Tower and Town, July 2017

  (view the full edition)

A Secret Society

Nowadays 'History' programmes put 'secret' into their titles to attract viewers - here is a 'secret' society from Marlborough's history.

Thomas, Earl of Ailesbury, Lord of the Manor 1748 to 1814, formed the Castle Club to manage Marlborough. It met in the Castle Inn on Fridays before the full moon. Members came from his family, the Bruces, who provided MPs, and from 'prominent citizens'.  A.R. Stedman, Marlborough historian, wrote: ' Charles Bill, the Wards and Merrimans were not only Town Clerks and Common Councilmen but acted as links with the Bruces for they were their Agents.' The Borough Council consisted of Burgesses who elected the Mayor and Chief Magistrate, and a Common Council.  In 1834 Municipal Corporation Commissioners reported: 'the legitimate interests of this Municipal Institution have been constantly subverted to the preservation of the interests of the Patron of the Borough [the Earl].  Some years ago Mr Ward, the Steward of the Earl, the late Lord Ailesbury, was the leading member of the Corporation which was at that time principally composed of persons united with him by relationship or professional connections … the choice of Corporation Officers is still regulated by the Patron [the Marquis].  The Steward of the Marquis is now and has been a member of the Corporation; he stated that at the present day a person objectionable to Lord Ailesbury would not be elected a Burgess.'

Clearly the Marquis and the Castle Club had created a self-perpetuating oligarchy.  The Earl, the Castle Club, and the Stewards have gone.  The 1834 and subsequent Acts eventually  meant all adults could vote for their local authorities.  Ironically, the 1974 Local Government Act abolished the Borough and put a powerless Parish Council in its place which now cannot attract sufficient citizens to stand for election and so has to resort to co-option to fill vacancies.  For the first time since the 19th century its Chairman - the Town Mayor - and Deputy are co-optees who have never faced an election because citizens are indifferent or indignant.  The Castle Club has been replaced by covert group meetings in houses or local hostelries.  'Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose'.  

As the Town Mayor takes his seat in the throne given by  the 4th Marquis, Earl Thomas and Marquis Charles must be delicately smiling ! 

David Sherratt