THIS cast iron plaque commemorates the establishment of the Friendly Iron Moulders Society in Bolton almost 200 years ago - on February 6, 1809.

It is the subject of this week's Hidden Treasures series, which looks at works of art and other historical artefacts which cannot be displayed at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery because of lack of space.

Also featured and linked to metal production is a United Society of Boilermakers and Steel Ship Builders banner from the Bolton Branch, which was founded on October 18, 1834.

The plaque was probably cast by a Friendly Iron Moulders Society member soon after the foundation of the society, whose early meetings were held in the Hand and Banner Inn, at 113-115 Deansgate, which closed in 1911. The site was later occupied by Lloyds Bank and is now vacant.

Daniel Smith, curator of social history at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, said: "The name of the society was later changed to the Friendly Society of Iron Founders of England Ireland and Wales, and later still in 1920 to the National Union of Foundry Workers of Great Britain and Ireland.

"The arms depict a shield with furnaces, dividers and a chevron with two men either side.

"The man on the left holds a cog wheel and the man on the right has a brush in one hand and an oblong object in the other.

"In the background, two iron workers shake hands. From a membership certificate which sadly is not owned by us, we know that the journeyman on the left is asking: Brother Craft, can you give me a job?' to which the other replies If we cannot we will assist you.' Friendly indeed!"

Daniel said the friendly societies were the equivalent of self-help groups for associated workers.

Until the Combinations Act of 1799 was repealed in 1825 these groups were practically underground.

They helped workers in need by providing benefits for those out of work or who had ill health and were the only thing, apart from the poorhouse, that workers could look to in those pre-welfare state days.

In many ways, the friendly societies were the forerunners of the modern trades union movement.

The United Society of Boilermakers and Steel Ship Builders banner depicts a boiler made at the now defunct and demolished Hick Hargreaves engineering works in Bolton.

It also features a ship the HMS Ramillies.

Daniel said there is a giant portrait of Benjamin Hick (of Hick, Hargreaves) on the stairs going up to the museum. The museum also has a small marble bust of Hick.