Research Forum

Weston Choral Society
published by on Mon, 25/03/2013 - 19:36

Information I inherited, when I took on the task of compiling the Societies Concert programmes suggests that the Society was founded in 1865 almost 150 years ago which is what is prompting the query. It may even have been at an earlier date than that. Does anyone have any information about this matter? Or can anyone suggest where I should start looking. AlbertWm.

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 25/03/2013 - 22:44

Welcome to our Society! I hope that we can help with your research. If you haven't already done so I would try the Weston Library in the Town Hall. They might have a file of information and newspaper cuttings about the Choral Society. The local newspapers which are available on film in the library may also have information about the formation of the Choral Society.

There are some 19th century newspapers which you can read online free of charge at home by using your North Somerset Library ticket. These are searchable and include the Bristol Mercury which has a mention of the Bristol Choral Society as early as the 1820s. but nothing that I can see about Weston Choral Society.

I have some Choral Society Programmes at home from the 1950s and thought they might have said "established in 1865" but no such luck. There might well be a collection of Programmes in the Library.

Street Directories often carried a section for Associations and Societies - the 1923 Directory for Weston contains the Operatic Society but not the Choral Society and it does tell me that the Weston Orpheus Glee Society was established in 1904 but that's not a lot of good for you!

However in the 1917 Street Directory is an entry for the Weston-super-Mare Philharmonic Society which was founded in 1864. It rehearsed weekly on a Tuesday at the Town Hall and its conductor was Mr Edward Cook. This sounds very much as if it might have been a forerunner of the Choral Society. The Bristol Mercury of 1895 has an announcement that under the baton of Edward Cook they would be performing Sullivan's "The Golden Legend" and in the next season Handel's "Messiah" and Haydn's "Creation". Let me know what you think.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Mon, 25/03/2013 - 23:45

Just a postscript - included in the online catalogue for the Somerset Heritage Centre is this entry:

Repository	Weston super Mare Library
Level	Item
Ref No	ABWG/4/98/10
Title	File of information relating to the Philharmonic Society [see also the Weston Choral Society: ABWG/4/98/12].
Description	Includes newspaper cuttings, 1887 to present; programmes, early 20th cent. -mid 20th cent.;
Date	1887-2003
Extent	1
Format	file
Access Status	Open

So a visit to the library shown be profitable - this is the content of the other file mentioned

Repository	Weston super Mare Library
Level	Item
Ref No	ABWG/4/98/12
Title	File of information relating to choral societies.
Description	Includes newspaper cuttings, 1951 to present; photocopy of list of productions performed by the Weston super Mare Choral Society between 1946-1978; miscellaneous programmes, leaflets, posters, etc., 1925 to present.
Date	1925-2003
Extent	1
Format	file
Access Status	Open

Neither of them go back to 1864 but the newspapers on film should do that.

Submitted by on Wed, 27/03/2013 - 0:33

Many Thanks Pat most helpful look forward to your next event! AG

Submitted by semlyn on Tue, 26/03/2013 - 19:19

The Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette for Thursday 25th April 1839 mentions a concert at the National School Room, Weston, by this Society under the patronage of the Rev J Bond, the Rev Mr.Hale & the Rev C.Gunning.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 27/03/2013 - 0:58

Well spotted - that made me think!

I suggest that this might be Weston Bath, not Weston-super-Mare.

It was reported in a Bath newspaper and on the 1841 census a John BOND was living at the Rectory, Weston Village. A Mr Browning was a Schoolmaster in Weston Bath and further on in the newspaper it says that tea was provided by the Misses LEIR and living in Weston Bath in 1841 were Jane, Ann and Helen LEIR.

This isn't the first time that the two places have been confused and it won't be the last!