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As no written records have survived of these activities the following account is compiled largely from some of the articles in the local newspapers, which hopefully were reasonably accurate, but there are large gaps in the information available.  Only a relatively small number of lecture titles have been recorded but those that have give the flavour of what was being delivered at the time. 

The exact year in which the Literary Institute was established is unclear. A small group of people had a meeting in the schoolroom at which it was decided that an Institute should be established (1).  White’s Directory for 1879 suggested a date of about 1854, a date supported by newspaper accounts in 1873 & 1874.  The meetings were held during the winter months and the early venue appears to have been the Rolle Arms. 

The first newspaper account I have found was in February 1859 when the Bishop of Newfoundland gave a lecture about that Province.  In April of the same year the Western Times noted that the Institute was making steady progress and they were making arrangements to conclude the winter season with a concert at the Rolle Arms.  In January 1860 the curate Rev. Field Wayett (2) gave a lecture on China while another lecture in a similar vein later in the year, this time on “Egypt”, was delivered by R. St. Patrick.  

In 1862 the new Public Rooms were opened on West Hill and the Institute seems to have taken up residence there as a venue for its winter lectures and presumably its reading room.  One of main functions of the Institute from its inception had been to make available books and newspapers and these were steadily added when funds were available.  An account in the Western Times in September 1873 records that … 

“by the aid of the leading local and metropolitan newspapers, including the Thunderer, and a library of 1,100 volumes it has imparted knowledge to hundreds, and yet this Institute is languishing for want of funds”.  

By 1879 White’s Directory says the reading room contained 1,200 volumes as well as periodicals and the London and local newspapers.  

From 1864 the Institute seems to have taken a leading role in organising the so called Penny or Popular Readings which were more light-hearted in character than the usual Institute fare.  These were started fortnightly in Budleigh Salterton in January that year.  This type of entertainment had been popularised by Charles Dickens who, from about 1840 onwards, widely travelled the country giving readings, and the price of admission was one penny.   

It was appropriate therefore that the second meeting in Budleigh included a reading of “Christmas Chimes” by Dickens read by Mr Belton of Exeter. Music was also usually on the programme and this was the case in Budleigh although I think not from the inception of the readings.  Judging by later newspaper accounts the musical items seemed very important for the success of these evenings.  

A flavour of these early events can be gained from the following readings at a meeting in November 1864 recorded in the Western Times: 

•An amusing paper entitled “Fashions” read by Mr T W Marstone, Principal of Salterton Academy, showing changes in fashion from the ancient Britons to the present day.

•An instructive tale showing “The Power of Mercy” by Mr Thomson.

•An amusing recitation by Dr Murphy (loudly applauded).

•“How to be happy” by Mr Parsons (from the Post Office).

•“A Tiger Hunt” by Mr Kittle of Knowle

•“On the Motion of the Earth” by Mr H Stickland. 

Mr Marstone was in demand later in the year when he read a paper at an Institute meeting entitled “Antiquarian Researches in England and Wales”. 

At the Town Hall in December 1866 the readers were Messrs. C. R. Price, W. Randall, Stickland and Bradford and the pieces read by Mr Randall (“My uncle’s three night caps”) and by Mr Stickland (“The song of the Crinoline”) produced much merriment.  As usual the readings were interspersed with music.  H. Carter, president of the Literary Institute, was in the Chair. 

A geographical and colonial theme was again evident at the Institute in 1867 when Lawrence Kennaway gave a lecture about New Zealand entitled “Rough notes, or glimpses of the first settlers”.  There was a rather harsh view of the state of the Institute in a March 1867 edition of the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette which stated that there is “a feeling which is widely spread that at present the Literary Institute is little more than a half organised sham”.   At a Committee Meeting the same year major changes were proposed.  Dr Carter suggested amendments to the original regulations written when the Institute was set-up, and Mr Clarke proposed that :-  

•the annual subscription should be raised from 5 to 10 shillings, 

•that the quarterly subscription should rise from 1 shilling to 1/3d, 

•that annual members should have access to Mudie’s Library (#),

•that classes should be established in mechanical drawing, discussion and elocution, glee singing, and instrumental music,

•and that there should be a “nest egg” laid down to establish a local museum. 

# Between 1842 and 1894 Charles Edward Mudie's lending library influenced Victorian literature, particularly fiction.  An annual subscription fee of a guinea allowed a customer to borrow an unlimited number of volumes one at a time.  He ordered books in large quantities, often taking thousands of volumes and occasionally buying up entire printings and his large stock meant that readers did not have to wait long for popular works.  (This information is from “Mudie's Select Library and the Form of Victorian Fiction” by George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History, Brown University). 

The Exeter & Plymouth Gazette of 1st March 1867 recorded that there was a concert of instrumental and vocal pieces at the Public Rooms for the benefit of the musicians who had played (without payment) during the winter season at the Penny Readings. 

In late October 1869 the music at the first reading of the season was provided by the Quadrille Band assisted by Miss Torriano on the piano. Later in November Mrs Lomas was the pianist and the readers were Capt. Dent and Messrs. Price, Stickland and Beer.  Mrs Lomas sang a song “which called forth loud manifestations of admiration” and then Miss Tindall sang “My Heart is o’er the Waters” to great applause and an encore was demanded.  The same month a concert was held at the Public Rooms in aid of the Literary Institute and the popular readings.  Mr G. P. Neave presided, and the conductor for the evening was Mr Vinnicombe, and over £20 was raised. 

