The latest display by the Skidby Mill volunteer team opens at lunchtime on Tuesday, 12 December.
Entitled Helping Out: Friendly Societies in East Yorkshire the display looks at a wide variety of societies such as the Freemasons, Druids, United Free Gardeners, Temperance societies and the Foresters that have existed over the last 200 years or so.
The display includes a colourful selection of regalia, medals, documents and photographs, relating to these often little known organisations.
Said Dr. David Marchant, museums registrar with East Riding of Yorkshire Council:
“When people think of societies, many immediately associate them with secrecy, funny handshakes and odd rituals.”
“Whilst you will find information about these things in the display, it is by no means the whole story.”
“These societies were generally set up to provide benefits for their members (or families) when they were sick or out of work for example.”
“And in small towns or villages, the annual club feasts of the societies became an important part of the social calendar.”
“These days, many societies do valuable charitable work in the wider communities in which they exist.”
#The display will run until 15 May, 2018.
The Mill is open 10.00am to 5.00pm (closed for lunch 12.30-1.00pm, last admissions 4.15pm); Fridays last admission 3.45pm, closing at 4.30pm. Modest admission charges apply.
