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The official opening of Cleckheaton Town Hall took place on Wednesday 10th Feb 1892. A lengthy report about the event featured in the Leeds Mercury newspaper the following day and is reproduced below:
In our issue of June 23rd 1890, we produced the sketch which again appears in our columns. Then, it was a representation of a Town Hall for Cleckheaton which only existed in the mind of the architect. Now it stands in all the solidity and grandeur of stone, a stately monument to the enterprise and public spirit of the inhabitants of that thriving little town.
As far back as 1885, the idea of such a building was first mooted, but no particular effort towards carrying it out was made until 1887, when it was felt that to build a Town Hall worthy of the growing importance of the town would be as fitting a way as possible of commemorating the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen's reign.
To the Cleckheaton mind to think and to act are synonymous; and deciding to be independent of the Local Government Board, a committee of gentlemen was formed for the purposes of obtaining subscriptions towards defraying half of the cost, the Local Board having agreed to be responsible for the other half on the condition that in the new hall were suitable rooms for their purposes. Messrs. Anderton and Son, Messrs. Samuel Law and Sons and Messrs. E. Wadsworth and Sons started the subscription list with £500 each, and all were asked to take a share in promoting the work. So heartily was the plea taken up, that in two months £3,000 was subscribed, and when, after a while, there was a falling off in the rate at which the subscriptions came in, the three firms referred to gave the scheme a new impetus by doubling their subscriptions. The result is that out of the proportion of £6,440, which the committee undertook to raise by voluntary subscription, £6,106 has already been received and the balance, it is expected, will be obtained in the few weeks.
While the money was still being got together, the committee looked around and found a most suitable site in the centre of the town. The designs of Messrs. Mawson and Hudson, architects of Bradford, were selected and thanks to them, Cleckheaton is now in possession of a handsome building in the Queen Anne style of architecture, which was opened yesterday practically free of debt.
The interior arrangements of the building have been well thought out, and include a large hall, which is planned to accommodate 1,000 persons and 100 more in the orchestra, the latter having ample retiring rooms. The boardroom is a handsome apartment on the same floor. The Local Board offices are all situated on the ground floor underneath the large hall and provision has been made that they can be enlarged at any future time if necessary. The basement is devoted to workshops for the gas and water departments of the board, kitchen etc., from which there is a lift in connection with the large hall and the entire building is lighted by electricity.
It was only to be expected that more than ordinary effort would be made to mark the importance of such an occasion; and to begin with the day was observed as a general holiday, all places of business being closed before noon. The streets, which were gaily decorated - the shopkeepers and inhabitants seemingly having entered into friendly rivalry in the display of bunting - were thronged with sightseers. Cleckheaton people were evidently proud of their new acquisition and the unusually beautiful weather suggested that nature approved their enterprise.
The gentlemen who form the Town Hall Committee, the members of the Local Board and a number of guests assembled in the Brooke Street School and marched in procession to the new hall. First came a detachment of mounted police, then the Cleckheaton Company of the 1st Volunteer Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment, under the command of Captain Mowat and the band playing an inspiring march. The chief officials of the Local Board followed and the chairman of neighbouring authorities including Mr. George Mortimer (Birkenshaw), Mr. F. Laxton (Brighouse), Mr. S. Jackson (Gomersal), Mr. Benjamin Firth (Heckmondwike), Mr. J.H. Breaks (North Bierley) and Mr. Wilson Topham (Tong). Mr. Samuel Firth (chairman) represented the North Bierley Joint Hospital Board, and Mr. Henry Hainsworth (chairman) and Mr. N.W. Wright (clerk), the Board of Guardians. Mr. B.H. Goldthorp (president) and Mr. George Sykes (secretary) represented the Cleckheaton Chamber of Commerce. Mr. William Muschamp (president), the Tradesmen's Association and there were also present the following ministers of religion: Rev. W. Jansen Davies (Congregational), Rev. E.W. Easton (St. Luke's), Rev. R. Marley (Whitechapel), Rev. W. Priestley (Oakenshaw), Rev. S.G. Scott (Wesleyan), Rev. J. Seller (curate of St. John's), Rev. G. Slack (Congregational), Rev. B.J. Tungate (Free Church) and Rev. J.H. Wilson (curate of Whitechapel).
