1. Agriculture and horticulture
2. Education and skills
3. Financial security
4. Leisure
5. Masons
6. Politics
7. Temperance

1. Agriculture and horticulture

• Eskdale and Liddesdale Agricultural Society
• Langholm Horticultural Society

The Agricultural Society and Horticultural Society both held annual shows with prizes across many categories.

2. Education and skills

• Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations
• Eskdale and Liddesdale Archaeological Society
• Eskdale Burns Club
• Langholm Library
• Townhead Literary Society

The Boy Scouts and Girl Guides played valuable wartime roles for the Red Cross Hospital and for fundraising. In peacetime, the Archaeological Society arranged lectures, field days and digs. The Burns Club held educational talks and an annual dinner in connection with the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The Library‘s books provided both education and leisure. The Literary Society had wintertime programmes of lectures on a wide variety of topics, not just literary.

3. Financial security

• Friendly societies
• National Union of Gas and General Workers, Langholm branch

Friendly societies registered under a national scheme could provide social security benefits to members. The town had very little union activity apart from a fledgling NUGGW group.

4. Leisure

• Esk and Liddle Fisheries Association
  • See also Leisure > Fishing
• Eskdaill Foxhounds
  • See also Leisure > Hunting and shooting
• Langholm Amateur Dramatic Society
  • See also Leisure > Theatre

The Fisheries Association regulated angling in local waters. The Eskdaill Foxhounds was a local hunt. The Amateur Dramatic Society put on a main production each year and other shows.

5. Masons

• Freemasons, Lodge Eskdale Kilwinning No. 107
• Independent United Order of Scottish Mechanics

The main masonic organisation in Langholm was Lodge Eskdale Kilwinning, with the Mechanics also having a presence.

6. Politics

• Langholm Liberal Club
• Eskdale Unionist Association
• Women’s Unionist and Tariff Reform Association, Eskdale Branch

Scotland, including Langholm, was a Liberal stronghold, represented by the Langholm Liberal Club. However, a number of prominent townsfolk were Unionists (Conservatives), represented by men’s and women’s Unionist Associations.

7. Temperance

• International Order of Good Templars
• British Women’s Temperance Association

The anti-alcohol movement had local branches of two dedicated organisations (IOGT and BWTA) and was also supported by a number of church and civic leaders.

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