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[With information about Margaret Nicolle's book this page is a temporary website page under construction as are others of my web pages to which there are links from this page. Chris Freudenberg www.plusiarts.co.uk ]
WILLIAM ALLEN QUAKER FRIEND OF LINDFIELD 1770-1843
by Margaret Nicolle ISBN 0-9541301-0-3 published by Margaret Nicolle, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2LB
"This scholarly and very readable account of William Allen's fascinating life is a welcome contribution to our understanding of early 19th century English social history. Over a third ofthe book is devoted to his Lindfield connections: the cottage allotments scheme known as the' Rural Colony' or America, on the Gravely(e) estate, and his founding of local schools the the children of agricultural labourers.
The volume is a worthy tribute to a remarkable man, acclaimed by many as 'the poor man's friend'.
MARTIN HAYES,
PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN, LOCAL STUDIES, WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL LIBRARY SERVICES
William Allen's Quakerism influenced everything he did. Margaret Nicolle's book gives a fascinating insight into his astonishing energy. From humble origins he became a member of the Royal Society and first President of the Pharmaceutical Society. He was an educational pioneer, an opponent of the slave trade and a friend of the Emperor of Russia. At a local level the author highlights his bold attempt to create a colony of workers at Lindtield free from dependence on poor relief and the workhouse. The book poses some searching
questions, but it is the reader who must decide whether his experiment was a success.
DAVID HITCIIIN,
AUTHOR OF QUAKERS IN LEWES
This publication presents the work of William Allen in a lucid and accessible form and shows an important social reformer in a new light. The concept of continuity and change has been put to good use in explaining the work of the Friends in formulating and implementing social policy in response to changing conditions and social attitudes.
GEOFFREY MEAD,
CONVENOR FOR THE LOCAL HISTORY CERTlFICATE, CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX"
Quoted above is from the back cover of Margaret Nicolle's book itself which I have used here to summarise the book briefly, the book an illuminating and thorough piece of research on William Allen which was published some years after the actualities of Michael Sorenson and pursuit of his, Michael Sorensen's, ideas and proposal for The William Allen Society. Chris Freudenberg www.plusiarts.co.uk
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