The Stamp Office is in High street, Mr. Thomas Joyce distributor.
The Excise Office is at the Lord Hill Hotel, in Watergate street. The Pensioners’ and Corn Returns Offices are at the same place.
The Gas Works were established in 1826, by Messrs. Edwards and Smith, and are now the property of Mr. William Smith, engineer. There are two small gasometers, which will hold conjointly 3,600 cubic feet of gas. A charge of about 10s. per 1,000 cubic feet is made to the consumer.
The Circulating Library is at Mr. Robert Barrow Jones’s, in High street
Petty Sessions are held for the Whitchurch division on the last Friday in every month. Magisterial business is also transacted at the office in St. Mary’s street, on Mondays at nine o’clock, A.M., and on Fridays at eleven, A.M. The magistrates who usually attend are Sir Robert Chambre Hill, Bart., John W. Dod, Esq., M.P., William H. Poole, Esq., and George Bowen, Esq. Clerk: Benjamin Lakin. Deputy Clerk: Charles Foulkes.
The religious and charitable institutions, which have for their object the promotion of Christian knowledge and to ameliorate suffering humanity, are liberally supported in Whitchurch. The members of the Established Church and the various sectarian communities have their respective Bible, Missionary, and Tract Societies. The Depository of the British and Foreign Bible Society is at Mrs. Clutton’s, in Bargate street. The Dispensary is at the Market Hall. The Depôt for Coals for the poor is in Watergate street. There is a Library of Miscellaneous Works at the National School, which has been established for the benefit of the humbler classes of society. For Benefit and Sick Societies the town stands pre-eminent; they are efficiently conducted, the members are very numerous, and several of the societies have a very considerable accumulated capital. The Whitchurch Old Friendly Society, established in 1754, in 1850 had 264 members and a capital stock of £1,667. 17s. 11½d. Mr. John Fowles is secretary, and Mr. Henry Corser treasurer.
The Lock-up and Police-office, situated in Clay-pit street, was built in 1850. It consists of two cells for the reception of prisoners before committal by the magistrates; and also a residence for the superintendent constable.
The Bowling Green, in St. John’s lane, affords healthful and amusing recreation to the residents of the town, is supported by subscription, and under the management of a committee of gentlemen and tradesmen.
There is an Almshouse for six poor decayed housekeepers, liberally endowed, as will be seen on reference to the charities of the parish. A School-house adjoins the almshouse, and here about fifty children are instructed.
The commodious premises, formerly occupied as a silk-mill here, have been purchased by Mr. Thomas Burgess, an extensive cheese-factor and corn-merchant, and are now converted into a warehouse. There is a wharf at the bottom of Mill street, on the banks of the Chester and Ellesmere canal, which is now the property of the Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company. Goods are forwarded to London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Chester by the company; who are also general carriers to all parts of England. Of the Castle at Whitchurch, which stood upon Castle-hill, not a vestige remains. Some portion of the walls are said to have been standing in the year 1760.