The procession then ranged in the following order - Members of the Cleckheaton Local Board: Mr. T. Butterfield, Mr. George Crossley, Mr. Hy Hirst, Mr. George Kerhsaw, Mr. J.H. Knowles, Mr. Hy Law, Mr. J. Longbottom, Mr. D. Naylor, Mr. A.S. Roberts, Mr. L. Stead, Mr. Robert Thornton, Mr. B. Wilson and Mr. G.T. Bull, chairman. County Councillors: Gomersal, Mr. W. Ackroyd; North Bierley, Mr. Laurence Hardy; Liversedge, Mr. J. Wharton; Hipperholme, Mr. Lister. Town Hall Committee - Mr. C.P. Anderton, Mr. Chas. Atkinson, Mr. Joseph Briggs, Mr. C. Dawson (hon. treasurer); Mr G.H. Dawson, Mr. J. Ellis, Mr. W. Ellis, Dr. Farrow, Mr. W. Gaunt, Mr. B.H. Goldthorp, Mr. Alfred Hall, Mr. John Hirst, Mr. B. Lacy, Mr. A. Law, Mr. J.H. Leather, Mr. S. Reeve, Mr. R. Shackleton, Mr. J. Siddall, Dr. Sutherland, Mr. George Sykes, Mr. John Tetlow, Dr. John Sykes, Mr. J.W. Wadsworth, Mr. George Siddall (collector). Mr. W.H. Clough, hon. sec. of the Town Hall Committee; Mr. A. Anderton, vice-president of the Town Hall Committee; Messrs. Mawson and Hudson, architects of the building; Mr. T.F. Firth, president Spen Valley Liberal Association; Mr. F. Ellis, president Spen Valley Conservative Association; Mr. Theo. Peel, chairman of the West Riding Bench (Bradford); Mr. Anderton, Cleckheaton; Mayors of the following boroughs - Batley, Halifax, Mossley, Ossett and Morley; Colonel Brooke, vice-chairman of the West Riding County Council; Mr. Joseph Woodhead MP (Spen Valley); Mr. Joseph Law, chairman of the Town Hall Committee; the rear being brought up by a detachment of police.
On arriving at the Town Hall, around which had gathered a large crowd, Mr B H Goldthorp presented a gold key to Mr Law, with which to perform the ceremony of opening the gates and expressed the hope that in the future it would serve as a pleasant memento of the proceedings of this memorable day in the history of the town. He trusted that when the hall was opened it would realise to the uttermost the anticipations of those who had taken such an active part in its promotion (cheers).
Mr Law, who was heartily cheered, thanked Mr Goldthorp for his present, which, he was sure, he should always treasure as a reminder of that great day in their history. The Town Hall, he said, would long stand as a monument to future generations of the enterprise and liberality of the people of Cleckheaton. Having unlocked and opened the gates, Mr Law, followed by the other members of the committee, made their way into the vestibule, where he unveiled a tablet which has been placed there in memory of the late Mr. Elymas Wadsworth, who was the first chairman of the Town Hall Committee and one of the originators of the scheme. The committee and guests then made their way to the platform in the large hall, which was crowded, and Sir Michael Costa's arrangement of the National Anthem having been sung by the members of the local Philharmonic Society, Mr. Arthur Anderton (the vice-chairman of the Town Hall Committee) took the chair.
In opening the proceedings here, Mr. Anderton said that this was a day of great things for Cleckheaton. He congratulated the inhabitants most heartily on the erection of this noble building. He wished their congratulations could have been expressed without the shadow of great sorrow passing across their minds; but this could not be. One had been taken away who, if he did not conceive the idea they saw consummated in that hall, was heart and soul in the undertaking from its conception. Rightly, therefore, their first duty, on being admitted to the building, had been to unveil a tablet erected by members of the Town Hall Committee, bearing the inscription; "In remembrance of Elymas Wadsworth, County Councillor and Chairman of the Town Hall Committee, who gave willingly, largely and effectually of his time and substance to further the erection of this building." As much as they mourned his loss, let them rejoice that he had been spared so long, and might his energetic labours for the public good be an inspiration to them, and especially to the young men of the town, to go and do likewise. (Hear, hear).
