the club he announced that during the previous sixteen years £2224 eight shillings and sixpence had been paid out in sickness benefit among the 147 members, while widows and orphans had received £295 ten shillings during the same period. In the same year the local doctor, Dr Henry Harlock was initiated as an Honorary Member. His successor, Dr Garrett, who lived in the Corner House transformed one of his outbuildings into the village Surgery, where local members of Court Royal Victoria No: 2288 were given free treatment. // Bill Smith who for many years lived in Singleton and West Dean and now lives in Chichester, joined as a junior member in 1930. At that time the Secretary of the Court was Brother Pilcher, who was the foreman painter on the West Dean estate. Mr Pilcher set about recruiting in the valley and increased the membership to nearly 400...', Letter, Frank A. Pilcher to MERL, 27th July 1955 [in file for 55/359-60] - 'I hope to bring you a sash & a collar worn by a Forester 100 years ago, he gave it to me for safe keeping before he died...'

1825-01-01 - 1874-12-31

Mid-nineteenth century