| Description | Records of the West London District of the Independent Order of Oddfellows of the Manchester Unity including minutes,
accounts, reports and magazines.
The Manchester Unity was founded in 1810 when members of the United Order of Oddfellows broke away to form an
independent order. By 1850 the Independent Order of Oddfellows of the Manchester Unity was the largest and richest mutual
friendly society in Britain.
The West London District was formed in 1863 in succession to the Pimlico District. The district included lodges in Westminster,
Kensington, Chelsea, Putney, Hammersmith, Fulham, Brentford, Ealing, Acton, Hanwell and Isleworth. In 1931 the West London District Office opened at 186 Hammersmith Road.
The earliest lodge in the district was the Loyal Rose of England Lodge, founded in Pimlico by 1839. The True Briton, another early lodge, first met at the Red Cow, Hammersmith Road, in 1844. Other early Hammersmith lodges were the short lived Pride of Hammersmith, 1853-55, the Albion, opened in 1859, and the Victoria in 1860. The first Fulham lodge, the Lord Ranelagh, opened on 25 April 1866 at the Crown, North End. |