MEMBERS and visitors to the June meeting at Feckenham Village Hall were treated to a talk on the Dodford Chartist Village by Diana Poole, whose intensive research and enthusiasm for her subject brought the whole situation alive.

There was also the added expertise and knowledge of Gordon and Zoe Long, who had alerted the National Trust to the existence of ''Rosedene'', the only Chartist cottage in the world that has survived in a largely unaltered state.

Zoe was able to give a blow by blow account on the restoration of the cottage by the National Trust, accompanied by slides shown by Gordon, who is the cottage warden.

The Chartist Land Company was set up by Irish MP Fergus O'Connor in 1845 to enable the working class to have a share in property ownership and therefore the opportunity to vote.

The cottages were built within four acres of land which were to be "hand husbanded".

The Chartists grew their own crops, tended their own animals and lived totally off the land.

The Chartist Movement had been set up in the 1830s and was dedicated to improving the conditions of the working classes.

This informative evening was followed on Sunday by a visit to the newly opened Rosedene in Dodford.

The society was the first organisation to be given a conducted tour since its completion, as access is limited to pre-arranged groups.

This wonderful experience was preceded the same day by an equally memorable visit to Dodford Church, where Zoe spoke about the Bromsgrove Guild's connection with the church, pointing out the superb craftsmanship of the furniture and fittings, all the work of the Guild.

If this wasn't enough, members were further treated to a superb cream tea in the village hall by the ladies of Dodford WI.

The next meeting is on September 13 at Feckenham Village Hall when the speaker will be local author Quinton Watt on the Bromsgrove Guild.