For many years the Oddfellows met in Furness Vale. Their "Lodge House" was the Soldier Dick until transferring to the Furness Vale Institute at some time between 1966 and 1968.

The Oddfellows was a mutual friendly society, at one time the largest in the World and provided protection against illness or injury and death benefits.  The Oddfellows has a long history and can perhaps trace it's roots back to the 5th century BC. It is believed Roman soldiers contributed to a fund which provided support on retirement.  By the 11th century the concept of mutuality had spread throughout Europe, reaching Britain in the 12th century when the Grand Lodge of Honour was founded in London.

Trade guilds date back to the 8th century and were originally benevolent organisations supporting their members. From the 12th century the guilds had a role in regulating markets and were responsible for training of craftsmen.  Membership included apprentices, fellows were the wage earners and masters were the business owners.In 1545 Henry VIII confiscated the properties of the guilds because of their links to the Roman Catholic church. Some survived by becoming "Freemasons" or "Oddfellows"

In the late 18th century membership of the Oddfellows became a criminal offence. Meetings of working people were considered a threat due to fear of revolution and the Oddfellows became a secret society.  The organisation
remained outlawed until 1850. At this time the Manchester Society was the richest in Britain having grown as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the need for protection against illness etc.

The Furness Vale Lodge was established in 1829 and meetings were held in a room on the top floor of the Soldier Dick. The door to the meeting room had a sliding panel so that officers could see who was knocking before the door was opened. A dome was set into the centre of the ceiling and this housed a bell. The first mention of Furness Vale in the Oddfellows directory is in 1891 when there were 60 members and funds of just £6. Furness was part of the New Mills district.  In 1840 the artist F.W.Riche was commissioned to paint murals on the walls. These depicted civil war and napoleonic war scenes but have been covered up during modern renovations to the pub.

By 1938 membership of Furness Vale Lodge had reached 246 members and funds amounter to £5700.

The Furness Vale Society was part of the New Mills District which included lodges at the Crown, New Mills; Queens Arms, Newtown; in Kettleshulme, Hayfield, Chapel and of course at the Oddfellows Arms in Whitehough.  The
Oddfellows continued to meet in Furness Vale until 1984.

The Oddfellows is still a thriving organisation althought it's nearest lodge is now in Glossop.  A more extensive history can be found on their website http://www.oddfellows.co.uk

parabuild attached the following image(s):

Thanks Ferni

Punch Taverns took over the Soldier Dick 6 or 7 years ago and renovated the pub. This involved converting the first and second floors into letting bedrooms. The murals were covered up. Nobody knows for sure whether they still exist or not.  I am told by the landlord that the domed ceiling which once housed the bell is unchanged.  This is no longer a Punch Taverns house and is privately owned.

The murals at the Soldier Dick were as follows : English Armies in the Civil War

                                                                                        English Armies at Crecy

                                                                                        English Armies in the Napoleonic Wars

                                                                                        English Armies in the Civil War. "Royalists In An Inn"

                                                                                        Portrait of the Innkeeper, the artist's host.

The landlord in 1840, the supposed date of the murals would probably have been William Travis

There seems to have been another mural in the ground floor snug. A slightly different scene, it was perhaps painted at a later date.

The dome was quite substantial 3 to 4 feet in diameter. The bell at one time was rung four times a day.