Colourised postcard showing the Town Hall & garden which is now home to the town's war memorial.
Following the ceremony there was a garden party given by Cllr. Harrop at his home, Cliff House. This was by all accounts a rather lavish affair with refreshments served from a marquee and musical entertainment provided. Cllr. Harrop was presented with a gold medal by his fellow councillors in recognition of his services at the Coronation festivities. At this time, Cllr. Harrop had given 18 years service to the Council, seven of which had been as Chairman. On one side of the medal were effigies of the King and Queen, and on the other the arms of Horbury set on a black band on a white inlaid plaque.
A little over a year later on 2nd October 1903, the townspeople of Horbury gathered once again, this time to witness the official opening ceremony of the new building. The "Wakefield Express", dated 5th October, carried a full report:
"The event and its leading features will long be remembered in the township, for most of the inhabitants, whether their attitude had been one of hearty support of the building scheme, or of criticism of the expenditure, seemed to take a keen interest in the ceremony itself. Not only were the Council Offices decorated with flags and adorned with a suitable motto, but flags were also flying from many private houses."
The programme of events was divided into three parts. First there was a private luncheon in the Co-operative Hall, which was followed by the actual ceremony at the Town Hall. Finally, a reception for over 200 guests back at the Co-operative Hall. The luncheon and reception were both hosted by Cllr. Joshua Harrop CC, Chairman of the Council.
“Somewhere between twenty minutes and half past three, the procession from the Co-operative Hall, consisting of the Councillors, Common Land Trustees and other guests at the luncheon made their appearance. As they passed along, a gleam of brightness was lent by the Mayors of Wakefield and Ossett, each of whom wore his official chain.”
Waiting to greet them at the Town Hall was Mr. W. Hanstock, the architect, who presented Cllr Harrop with a gold key. Cllr Harrop then declared the building officially open. As many people as possible joined the dignitaries upstairs, where Cllr. Harrop, Mr. Brotherton MP, Mr. Milnes Gaskell, Mr John Barker and the Mayor of Ossett took up their positions on the balcony, above "…a sea of upturned faces.”
In his speech, Cllr. Harrop spoke of the ratepayers' expectations of the Council now they had their new offices:
“Perhaps the ratepayers might expect better work from the Councillors. All he could tell them was that he and his fellow Councillors would be both very pleased and proud to do all they could to further the progress of Horbury. He knew what a monumental spirit prevailed in the township and that some of the ratepayers thought the Council had expended more money than was warranted for a township like theirs. Well, he did not think the expenditure was unwarranted. The Council had now put up a decent building and the cost, he believed, was below the estimate.”
He finished by telling the assembled crowd that there would be a brass plaque mounted in the entrance commemorating the Horbury men who gave their lives in the recent war. This was the Boer War (1899-1902). Facing this plaque would be another bearing the names of the present Council. "A little bit of vanity", he said.
Mr. Milnes-Gaskell spoke next. He told them that they had spent £4,000 or about a pound per head of the population on the building and land. "It was not a building for a future Chicago, but meant for the present needs of Horbury and what would be, possibly, the natural increase during the next few decades." He went on to reminisce about his late friend, Canon Sharp. "When he first came into that neighbourhood, an inhabitant of Horbury could not pass across the boundary that divided it from Ossett without being assailed with stones and a similar reception awaited the inhabitant of Ossett who was bold enough to go into the township of Horbury! Those times were past, but still, he thought, a certain jealousy existed between individual townships and parishes in the West Riding.”
Alderman Brotherton MP, asked that the audience take his presence "as a token of the goodwill of Wakefield." Alderman Fothergill, Mayor of Ossett, congratulated them on having such "grand Council Offices." He said they had no Town Hall but he hoped the day would come before long when they could invite Horbury's representative to the opening of a new Town Hall in Ossett. (This would become a reality nearly five years later on the 2nd June 1908.)
Next, a special Council meeting was held to receive the new stained glass windows from the Trustees of the Common Lands Trust. Mr. W. T. Race presented the windows on the Trust's behalf.
The assembled company then made their way to the reception at the Co-operative Hall, which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion. Music was provided by Dunnill's string band, with contributions from, amongst others, Mr. H. E. Cookson, principal baritone at Bradford Parish Church.
Towards the end of the reception, Cllr. Thornton moved a vote of thanks to Cllr. Harrop for his generous hospitality. This was seconded by Cllr. Neil and Cllr. Sykes and was carried "with great heartiness.”
The first Council Meeting at the new Town Hall offices took place on the 30th September 1903. The Council adopted the coat of arms of John de Horbury, who was a steward of the Manor of Wakefield for John de Warenne, Lord of the Manor of Wakefield, at the beginning of the 14th century. The council added the Latin motto "Pro bono oppido", which means "For the good of the town." They set three silver towers upright on the black band instead of lying across i in accordance with heraldic practice.
The Opening Ceremony
Town Hall
Prior to Horbury Local Board being set up in 1863, the Parish Vestry had managed Horbury's civic affairs. The first chairman of the new Local Board, Mr Fierville, presided over its first meeting in the old Town School, Tithe Barn Street.
After some time, the Board moved to buildings in Green's Yard and, later, offices in an old house on the site of 20 High Street. Elections though would not take place until the inception of the Urban District Council in 1894. The election system involved each ratepayer having one vote – unless you were female. Then you had to be a ratepayer of a property you owned. The last meeting of Horbury Local Board took place at the High Street offices on 14th December 1894. The inaugural meeting of the new Horbury Urban District Council (HUDC) was just over two weeks later on 31st December.
