Following further research, the photographs brought down last week relate to the Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. This post should therefore read like this: In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the East Medina Lodge in September 2013, the Isle of Wight Heritage Service has kindly loaned some Oddfellows photographs to the Heritage Centre. These will be on display until the end of September.
In 1876, the Annual Movable Committee of the Manchester Unity met in Ryde. Local photographer Charles Knight, the son of Henry Knight, who owned the Royal Victoria Arcade, took photographic portraits of 332 Oddfellows who attended this event. The portraits were mounted together in one frame, with the names and where the men came from written around each one.
Now sadly fading, Historic Ryde Society is delighted to be given this chance to show this wonderful artefact to the public for the first time. Don’t miss this opportunity of coming along to have a look, before it returns to the Heritage Service for safe keeping.
The photograph shows John and Paul of the Heritage Service installing the photographs. The chat went along the lines of ‘We’ll have to get married if we get much closer……’
