Beyond Reason is
completely fictional although it is set between the towns of Annan and Dumfries in South West Scotland.
I have used the principles of the first Savings Bank to illustrate how important it was to people at that time to preserve their
pride and independence, how they dreaded the poor house, and how much they valued education.
Below are a few
facts about the Ruthwell Savings Bank which was established by the Reverend Doctor Henry
Duncan in the Village of Ruthwell for people with little money but who wanted
to save. Anyone interested in the facts of this great enterprise will find many interesting articles and
books written about the Rev.Henry Duncan.
He believed in the dignity of the ordinary working people and he encouraged thrift.
Despite the appalling poverty at that time, he was against the introduction of
a poor rate and fostered a spirit of pride and independence whenever possible.
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The cottage which was the Meeting
House where the world's first
Savings Bank started.
|
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| It exists today as a small museum |
He used his knowledge,
gained during the three years he spent working in
Heywoods Bank in Liverpool,
but he believed a savings bank could only succeed if it
were self-supporting and based on business principles. He gained the backing of
the landowners – possibly because they welcomed the idea that the poor might no
longer need their support.
 |
| The plaque on the wall. |
As writers we all know the value of marketing and publicity to sell
our books. The Rev Duncan had the same idea when he founded a local newspaper, The Dumfries
& Galloway Courier, and published his proposal for a parish bank in
Ruthwell.
On
10th May 1810 in the Society Room in Ruthwell he explained his ideas for a parish
bank to his parishioners. Established banks needed £10 to open an account.(A
small fortune to working people at that time). Sixpence would be enough to have an account in the
Ruthwell Savings Bank. The deposits were placed with the Linen Bank in Dumfries
and received 5% interest. Members received 4% interest - on whole pounds. The
surplus provided a charity
fund, increased interest for long-term savers, and a sum
for administering the bank. The administration in Ruthwell was done by the Rev Duncan
himself but he did not take any remuneration. Instead he used the money due to
him to build another school in the parish. During
the first year £151 was deposited in Ruthwell and there were savings banks
throughout the UK within five years of the bank opening. The movement spread to
Europe and the United
States.
The Ruthwell Cross does not feature in my novel
but it would be a pity to mention
Dr Henry Duncan and Ruthwell and not include a little about it here in this blog
post. The Cross is reputed to be late seventh or early eight century and is one
of the finest Anglo-Saxon crosses in Britain. The Rev Duncan rescued it from
the manse gardens where it had lain broken for many years after being cast out
as idolatrous by previous Church of Scotland officials. Rev. Duncan restored it
and it now stands in the Ruthwell Church where visitors can see it. The Savings
Bank Museum can supply more information about it and the man who was minister for
almost fifty years.
Although he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland the Rev.Doctor Henry Duncan also played an active part in
the Disruption of 1843
BEYOND REASON is
published in hardback by Robert Hale Ltd £19.99 and will be available to download to digital readers in May 2014.
shortened link to Amazon http://amzn.to/RHGHfr
