Quakers, Wilton

Two houses were certified for Quaker worship in the 18th century but neither in 1704 (the house of William Merifild) nor in 1761 (houses of Oliver Hayhurst and Richard Ryley), were these long enough established for a monthly meeting to become organized. In 1883 a meeting opened in Russel Street, attached to the Poole and Southampton monthly meeting. Later in the 19th century the meeting moved to South Street, where the meeting house could accommodate 70 people, but the meeting had been abandoned by 1911. The meeting house is now the town library and is pictured here.