Friendly Societies

Funding healthcare was a difficulty: there were four Friendly Societies in Milford where local people could put some money aside for medical emergencies. In Milford in 1812 one in six members of the population were members.

The Ancient Order of Foresters was founded in 1834 and a branch opened in Milford in 1883. It promoted self-help and gave relief and assistance to its members in times of sickness. Major Henry Goodwyn was a generous supporter of the Milford branch and when he died in 1899 they adopted the name “Lodge Goodwyn” in his honour.

The Milford Slate Club was formed in Victorian times. It offered a means of insuring for payment during an illness. It cost one shilling a month and published its accounts in the Parish Magazine.

In the 1880’s, Milford supported Hospital Sunday which was set aside annually for collection of money for hospitals. From 1900 with the opening of the local Cottage Hospital this money was channelled there.

Links

http://www.friendlysocieties.co.uk/history.htm

References

Robert Coles, Our Hospital – a History of Health Care in Milford-on-Sea, 1994, League of Friends, Milford-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital.

Records

If you would like to research Milford’s history, take a look in our archive.

If you have some documents, images or artefacts which tell some of Milford’s history and would like to donate them to the archive then follow up here.