In December 1872 Mr G. P. Neave (3), President of the Institute, was given a “gratifying testimonial” when he left the town (1).  He had been one of the people present at the small meeting in the schoolroom when the Institute was formed and had been “an active and energetic President”.  The meeting was packed with people and the Western Times wrote that … 

“the entertainment commenced with a piano solo by Miss Smart, which elicited great applause; after which W. Cox Esq. read a humorous tale, “A Visit to Old Nanny’s Cottage”. The performers then gave choice selections of music, which called forth long and continued cheering. Capt. Carter read “The Charge at Balaklava” by Tennyson and another poem; Mr George Gibbs and Mrs Torriano sang two songs, which called forth rapturous applause. The choir was assisted by the Rev J D Adams, vicar, Messrs Williams, Cowd and Stickland, but it was soon evident that the vast company had not come to hear singing only, however good. After a while Mr G. Gibbs struck off “Auld Lang Syne” the entire company taking up the chorus.”   

Proceedings were ended by a series of speeches in praise of Mr Neave and the presentation to him of an engraved silver salver. 

By October 1874 a newspaper account recorded that it would appear from the statements made that: 

 “the funeral pall had already thrown its shadow over the whole concern... and an effort should be made to hold a popular reading at the Town Hall.... and from the platform bring the much to be regretted state of the societies funds before the Salterton public.”  

The appeal seems to have been successful because the Institute continued and still organised the popular readings but not without some hitches, as in 1879, when they started in February rather than in the previous autumn “through the absence of the principal promoter of these entertainments”.  As is the case today, these events are usually dependent on one or two public spirited and dedicated individuals.  The president in 1879 was Mr Wells and the secretary Mr Thomas Cox. 

In the 1880s the few accounts extant record, Mr Maxwell reciting Tennyson’s “Enid and Geraint” in November 1883 and Mr T. H. Morgan lecturing on “Earthquakes and Eruptions” in December 1886.  In November 1886 the Western Times described the programme of another entertainment which consisted of: 

A piano duet by Misses Brushfield & Harbottle; a song “The Boatswain’s Story” – Mr C. Edwards; a reading by Dr Brushfield of “The Revenge - a Storm at Sea”; a vocal duet by Major & Miss Lee; a ballad “A Warrior Bold” – Mr G. Sanders; a song by Dr Brushfield “Jaimaisen Angleterre” (which brought an encore); a piano solo by Miss Templeman; a song by Miss Brushfield; a recitation by Mr Friend “The Execution of Montrose” (given with much effect); “Anchored” a song from Mr F. Kerr; Major Lee was back singing “Tom Bowling” followed by a vocal waltz by a group of the ladies, and finally by request “Moods and Tenses” from Dr Brushfield “which brought the house down, terminating a lively programme”. 

Dr Brushfield was obviously a great favourite locally when there was an entertainment but in December 1887 his scholarly side was much in evidence when he lectured to the Institute on Sir Walter Raleigh with particular reference to his association with this part of Devon.  The same year Mr T. H. Morgan had given two lectures on what was known about the sun. It seems that 1887 was a particularly active year at the Institute as the Vicar of Otterton, Rev. Sweet, gave a talk entitled “Writing & Writing Materials” and there was the end of season entertainment with the usual mixture of music and recitations. 

Most of the newspaper accounts for the remaining years of the century described entertainments.  The lecture series seems either to have died a death or wasn’t of interest to the local newspapers.  For example in February 1889 an entertainment was organised by Mr Guy Bryant “the indefatigable Secretary” (Western Times) at which members of the Budleigh Salterton & East Budleigh Choral Society contributed alongside the usual mixture of songs and piano pieces, and one piece called the “Belgian March” which was for piano and harmonium. 

Dr Brushfield was again much in evidence at an entertainment in December 1891 when his rendering of “The four horse sharry” elicited roars of laughter and he also exhibited some conjuring tricks with money with Mr H. Perriam being the dupe.  Another stalwart Mr R. W. Friend gave two readings but the highlight of the evening was apparently a rendering of “Rocked in the cradle of the deep” sung by Mr F. Williams. 

One lecture was recorded in March 1892 - it was given by Mr W. J. Petherick entitled “Explorations in the Caucasus” illustrated by “60 capital lime light views”.  During this year Dr Brushfield was President of the Institute and Colonel J. W. Lee was Secretary but, as he was abroad, he retired his post in 1893. 

At the AGM in February 1902 it was reported that there had been an effort in 1901 to raise the tone of the Institute and with the lectures and the newly formed Debating Society (4) to inject new life into the Institute. One lecture in October 1902 on the West Indies and Fiji using seventy magic lantern slides was by Mr L. Layard son of the late Edgar Layard (5).  

The Institute seems to have struggled for the rest of the decade and one of the last entries was of an entertainment in December 1909 organised by the Misses Davis with Colonel Rowlandson (6) in the Chair.  Attendance was meagre, possibly as a result of inclement weather.  The last mention of the Institute I have found was in 1910 in Kelly’s Directory with Thomas Griffin named as Honorary Secretary.  It was not listed in the 1914 Directory so it presumably disbanded at some time in between those two years. 

Researched and Compiled by Roger Lendon © 2013 

(1) Western Times December 17, 1872

(2) See Wayet’s entry in OVApedia article “Budleigh Salterton Chapel of Ease”

(3) OVApedia article “NEAVE, George Peters and son Richard”

(4)OVApedia article “Budleigh Salterton Debating Society”

(5)OVApedia article “Layard, Edgar Leopold (1824-1900), Budleigh Salterton C19”

(6)OVApedia article “Rowlandson, Colonels M. A. & M.G.D., Budleigh Salterton C20”

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