The scheme for the erection of the buildings originated in the generally expressed desire that they should in some form or another commemorate the year of Her Majesty the Queen's Jubilee, and the Local Board being willing and desirous of erecting new offices, it was thought a favourable opportunity of combining with them and erecting at the same time a public hall which should be a memento of all the blessings, political, social and material, that they had enjoyed in that district during the beneficent reign of Her Gracious Majesty. (Hear, hear). But being babes in municipal matters, they were not allowed to walk alone. Had they possessed the dignity and the powers that were possessed by those full-grown bodies which were represented on the platform, they might have taken bolder action. (Laughter). But the Local Government Board, which dominated all local authorities, had to be met, and it was decided, rather than have any trouble, that they would loose themselves from the apron-strings, strike out a new line and voluntarily contributed the funds as necessary for the erection of a public hall, while the Local Board contributed the necessary funds for the erection of Town's Offices.
He believed the Local Government Board were somewhat startled at the proposals (laughter) but their surprise was soon turned into an acknowledgment of the public spirit which had prompted such an action on the part of the inhabitants, and they received their sanction to the scheme which had now been brought to such a successful issue (cheers). Tradition said, though he did not know how far it was true, that the old inhabitants of Cleckheaton looked upon the place as the centre of the world, and hardly deigned to admit the improvements in science and the arts and mechanics, and when they did do it, it was in a very conservative spirit. He understood that the first time the steam engine was introduced it was not a motive power, but as a means of pumping water on to one of the old waterwheels (loud laughter). That was before the days of long chimneys and dense smoke; it was in the days when the Spen Beck abounded in trout and their fields were the haunts of the hare and partridge. They could imagine that under these circumstances the world of the Cleckheatonians was somewhat circumscribed, and could excuse their exaggerated idea of their importance. They were told that they were the creatures of circumstances. He did not believe it, but it might be so in some conditions of life. They had been awakened from that dream of superiority and high place to the fact they were not the centre of the world. They were, however, the centre of the Spen Valley Parliamentary Division, a considerable drop, he admitted (laughter and cheers), but quite sufficient to induce them to set about the erection of a hall which should be worthy of the position they occupied, and of the other townships which were associated with them in the division; a hall in which both parties could meet and show to demonstration that their opponents were the authors of all the ills that flesh is heir to." (laughter).
It had been suggested, though he did not know where the suggestion emanated from, that they had built the Town Hall as the first step towards obtaining a charter of incorporation (cheers). He was afraid the experience of their neighbours would not encourage them in that direction, while the County Council were somewhat jealous of losing their industrial urban districts and were inclined to stick to what they had got. He was quite sure however, that Mr Bull, the chairman of the Local Board, would very worthily carry the chain of office and the scarlet robes of Mayoralty (hear, hear), and he was sure also that the Local Board could prove itself worthy of municipal rank. That, however, was not the motive which prompted them to erect that building. The time might come, he did not know how far distant it might be, when the lion could lie down with the lamb and the whole of Spen Valley be incorporated in one borough. If that day should arrive, then they would be in a position to offer the lion and the lamb a home for their felicitous companionship (laughter and cheers).
As they were the centre of the Parliamentary Division, they felt it their duty to erect a hall worthy of the position and he believed public life in the town would be affected beneficially by it. He hoped most sincerely they would try to live up to the standard which was set them in that building, in all departments of their public life. He was quite sure that surroundings had some effect upon individuals, and although they had achieved so much in the past, they had still a great deal to do. When the members of the Local Board met in their new rooms, and compared their new surroundings with their old offices, he was sure they would be encouraged to still greater efforts and zeal in the public good. That day's work would for generations form a landmark in the annals of the town, and would be looked upon as the day when a new impulse was given to the commercial energy of the community, the preservation of which was so necessary, if England was to keep her place among the nations of the world (cheers).
Mr. W.H. Clough, the hon. secretary, read a short report, giving a sketch of the Town Hall and Mr. Leather then presented to Mr. Law, a block plan of the building and complimented that gentleman on the way in which he had discharged the duties of his office. The Chairman, on behalf of the trustees, the Town Hall Committee and the subscribers, handed over to Mr. Law the title deeds, to be in turn transferred by him to Mr. Bull, to hold on behalf of the town.
