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Societies: Loyal Caledonian Corks Society

B

BarryW

Guest
Continuing with my interest in friendly and fraternal societies I am trying to fing anything at all about the Loyal Caledonian Order of Corks which appears to have been centred in Birmingham and Black Country but spread as far as Derby and Leicester.


I have seen references to about 200 lodges in the 1920's and seen a photo of someone associated with the order dressed belive it or not..in cork!:rolleyes:

I know nothing other than this and any info whatsoever would be really great.

Thanks

Barry
 
There was a Loyal Caledonian Corks club in Small Heath , in Golden Hillock Rd. I remember seeing a very young Hurricane Higgins putting on exhibition matches thereThis would have been in 60s
 
My grand fathers obituary says he was a founder member and first share holder in the Kings Heath club, its still there today, when I contacted them they said that no records existed from the early days. I do remember a framed illuminated certificate that had pride of place in the "front room", unfortunately it disappeared through time.

Colin
 
postie said:
There was a Loyal Caledonian Corks club in Small Heath , in Golden Hillock Rd. I remember seeing a very young Hurricane Higgins putting on exhibition matches thereThis would have been in 60s
Click to expand...


I remember this place postie, I used to live more or less opposite this place. Never went in mind.......just observed as a kid.:)
 
Hi
I worked at the Corks club in Kings Heath until January..Some of the members have been there for 40 years it maybe worth phoning and seeing if the older members can help
Maggie
 
Ok 'all seeing young postie', come on........spill the beans!!:)Mind, its not difficult to work out if you're a local to Small Heath.....so come on then.......do tell.:D
 
Hello All

I have come across the following picture of the Caledonian Corks at a parade (maybe a Whitsun parade in support of a lifeboat appeal).

It was sent to me by a lady in Canada, not sure where it is though I am afraid.

Barry
 
Hi Barry,

I am a member of the Caledonian corks, it is situated on the Alcester Road in Kings heath, Birmingham. I think it has been there since 1920 ish. I also saw the photo you posted from the lady in Canada and am trying to find where this was taken. The information on the Corks history is a little sketchy. All we know of the Corks is that was formed out of the Masonic movement. I am researching more on this and will keep you posted.

Best Regards,

Dave May
 
Hi
I am a first time user here so here goes.
I have just seen your note, dated April, on Loyal Caledonian Corks, Kings Heath and that your relative was a founder member. Well, I have an original share document dated 1946, any thoughts on this? Cheers.
 
re the caladonian corks in small heath
i remember being asked to do a gig there one new years eve, i was informed that there were artistes coming from all over the place, normally i wouldent go out for anyone on new years eve but i didnt want to let anyone down so i set out and had a tyer blow out by the golf club ( cant think of the name now never mind) got to the corks it turned out to be a free and easy, isharnt tell you the language that came out from me,(dont get me wrong, i used to love doing freeand easey's normaly) but i feel i was conned that night.
shardeen
 
Dont know whether this is the same but my friends dad always went to a place called the corks club, it is still there I think, it is just off the main road in Bearwood.
 
the caledonian corks club were connected with at least three lodges. L240, L354 and L650. the club paid a quarterly amount to each lodge for expences and gave them a venue for meetings.
 
Jacqui100 said:
Hi
I am a first time user here so here goes.
I have just seen your note, dated April, on Loyal Caledonian Corks, Kings Heath and that your relative was a founder member. Well, I have an original share document dated 1946, any thoughts on this? Cheers.
Click to expand...
what's the share number?
 
For those who haven't seen it there is some great stuff about the Corks in Walsall local history centre but I am still left with three questions I can't answer:
1. Why "caledonian"
2. Why "corks?"
3. Did the order go outside of the Midlands. Birmingham seems to have been its main home.

From the regalia which looks like it might have been made by Slingsby's in Nuneaton it shows what look like two workmen. Was there a brewing link?

I also have no idea about their ritual but presume it was like the Oddfellows.

Anybody have anymore info?

Barry
 
caledonian refers to gods' country. do you not think it might be a masonic order?lodge 240 in scottish freemasonary is the caledonian railroad lodge.
 
maggieuk said:
Hiya Al I didn't know that ..well done:)
Click to expand...
hey, mags. i always get homesick at this time of year...... does anyone at the bearwood or small heath club know anything about the societies history?
 
here is a thought perhaps it relates to migrant workers and based in the midlands? it might be from elsewhere like Ireland or scotland for instance Caledonia I always thought related to things Scottish I am probably wrong but whats new about that? anyway alan have you tried phoning the other clubs and as BarryW says try the walsall library definitely worth pursuing:D
 
I believe that this was a 'self help' society for the working man, giving them a club to gather in and have a drink with other like minded men, and if times got hard they could be helped by the other members of the club.

This appears to be supported by the club motto 'A Cork never sinks'



Smiler



Names interest: Evans,Cain,Walton,Henderson,Cleaver
 
Believe me thats what I was told by a neighbour who was a member of the club in Bearwood.

I wouldn't make that one up, would I!!!


Smiler
 
That's all great stuff.

It certainly wa s social club and one which provided self help in the sense of sick and funeral benefit. It was also a society with a ritual element to it. As far as I can see it was similar to the Oddfellows.

I have seen pictures of the corks which did seem have to have scottish dress associated with it. Yes caledonian was th roman name for Scotland but why did it start in Birmingham and why the Corks link?

There is indeed a masonic society in the USA called the Jolly Corks but I never though there was a connection between the two.
 
The kings Heath Building was originally a merchants house which was used by him for workers to convalese in :D or so the story goes:) how true that is I am not sure but before the Refurbishments the ornate interior certainly ties in with it being used for something like that and next door is a masonic lodge:D:rolleyes:
 
I have posted this one before. It's my great uncle Arthur Manning Davies. With the help from here I found out he was a member of Elkington Lodge. I contacted them to see if they had any information about him from around 1900 I never heard anymore.:(
 
My Grandfather belonged to a lodge on the Mosely Road somewhere between Clifton and Highgate Road.

Does anyone know the exact location, lodge number or any other details.

Would be very grateful, thanks
 
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