Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Liverpool Independent Legal Victoria Burial Society Liverpool Victoria Approved Society

Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Liverpool Independent Legal Victoria Burial Society Liverpool Victoria Approved Society

The first recorded meeting of the Liverpool Independent Legal Victoria Burial Society took place on 3 March 1843. From as early as 1845, the Society did not confine its activities to the city of Liverpool, and in 1845 collectors were established in Runcorn, Chester, Warrington, Ormskirk and Northwich. By 1863, its operations had extended to Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and in England as far north as Newcastle and as far west as Plymouth, with outposts in London. Prior to the Friendly Societies Act of 1875, the society was governed by a committee of management (general committee) and a sub-committee. The decisions of the sub-committee, which met weekly, were ratified at the quarterly meetings of the management committee. From 1875, Liverpool Victoria was governed by a single body called the committee of management or general committee which consisted of two officers, eight district managers or agents and ten employees. In 1906 it was proposed that the society should be converted to a limited liability company. This move was opposed by some members, who formed a Members' Defence Committee, and published a number of anti-conversion leaflets. The dispute was put to external arbitration, which decided that although the conversion could not take place, the society could form a subsidiary to promote its interests. As a result, the Liverpool Victoria Insurance Corporation was established in 1907.

Under the National Insurance Act of 1911 a system of compulsory health insurance for the working-class was established, to be administered by "approved societies". In 1912 the Liverpool Victoria Approved Society was constituted. By the end of that year it had over 350,000 members and later became one of the largest and most successful of the Approved Societies. Between 1843 and 1861 the society was known variably as the Liverpool Victoria Burial Society, Victoria Legal Burial Society or Liverpool Victoria Legal Burial Society. From about 1861, it was called the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society. In 1918 the name was changed to the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society.

The society was based in Liverpool at 37 Blake Street (1843-51), 49 Great Newton Street (1851-67), 32 Great Newton Street (1868), 23 Islington (1870-80) and 144 Islington (1881-5). In 1885 the society moved its chief office to London and was based at 18 St Andrew Street (1885-1926), "Victoria House", Southampton Row (1926-97). In around 1998 the chief office was moved to County Gates in Bournemouth.