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This brass polehead is of the bedpost type with a spherical bulge in the centre and is surmounted by seven pointed stars forming a circle, with six of the stars around the edge and the seventh in the centre. It is unknown to which Club this polehead belonged. 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

The Seven Stars is the emblem of the Grand Secretary of an Oddfellows' Lodge. In the Opening and Initiation Service of the "Ancient Titual of the Patriotic Order of Oddfellows 1797", the Noble Grand Master asks, "Grand Secretary, your situation in the Lodge?" and the Grand Secretary replies (with the Seven Stars in hand), " In the North....because the Pole Star, that never changes its position in connection with our system, is there fixed" The Noble Grand master asks, "What do you deduce from that?" and the Grand Secretary replies, "My emblem is the Seven Stars, representing the constellation of Ursa major, which contains the pointers to the Pole Star and signifies that the office I hold is to record with truth the proceedings of this lodge, that future generations may point with just pride to them. The number seven was of particular significance in Oddfellow symbolism and has always been attributed to possess mystical properties. In the ceremony for the conferring of the Royal Arch of Titus or fidelity Degree upon a candidate the Noble Grand master asks "How many members must be present to complete a lodge of Fidelity?" The Ancient grand master replies, "Seven" and adds "Because it is a sacred number. The seven days were assigned to creation - seven spirits are before the throne of God - the candlestick has seven branches as a holy symbol. Seven churches represented the extension of the doctrine of the cross in its various stages and the seven dispensations that have governed mankind from the creation" He lists the seven dispensations as being Adam in Paradise in a state of Holy innocence, Enoch representing the antediluvian age, Abraham representing the age of faith and promise, Joshua representing the age of the Judges, Samuel who was called by the Lord to inaugurate a prophetic dispensation, David who was the visible king of the Church Militant and Jesus Christ whose kingdom, a spiritual dominion, was to be set up., 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., Allen Collection No. 333.

The Dulverton Trust (Agent)