The plot of land on which the Town Hall and Library stand was previously a house and garden occupied by Mr William Thickett, builder. The land and buildings were purchased by HUDC in 1899 from Messrs Baines for 3s 3d per yard (£2,100 in total) for the land and £200 for the house.
Local master builder, Henry Fallas was paid £20 to clear the land. He then undertook the construction work.
Caption
Photo of the Town Hall in 2018.
At 3pm on 30th July 1902, a grand ceremony was held at which a whole host of local dignitaries and townsfolk witnessed the foundation stone being laid by Councillor Joshua Harrop C.C., chairman of HUDC. Under the stone was placed a time capsule: a bottle containing the new by-laws, a local newspaper, a photo of members of HUDC taken on their visit to Belvoir Castle and some coins. Cllr. Poppleton, as chairman of the General Works Committee, presided over the ceremony, which he characterised as:
"A great one, in so much as none of those present are likely to witness such another in the township."
The building contractors were Henry Fallas & Sons and the final cost of the Town Hall was £6,100. A wooden war memorial plaque honouring those Horbury men who died in WW1 and rescued from the old St Peter's School is still in place in the old Town Hall.
The "Wakefield Express" report of the foundation stone laying event paints a wonderful picture:
"The poles around the low walls served to fly bright hued flags and connect lines of smaller ones which the strong breeze blowing kept in a state of continual animation." An inspiring inscription 'Success to Horbury' formed the centre of the decorations."
“…the groups in front of the new site were being continually augmented, until several hundred were assembled together. Holidays had released the youngsters from all irksome restriction and they were there in considerable force.”
It also describes theproposed design for the interior and grounds:
"On the ground floor, accommodation will be provided for the Surveyor and the Rate Collector and in connection with the work of the latter gentleman there is to be a large public rates pay-office. There is to be plenty of wide corridors so that if more room is needed it can be easily obtained. The Council Chamber, well finished and decorated, of course, will be on the first floor and 37 feet long by 27 feet wide. There would also be accommodation there for the Clerk and the Committee. Then at the rear of the site and off the side road known as Manor Road, the stables and sheds for the accommodation of the Council's horses, carts and street rollers and also workmen's and plumber's sheds and the necessary appurtenances are to be erected. This is not all, for the Council beneficently intend to plant trees and small shrubs at the top of the ground, which will form a small recreation ground. The whole scheme including the cost of land, will amount to something over £5,000."
It would appear the Council were desperate for better premises. Cllr. Harrop described the High Street offices as:
"…a place which was really unfit for anyone to sit in. It had been happily termed by councillors around him as the 'black hole of Calcutta' and he should say it was the 'black hole of Horbury.' No-one could stop there for three or four hours transacting the business of the township, without feeling a little bit unwell."
Location of the old Council Offices, High Street.
A postcard showing the Town Hall & Library, Westfield Road.
Mr. A. W. Hanstock, a member of the firm of architects who designed the building, described the accommodation and the "Wakefield Express" reported:
"…the building, both externally and internally, would be a happy medium in regard to ornamentation. Not too ornate nor yet too plain. The materials were to be plain and substantial and, he trusted, the results would be satisfactory to all."
Mr. Hanstock presented Cllr. Harrop with a silver-gilt trowel and mallet. In 1960, the trowel and mallet were returned to the council by Joshua Harrop’s nephew, Arthur. With his permission, Mr Arnold Varley Fallas, grandson of Henry Fallas, Chairman of the Council, was presented with this trowel and mallet on completion of his term of office in 1966.
Cllr Harrop said it was, "A grand day in the history of the ancient village of Horbury."
At a later Council meeting, Mr W T Raco, on behalf of the Common Land Trustees, presented a stained glass window for the Council Chamber. This was in memory of Sir Gervaise Clifton who had left land to the township 400 years previously.
The foundation stone laid by Joshua Harrop in 1902.
The silver-gilt trowel & mallet presented to Joshua Harrop after the ceremony.
Brass plaque recording the members of the Council when the Town Hall opened.
Part of the wooden war memorial saved from the old St Peter's School.
Brass plaque commemorating the Horbury men who served in the Boer War 1899-1902.
The land next to the Town Hall was developed in 1904 as a garden for public use and was the first area of ground set aside as a public garden in Horbury. It was known locally as Sparrow Park, possibly because of the small size. There were strict rules regarding the use of the park and in 1906, the Horbury Brass Band were allowed to stage an outdoor concert there on condition that "they will see to the children being kept in order and doing no damage."
At one time there was a old iron cannon in the park, but in 1941, during WW2, the Ministry of Supply had been given a list of iron railings, posts, chains, etc. in Horbury that could be requisitioned for the war effort. It is thought that the cannon was removed and then melted down for the manufacture of armaments.
In 2003, Sparrow Park was subject to a program of renovation and renamed "Horbury Memorial Park." A distinctive curved blue signpost was placed across the gateposts at the entrance to the park with the Horbury coat of arms on the left-hand side and British Legion badge on the right-hand side. A war memorial in honour of the Horbury men who lost their lives during WW2 was erected in the centre of the park in 1952.
Horbury Memorial Park, formerly known as Sparrow Park.
The war memorial on Remembrance Day 2018 - 100 years since the Armistice.
References:
1. "Wakefield Express", 3rd August 1902.
2 . "Proud Village – A History of Horbury" by R L Arundale
3. "Some Horbury Yesteryears" by R.D. Woodhall, published 1973.
Helen Bickerdike June 2018
