In the mid-19th century before trade unions for agricultural workers were established and became accepted, friendly societies were a key source of community support, especially in rural villages. The aim of the Chinnocks and Chiselborough Society was “to provide for the comfortable relief of each other in times of sickness, lameness, or any incapacity of getting a subsistence”. Although there are no minutes of the Society until 1856, it clearly attracted a healthy membership between the three parishes and continued in existence until 1939.

The payments required of members from the outset were : 1s 2d on admission as a member, and 1s 3d each month; further payments were required to the burial fund on the death of a member (1s) or a member’s wife or widow (6d). The main benefit was a weekly allowance when unable to work due to illness (5s for the first 4 weeks, 4s for the next 4 weeks, and 3s beyond 8 weeks). A payment of the members’ levy was made to a member whose wife had died, or to the widow on the death of a member. Payment to members about to emigrate were made on a pro-rata basis. In addition, the excess funds of the Society were divided between members on a 7-year basis. An example of this was shown in 1883, when £184 was distributed amongst 56 members. The longest serving, in this 7 year period, received £3 8s; during the previous 7 years, £129 had been paid to sick members, one having £24 12s, one £21 8s and a third £9 5s. It’s clear from reports in the 1920s and 1930s that the Club benefitted greatly from donations from honorary members : this amounted to £18 in 1927/28, and it was noted that there were 36 honorary members in 1931.

The highlight of the year for the Society was the ‘Club Day’ walk and dinner, this being held on Whit Monday, which usually fell in late May or early June, being seven weeks after Easter. The day started with a roll call of the members at 10am, who then marched to one of the three churches, rotated each year; from 1904, members attended a service on Whit Sunday, the day before the walk. Following the service, members would march to ‘pay visits’ to the houses of prominent villagers, who were expected to provide liquid refreshments. The newspaper reports often listed the visits made, such as in 1910 : firstly Chiselborough : Rev Chesshire (Rectory), Messrs B Rogers, G Hunt [near the New Inn], G Lemon, R A Clarke (Manor Farm), J Harrison (Secretary), J Masters [Strapp Farm], and F Dodge (Breach Farm); Middle Chinnock : Messrs J T Clarke [Manor Farm] and Woolcott [Broadstone], then Messrs Patten, Cave [shop in Higher Street], Pattemore, T Langdon, and T Mudford, at West Chinnock. Club members would carry staves with the club polehead, decorated with blue ribbons, and two members would carry the large flag. The march would be headed by a band from a local town or village : the first noted was the Bridport Town band in 1856, followed by bands from Beaminster, Seavington, Parrett Works, and, in later years, often the Star of the West band from Crewkerne. Club Day also included a dinner at West Chinnock School – the Club House – and this was usually provided by one of the local innkeepers, such as the Lowman and then the Warry family at the Half Moon : in 1862, it was resolved that “a plain dinner be provided for the members, their visitors and the Band, with meat, vegetables, bread and cheese, but no puddings”. Following the dinner, there were often more visits made and then dancing and other amusements on paddocks at the centre of the village, or on the lawns of large properties, such as The Elms in Lower Street, West Chinnock.