Page 15 - L&T William Avery

William Avery Redditch Heritage

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enough to accommodate all those who came. In 1863 and 1866 local newspapers noted
the success of these entertainments and that the Lock-up doors were open on a Sunday

morning, for want of drunken occupants. 41

Several obituaries in newspapers claimed that William Avery started the ‘penny reading’
42
movement in the country. However, the truth of this claim partly depends on what was
meant by ‘penny readings’, as the term often referred to ‘penny entertainments’. In 1866
William Guise wrote an essay on ‘Saturday Evening Entertainment’ which was circulated
among the Redditch audience of such an entertainment. Saturday Evening Entertainments
seem to have been first started at Derby, but they were developed by the Ipswich Penny
Reading and the London Reading Society. The first Penny Reading, according to Guise,
was in 1859. Guise also stated that in Headless Cross Saturday Evening Entertainments
started in 1856, at Mr. W. Johnson’s, but for want of a sufficiently large room they ceased
after two seasons. They were later instituted by William Avery and friends in Headless

Cross in 1861. 43

In the winter of 1886 Avery
delivered a series of lectures in
connection with the Redditch
Literary and Scientific Institute,
entitled ‘Old Redditch’. These
lectures were compiled from
notes and personal
reminiscences (possibly of his
grandfather) and covered the
period from 1800 to 1848.
Delivered with characteristic wit
and humour, and being full of
local names and events, they
delighted large audiences.
Subsequently, through the
efforts of Dr. Page, the
honorary secretary of the
Institute, they were published
in pamphlet form in 1887. 44

In the winter of 1892 Avery
commenced a series of
lectures, also in connection with
the Redditch Literary and
Scientific Institute, on ‘Music
and Musicians of Old Redditch’,
the last of the series being
delivered on 1st December,
1896. Like his lectures on ‘Old
Redditch’, they were important
contributions concerning past
local people and events. They
were illustrated with typical
music, rendered by a select
Old Redditch’ by William Avery, 1887

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