Click on image to zoom in..

Sick pay accounts for members of Waterfall Friendly Society,
1872-1877

SRO 6583/6/1
©Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

Limestone quarrying in North Staffordshire was based around Cauldon Low and Waterfall. In the 18th century the development of the quarries in this area was helped substantially by the building of a branch canal from Etruria to Froghall and a tramway on to Caldon. By the 1880s production from Cauldon Low was in the region of 220,000 tons of limestone annually.

Membership of the Waterfall Friendly Society was centred particularly on these quarrying areas and a large proportion of the members are recorded as quarrymen, although there were also farmers and labourers. It is noticeable, however, from the records that the quarrymen seem to have needed the most or more regular sick pay. The Society was founded in 1830, and met at the George Inn in Waterhouses, and benefits also included an annual dinner.