The Catholic School, situate at the back of the catholic chapel, on Mill Bank, is also supported by subscriptions and a small charge from each scholar. The Savings’ Bank, situate in Walker street, was established in 1818. On November 20th, 1850, the capital stock of the bank amounted to £27,623, at which period there were 692 depositors. Mr. Thomas Turner is the actuary.
The County Court Office is situate near the Market Hall. All pleas of personal action, where the debt or damage claimed is not more than £50, may be heard and determined by the County Court. The jurisdiction of the Wellington Court embraces the parishes of Bolas Magna, Ercall Magna, Eyton, Kinnersley, Longdon, Preston, Rodington, Waters Upton, Wellington, Wombridge, and Wrockwardine. Judge: Uvedale Corbett, Esq., Aston Hall, near Shiffnal. Clerk: Frederick Buckle, Esq., New street, Wellington.
The Market Hall is a brick building, stuccoed, and situated a little back from the Market-square. A spacious room, measuring sixty feet by twenty feet, is used for magisterial purposes, public meetings, assemblies, musical concerts, &c. Under it is an open area, provided with benches, where the butter market is held. The hall was built by a company of shareholders, established in 1842, with a capital stock of £5,000, of which £2,000 was raised by the shareholders, and the rest was borrowed on a mortgage of the premises. The company have purchased the tolls of the market for the sum of £700 from the lord of the manor; and they are now held on lease by Mr. John Sandals, at a yearly rental of £140.
The Union House, a plain brick building, situate in Walker street, is capable of holding one hundred and sixty inmates. From the report for the half year, ending March 25, 1850, we learn that the total expenditure was £4,028. 19s. 1½d: the number of out-paupers for that period was 2,033, and of in-door paupers 184: the average weekly cost per head of the latter was 2s. 11d. The Union embraces the parishes of Bolas Magna, Ercall Magna, Eyton-on-the-Wild Moors, Kinnersley, Longdon-upon-Tern, Preston-on-the Wild Moors, Rodington, Waters Upton, Wellington, Wombridge, and Wrockwardine, for which nineteen guardians are chosen, to whom John Whitfield, Esq. is chairman. The medical officers are, Charles Harwood Greene, Robert Plowden Weston, and John Francis Steedman. Relieving Officers: Edward Vickers, Ketley; and George Marcy, Watling street. Master and Matron: Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. The Old Workhouse is situated about a mile and a half south-west from the town, and is now converted into cottages.
The Wellington Mechanics’ Institute, situated in New street, has been established with the object of affording tradesmen, mechanics, and others, opportunities of acquiring, at their leisure hours, the principles of science and the arts, and for the cultivation of literature. Persons subscribing ten shillings per annum are entitled to all the privileges of the institution; and persons under eighteen years of age subscribing five shillings a-year, are deemed students of the society. There is a good library of about eight hundred volumes, which have been chiefly contributed by a few gentlemen. A news-room has been established, which is furnished with some of the most popular periodicals, and the principal London and provincial journals; lectures are also occasionally given on interesting and useful scientific subjects. There are now about seventy members. The institution has the patronage and support of the principal gentry and clergy in the neighbourhood. Mr. John Haynes and Mr. William M. Taylor are the honorary secretaries.
The News-room.—The news-room was established in 1846, by a number of gentlemen and tradesmen of the town. It is held at Mr. Edwards’s, in the Market square, and is supported by annual subscriptions of 21s. There is also a billiard-room for the use of the subscribers. There are forty-five members.
The Gas Works.—The Gas Works are situated upon the Tanbank, and were established in 1823, by Mr. William Edwards. In consequence of some dispute with reference to lighting the streets, an Act of Parliament has been obtained during the present year (1851) for the establishment of a joint stock company, to be called “The Wellington Coal and Gas-light Company.” The company will have a capital of £3,000, raised in three hundred shares of £10 each. The site chosen for the erection of the necessary works is the garden-ground lying between the top of Tanbank and the Wrekin road. Estimated cost of the works, £2,000. R. D. Newell, Esq., is the solicitor and secretary.
The Water Works.—The Wellington Water Works were provisionally registered in 1851, under 7 and 8 Vic. c. 110. The imperfect supply of water, both as respects quantity and quality, has long been felt in the town of Wellington; and it is to remedy this defect in the condition of the town, as well as to afford other supplies which local interest may require, that the company has been established. It is a well ascertained fact that many of the houses, particularly those where water is most needed, are so ill supplied, that the occupants are obliged, throughout the year, to procure it from a distance, at a considerable cost in both time and money; or, in many instances, especially among the poor, to be content with a supply totally inadequate to the ordinary necessaries of life. It is proposed to raise the requisite supplies from the Ercall Pools, which afford every natural facility for conveying water to any part of the town, without materially interfering with private interests. The water is free from deleterious matter, and considered excellent for culinary and household purposes. It is proposed to have a capital stock of £3,000, to be raised in three hundred ten pound shares. F. Buckle, Esq., is the solicitor to the company.
The County Constabulary Office is situated in Walker street, Mr. John M’Michael is the superintendent, under whose directions are twelve police constables. There is a small lock-up on the north-west side of the church-yard.
The Horticultural Society was established in 1850, and is supported by the principal gentlemen in the town and neighbourhood. The exhibitions are held in the Market Hall.