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Cleckheaton Town Hall.
With the official opening of the new Town Hall in February of 1892, there just remained two further matters to bring closure to this historic episode in the history of Cleckheaton. One of those was the official starting of the clock and the other was the dissolving of the Town Hall Committee. Both these events took place towards the end of 1892 and were reported on in the local newspapers, details of which can be found below.
Memorial Clock and Chimes at Cleckheaton
Article appeared in The Leeds Mercury - Monday 7 Nov 1892
A public clock, with chimes, presented as a memorial of the late Mr. Elymas Wadsworth (County Councillor and first Chairman of the Cleckheaton Town Hall Committee), by his two sons, Mr. J.W. and Mr. F. Wadsworth, to the town of Cleckheaton, and erected in the tower of the new Town Hall, was formally started on Saturday afternoon by Miss Wadsworth, a daughter of the deceased gentleman.
Favoured with beautiful, summer-like weather, a vast number of people congregated in front of the Town Hall to witness the starting of the clock and chimes. Mr. Joseph Law, chairman of the Town Hall Committee, presided and was supported by various lady and gentlemen members of the Wadsworth family, a number of personal friends, the members of the Local Board and Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Anderton, Ald. T:F: Firth, Dr. Bowman, of Halifax and several ladies and gentlemen of the town and district.
In opening the proceedings, the chairman observed that although the clock could not be seen from every part of the town the chimes could be heard to the extreme limits. All would agree that the gifts made by Mr. Wadsworth's two sons were a most fitting memorial to a gentleman who had done so much for the locality (hear, hear).
Mr. Potts (Messrs. W. Potts and Sons, Leeds, the makers) then gave a detailed description of the clock at 2.53, and those present having waited until the hour of three had been struck on the bells and chimes, three hearty cheers by the populace followed. Mr. Wadsworth then formally presented to the town the gifts for the use and enjoyment of its inhabitants for ever (applause). Mr. A. Shaw Roberts, chairman of the Local Board, accepted the same on behalf of the inhabitants with the greatest pleasure. Mr. Roberts proposed a vote of thanks to the donors, which was seconded by Mr. B.H. Goldthorp, and Mr. Fred Wadsworth acknowledged the vote. During the proceedings the Cleckheaton Victoria Brass Band played "Auld lang syne" and the National Anthem.
An inspection of the clock and tower was afterwards made by those taking part in the opening ceremony. The clock shows the time upon three external illuminated dials and strikes the hour upon a bell of 20cwt., and the St. Mary's of Cambridge four-quarter chimes upon four smaller bells of 34cwt. Total weight of the hour and quarter bells 2 tons 14cwt. The whole of the clock is constructed from designs and plans of Lord Grimthorpe (the greatest authority on clocks), with a few additions from Mr. Prince Smith of Keighley, a friend of the Messrs. Wadsworth.
The clock has the sun and planet maintaining power; going eight days with one winding. The pendulum bob, as recommended by Mr. Smith, weighs 300lb and vibrates 2 and half degrees from zero, indicated by a degree plate. The bells are made of the best quality of copper and tin, as recommended by Lord Grimthorpe and are at the following weights and notes:
1st quarter bell: 5cwt 1qr 7lb in note E
2nd quarter bell: 5cwt 2qrs 20lb in note D
3rd quarter bell: 7cwt 0qrs 14lb in note C
4th quarter bell: 14cwt 3qrs 15lb in note G
The hour bell: 21cwt 1qr 17lb in note F
The bells have a sweet, round tone and will be a great boon to the town and district; as, however good the position of a tower, there is generally some obstruction in the way preventing a dial being seen, making it impossible to know the time at a distance, but if the tower has a good set of bells, the time may be known all round the township. The bells are by Messrs. Taylor Bros., Loughborough.
Cleckheaton Town Hall - Interesting Presentation Ceremony
Appeared in The Leeds Mercury - Monday 5 Dec 1892
The Cleckheaton Town Hall Committee, having completed their labours, decided that they could not allow the executive to be dissolved without manifesting their appreciation of the services of the hon. secretary, Mr. W.H. Clough, solicitor. The Council Chamber on Saturday was filled with an assemblage of ladies and gentlemen to witness interesting presentations to Mr. and Mrs. Clough.
Mr. Joseph Law, the chairman of the Town Hall Committee presided, and was supported by Mr. A. Anderton, J.P., vice-president. The chairman read the text of a beautifully bound and illuminated address, setting forth that now the undertaking upon which they had been engaged was so successfully completed, the committee and Local Board expressed their entire satisfaction at the manner in which Mr. Clough had discharged his duties from the inception of the scheme in 1887 to the opening in February last. He then formally presented the address. Mr J. H. Leather next presented a massive pollard oak cabinet of cutlery, comprising 171 pieces. Mr. C.P. Anderton presented to Mrs. Clough a silver afternoon tea set. Mrs. Joseph Law also presented to Mrs. Clough a beautifully worked five o'clock tea cloth. Mrs. Clough in a few well chosen remarks, acknowledged the gifts.
Mr. Clough said the task throughout had been a most congenial one. They had succeeded in building a hall which was a source of pride and an object of admiration to all who belonged to the town. A vote of thanks to Mr. Dawson (from whom a letter of apology for absence was read) was proposed by Mr. Joseph Briggs and seconded by Fr. Farrow, for his services as treasurer, and adopted. Similar complimentary votes were accorded to the Chairman and to the Local Board for the use of the Council Chamber and rooms for the purposes of the Town Hall Committee. The ladies present were then entertained to tea in the Town Hall committee rooms and the gentlemen to a dinner at the George Hotel.
Other articles associated with this story:
Cleckheaton Town Hall - Laying of the Foundation Stone
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