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Free Gardener

Historic Photographs
Sarah Dyce
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Free Gardener
Historic Photographs
1659
Free Gardener
Photographic portrait of a man wearing the sash and medallion of the Order of Free Gardeners.

The Free Gardeners were a friendly society founded in Scotland in the mid-17th century.

Newspaper reports indicate that the Order was considerably active in Aberdeenshire until at least the mid-20th century.

An article in the Press and Journal of 2nd May 1949, page 6, records the address to the North of Scotland district delegation in Aberdeen of the retiring Worthy District Master Charles I. Crighton.

Crighton reports a drop in local membership of the Order, both among the adult and juvenile branches, largely crediting this to the introduction of the National Health Service. The district adult membership stood at 5124, a drop of 110, and a juvenile membership had decreased by 206.

This photograph of an unknown Free Gardener likely dates from the early 20th century.
Friendly societies
C49_16
Aberdeen Local Studies
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