THE OLD TOWN HALL AND THE SEBASTOPOL GUNS.
To the Editor of the Dudley Times and Express.
Sir,—It will be in the recollection of the gentlemen who attended the late Court Leet dinner in Dudley, that amongst a variety of anticipated improvements and amendments that were required for the social, moral, and architectural advancement of our good old town of Dudley, “that another public effort should be made to get rid of that unneccessary building, the Old Town Hall.” Now, sir, we have great veneration for the doings of the past, and believe that our forefathers meant well in all their undertakings; but when that building was erected more than one hundred years ago, standing as the “head and front” of two narrow streets called Queen street and High street, it necessarily made a finish to that angle of the block of buildings then existing, known as the “Middle Row,” and was not an inappropriate object from the “Over Church.”
But our grand-dads are gone to their rest, and peace be with them, and the times are changed, also, sir; for their scions, feeling the rapid advance made in trade, commerce, civilisation, and sanitary improvements, have long since deemed the “Middle Row” an encumberer of the ground, have demolished its once ancient visage, and secured to us our fine open Market Place (save the neck end of it) as a suitable spot in which the people may congregate, and the trader expose for sale his wares.
The noble owner of the Old Town Hall (Lord Ward) would appear to have anticipated long ago the removal of that building, from the fact that, with his Lordship’s accustomed liberality, he erected at his own cost the New Town Hall, for Magisterial and other public purposes required by this important town. Surely, then, its removal need not now be considered as an act of sacrilege to the feelings of even the oldest inhabitants; for the Board of Guardians will shortly quit its hoary portals for their new and more suitable Board room at the New Union Workhouse.
Irrespective of these reasons, sir, its acknowledged nuisance as a public urinal, its shameful use as a hiding place for juvenile obscenity and adult immorality, and its general inutility, demand at the hands of public morality its speedy removal. Let, then, our newly elected, energetic Mayor inaugurate his year of office by instituting some mode of acting by which public opinion may be brought to bear upon this local nuisance; and whilst the Old Town Hall removal question is brought to the bar of public investigation, let it not be forgotten that the Russian guns, (those emblems of our sanguinary strife with the Great Power of the North), are still unmounted, uncared for, and left “all alone in their fallen glory.”
The Russian gun-mountings in neighbouring towns point with the finger of shame to the prolonged lukewarmness with which Dudley has followed up the lofty demonstrations exhibited when those guns were publicly escorted into the Castle Court Yard, amid the din of arms and the enthusiastic plaudits of the people. If there is some doubt as to whether these trophies can be publicly mounted in the Castle grounds, pray let that doubt be dissipated at once, by the proper authorities initiating the necessary steps to obtain a subscription, and then petition the Lord of the Manor for permission to mount the guns in a handsome style in the centre of the Market Place, at once an object worthy of the site, and as a lasting memento of our national sympathy for the oppressed and heroic.
Were there no sons of Dudley, or the neighbourhood, sir, who fell gloriously battling for the cause of liberty and the rights of nations in that memorable campaign, whose names might not with great justice be appropriately handed down to our children’s children, as objects for their especial regard, and subjects for our local pride and approbation?
Trusting that these matters may not be allowed to slumber on in their present unsatisfactory condition, and craving a space amongst your list of correspondents,
I am, your obedient servant,
C. F. G. CLARK.
Dudley, Nov. 24th, 1858.
1858. The New Town Hall was built about this time by Lord Ward, to secure the necessary Magisterial accommodation for the administration of justice for the Borough, arising from the demolition of the Old Town Hall, situate in the Market Place. On November 18th, 1870, the Corporation bought the New Town Hall for the sum of £2500, and utilised it in such a judicious way as to make the Police force arrangements most complete.
THE MAYOR begs to apprize his fellow-townsmen that the remains of their formerly much respected Member, THOMAS HAWKES, Esq., will be conveyed through the Town for INTERMENT AT HIMLEY, on FRIDAY Morning next, and, as he thinks it may be desirable that some mark of respect should be shewn towards his memory by the PARTIAL CLOSING of their respective Establishments on the Morning of that day, he will be happy to meet those who accord with this desire at the OLD TOWN HALL, on THURSDAY Evening next, at SEVEN o’clock, to arrange accordingly.
Signed,
E. HOLLIER, Mayor.
Dudley, Wednesday, December 8th, 1858.
This request of the Mayor was very generally observed on this melancholy occasion, for Mr. Hawkes was very much esteemed by a large circle of friends, and his early death and many (both political and commercial) misfortunes had always awakened great sympathy for him; for in his early days he had been a large and liberal employer of a lucrative labour in this town in the glass trade.
INDIAN MUTINY FUND.
In compliance with a communication from J. RENAUD, Esq., Treasurer, I respectfully invite the attendance of the Subscribers to the above Fund at the OLD TOWN HALL, this TUESDAY Evening, the 21st instant, at 7 o’clock, to decide upon the appropriation of the Money left in the Bank, in accordance with a resolution of their former meeting.
E. HOLLIER, Mayor.
£810 collected for this fund.
Dudley, December 21st, 1858.
CHRISTMAS, 1858, ST. THOMAS’S CHURCH.
PARISHIONERS interested in the complete RESTORATION of the PARISH CHURCH are respectfully requested to meet the VICAR and WARDENS on FRIDAY next, at Twelve o’clock, in the Vestry, in order to Nominate a Committee to see the above work properly carried out.
J. C. BROWNE, D.C.L.,
W. WIGGINTON,
W. MILLWARD,
Vicar.
} Churchwardens.
Died, December 24th, 1858, Mr. Benjamin Dudley, Silk Mercer, High Street. Mr. Dudley was descended from a very ancient Dudley family, and he was very much esteemed for his honourable and strictly conscientious principles. He was a most zealous supporter of the Church, and had not a loving liking for the Romanists. Aged 78 years.
A very numerously attended public meeting was held on December 29th, 1858, under the presidency of Elliott Hollier, Esq., Mayor, to take into consideration and determine as to the propriety of carrying into effect, or of memorialising the Poor Law Board to rescind, an order under their hand and seal of office, made and published by them, and dated the 7th day of December, 1858, such order applying to and putting in force forthwith within the said Parish the whole of a certain Act (13th & 14th Victoria, chapter 57), entitled, “An Act to prevent the holding of Vestry or other meetings in Churches, and for regulating the appointment of Vestry Clerks,” and under which order the annual salary of the Vestry Clerk for the time being has been fixed at £120, payable out of the Poor Rates. This meeting was very boisterous, severely censuring the action of the Poor Law Board, but it was no use, as the law had to take its unpalatable course.