Why is the George and Dragon Pub in Newton known as The Trust?
On 1st January 1780, a society was instituted at a meeting at a Newton ale house. A booklet or pamphlet was printed and published in Mansfield in 1805, with articles of the institution. The first line of the title is unknown but it continues:
…at Mr George Adlington’s,
Being the Sign of the Trooper,
In Newton, In the Parish of Blackwell.
Instituted the 1st January 1780. Mansfield.
Note: George Adlington in 1780 at the Sign of the Trooper is believed to have been born at Newton in 1742, the son of George Adlington and wife Elizabeth Boot. Elizabeth had been granted the tenancy of Newton Farm on the death of George in 1757, with son George presumably taking on his father’s work and eventually the hostelry opposite, then known as the The Sign of the Trooper, or just The Trooper, and later renamed The George and Dragon. An auction notice in the Derby Mercury in 1826 states that the auction is to be held “ at the house of Mr George Adlington, the sign of the George and Dragon in Newton”. It is thought that at that time a 3rd George Adlington was the landlord, son and grandson of the two above. So a name change occurred between 1780 and 1826.( Perhaps the pub was renamed by our 3rd George in remembrance of parents George and Anne Adlington or himself and his wife…whichever it was, it wasn’t particularly polite to the female line!).
For more on Troopers and Barracks Yard in Newton, look for Barracks Yard on this site)
Members of the society met each month on the first Saturday, and paid a subscription of 6d to the appointed master or stewards, who each had a key to a cash box, which was only allowed to be unlocked when 3 or more members were present. The member was also obliged to spend 2d at the meeting, presumably on ale. The society was open to anyone whom the majority of members approved, but no one over the age of 36 years was allowed to join.
If the cash in the box, known as the stock, fell to less than £20, double subscriptions were collected until £20 was achieved. The stock was used to provide assistance in times of difficulty of a member; death of a wife would be supported with a payment of 30 shillings, plus 3d per member; loss of work through illness would be supported by 6 shillings per week for up to 6 months, reducing to 3 shillings after that time. These benefits depended on the member having been one of the society for at least 12 months. On the death of a member 1 year with the society, his family would be paid £2, rising to £3 and £5 for members of 2 years and 4 years respectively.
And on the social side, the society met every Blackwell Feast Day, for 2 hours from 9am, after which they attended divine service at church, returning with the vicar and clerk for dinner. If the stock was at or above £30, dinner was paid from the stock. Otherwise each member would have to pay 8d for dinner and 5d for ale, unless otherwise agreed by the society and the landlord.
There were strict rules for the members, and forfeits charged for non-compliance: 2d for being more than 1 hour late for the monthly meeting, If he missed the meeting entirely he still had to pay 8d into the stock. Cursing, swearing, offering affront to another member (for instance by calling him a pensioner which was an insult back then!) , divulging society secrets and so on would earn a fine of 2d. Being late for the Blackwell Feast Day meeting would bring on a fine of 6d, one hour late 1 shilling and failure to attend the church service 1 more shilling.
(£1 in 1780 is approximately equivalent to £240 in 2024, so 1d (1 old penny) would be about £1 today. Monthly subscription of 6d plus spend of 2d equates to £8 today. Feast Day Dinner of 8d would again today mean £8, with Ale at £5. Compensation for the death of a wife would be paid at £1-10s-0d or £360, Sickness benefit payout of 6/- per week equates to £72 per week reducing to 3/- or £36 per week. On death of a member the society would pay out £480 if one year membership, increasing to £720 for a 2 year membership or £1200 for a 5 year membership.)
Tony Mellors Aug 2024.