Mr. Law, in reply, made a touching reference to the death of Mr Wadsworth and then gave a short sketch of the progress of the town. It was the first village in England, he believed, which had its streets lighted by gas, and since the Local Board took over the management of the gasworks the price had been reduced 33 per cent, and a saving of £1,000 a year effected for the last seven years. They wanted a Mechanics' Institute now, where their young men could spend their leisure hours profitably, and a Free Library, well stocked with good and useful books. In these days of keen competition at home and adverse tariffs abroad, they must see to it that the rising generation was well posted up in what was needful for carrying on the commerce of a great nation. They wanted too, a public park (loud cheers) where the toilers could enjoy a little recreation after the day's work. In conclusion, Mr Law said amid loud and prolonged cheers "In the name of God, and before the large company, I declare the Cleckheaton Town Hall open."
Mr. Bull, chairman of the Local Board, having received the title deeds and the mounted block plan, which, amid loud laughter, Mr. Law made him a present of, congratulated the inhabitants on the completion of the work, and in their name thanked the Town Hall Committee for the splendid gift they had made to Cleckheaton.
The Rev. W.J. Davies having offered the prayer of dedication, Mr. J.W. Wadsworth proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Law for his services on that occasion and in doing so promised to present to the town a large clock to be placed in the tower, as a memorial to his father (loud cheers). He hoped that the building would long remain a monument of that public spirit without which progress was impossible. Mr. A.S. Roberts seconded the motion, which was supported by Colonel Brooke and Mr. Woodhead, MP, and adopted.
Mr. Law replied, and the opening proceedings came to a close with Philharmonic Society singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" and the chorus "All men, all things, sing to the Lord."
Luncheon, to which a large number of ladies and gentlemen sat down, was afterwards served in the Victoria Hall. Afterwards the usual loyal toasts were duly honoured. In proposing the toast of "The Town and Trade of Cleckheaton;" Ald. T.F. Firth, Heckmondwike, admitted, though he was no stranger to Cleckheaton, there existed a certain degree of jealousy between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike. Yet he complimented the inhabitants upon the manifestation of their enterprise, perseverance and energy, their public-spiritedness and loyalty. He congratulated the assembly of the public of Cleckheaton generally upon the excellent manner in which the Town Hall undertaking had been conceived and carried out (applause).
Mr. B.H. Goldthorp, responding, spoke upon the many advantages resulting from efficient local government, and the due appreciation of the same by the community governed, stating also that the circumstances of a man's environment has considerable influence upon the formation of character. The speaker also dwelt upon trade being much hampered at present, though he entertained the greatest confidence in the capabilities of the English firms and manufacturers to surmount those difficulties, and hoped to see an early revival of trade in our midst (applause).
Mr. C.P. Anderton having suitably proposed "The Visitors," Mr. Theo. Peel responded and admitted that he had been very much taken by surprise by the proceedings of the afternoon and added that Cleckheaton might now really lay claim to being "the metropolis of the Spen Valley." (applause). Referring to the allusion previously made to the incorporation of the district, whereby the West Riding (Bradford) Bench would lose one of its very important, though perhaps not its largest, district, he said that but a small proportion of the unpleasant duties which the West Riding Bench were called upon to discharge came from Cleckheaton (applause).
The health of "The Chairman" was proposed by Mr. F. Ellis, who made pathetic allusion to the death of the late President of the Committee, Mr. Wadsworth, and referred to Mr. Joseph Law as a member of one of the leading commercial firms in England (applause). The speaker hoped the chairman might live to see the say when Cleckheaton may receive a charter of incorporation, and said that the present magnificent Town Hall may need to be considerably enlarged (applause). The chairman briefly acknowledged the honour and a similar compliment was passed to Mr. W.H. Clough, hon. secretary, on the proposition of the chairman, both toasts received with musical honours.
In the evening a torchlight procession took place from the Volunteer Drill Hall, through the town. The procession included torch-bearers, a cyclist masquerade carnival, the Volunteers (under command of Lieutenants Law and Atkinson), the Fire Brigade and two bands of music. On the route of the procession cheers were given at the residences of Captain Mowat and Mr Joseph Law. A splendid display of fireworks took place in the evening in the Feast Field and in the Town Hall the first of a series of balls was held, there being present upwards of 320 ladies and gentlemen. Balls, concerts and entertainments are to be continued until the 27th inst.
Other articles associated with this story:
Cleckheaton Town Hall - Laying of the Foundation Stone
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