Diary – James Losh – 15 Jul 1825

To Hexham where I attended a meeting for the purpose of establishing a Mechanic Institution.   I opened the meeting in a speech of some length, explaining the nature, pointing out the benefits to be derived from institutions of this kind and concluded with an exhortation to the working mechanics (of whom considerable numbers attended) to form themselves into a society to manage their own affairs and to exert themselves for their own advantage as well as that of their families.   

...Several of the neighbouring gentlemen and more respectable inhabitants of Hexham attended and a considerable number of members enrolled themselves: a pretty good subscription was also obtained.