31st August 1867

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF A TOWN HALL

AT MIRFIELD.—-There was a large and respectable gathering in Mirfield last Saturday afternoon to witness the laying the corner-stone, by the Mayor of Dewsbury (Mr. E. Day, Mirfield), of a building to serve the purpose of a town hall. Before the ceremony took place processions of members of the local Volunteer Corps and friendly societies took place, the principal highways in the townships being thus perambulated. A couple of brass bands were also engaged for the occasion, one belonging to the Mirfield Rifle Corps and the other to that of Huddersfield. The building is being erected from plans by Messrs. John Kirk and Sons, architects; of Huddersfield and Dewsbury, and is estimated to cost, with the site, about £4000, The site chosen is in Eastthorpe, the frontage being the turnpike road. In the evening at banquet took place in celebration of the event at the Black Bull Hotel, the Mayor occupying the chair and Mr, Joe Sheard the vice-chair.

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28th November 1868

OPENING OF A NEW TOWN HALL AT MIRFIELD.

—On Wednesday night a new building, to be called the Town Hall of Mirfield, and which occupies a site on the road side at Eastthorpe, was formally opened by Mr. J. M. Johnson, the chairman of the limited liability company which has undertaken its erection and maintenance and afterwards a dinner took place in the large room in celebration of the event. Mr. Johnson presided, and he was supported by the Rev. George Ridley, Messrs. Edward Day, M. Fox, A. Williamson, and other gentlemen, The building, which is from designs by Messrs, Kirk and Sons, architects, of Dewsbury, is Italian in style, and comprises on the ground floor a large hall, having sitting accommodation for 600 persons, an orchestra capable of holding 100 performers, and galleries with seats for 300 spectators; committee-rooms, kitchens, offices, and, in front, four lock-up shops. Externally, the principal feature of the building is the south front, consisting of a central projecting
clock-tower of good proportions, and containing the chief entrance, flanked on each side by the shops. The gables and clock-tower are terminated in the French style, and finished with iron railings of ornamental design, The cost of the entire building, with its fittings, is about £4000.

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11th September 1869

MIRFIELD REJECTS THE OFFER OF A SUPPLY OF WATER FROM HALIFAX—

On Thursday evening, a large meeting of the ratepayers of Mirfield was held in the Town Hall of that village, to consider the propriety of adopting the Local Government Act. Mr. J. Sheard occupied the chalr. Mr. Charles Wheatley, J.P., stated that Capt. Savile, the lord of the manor of a large portion of the township, had arranged with the Halifax Corporation for a supply of water from its reservoirs to his estates in Thornhill and Soothill, near Dewsbury, and also to Mirfield, through which it would have to be conveyed to the two former places. It was found, however, that Mirfield could not be included unless its ratepayers adopted the Local Government Act, and this meeting had been called in order that they might decide what course should be adopted. Mr. Wheatley and other gentlemen explained the great advantages which the township would derive from being under a local board, and also that the water was offered on such terms—a million gallons per day at 6d. per thousand gallons—that it ought not to be refused. A motion to the effect that the Local Government Act of 1858 be adopted within such part of the parish as was not included in the district of Ravensthorpe was made by the Chairman, but it was lost, only some forty persons voting for it and several hundreds against it Mr. S. Anderson led the oppositionists.

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9th October 1880

MIRFIELD—

On Saturday the annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Mirfield detachment of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment took place at the Mirfield Town Hall. Captain Williamson reported that the number of Volunteers enrolled since the formation of the corps was 517; passed through ranks in 19 years, 414; leaving present enrolled strength, 103. Prizes to the value of £49 10s., were distributed by Mrs Thompson, of Huddersfield. The principal winners were Sergeant Alfred Lee, Corporal W. J. Holt, Sergeant Midwood, Private P. Milnes, Private R. Meal, Corporal Ashton, Sergeant J. Gibson, Corporal Oates, Private T. Garforth, Corporal Jonathan Hinchliffe..

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6th February 1891

INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION AT MIRFIELD.—

Last night Mr, F. Ellis, of Dewsbury, opened an Exhibition of Home Arts and Industries in Mirfield Town Hall, and it was vary well patronised. The affair was got up by the local Church Institute, but some of the classes were entirely open and the display was a very creditable one. Messrs. Marshal, Kaye, and Marshall exhibited cloth and yarns; Messrs. W. Newsome and Sons, finished and partly finished pianos; Mr. T. Rogers, printing machinery; the Mirfield Coal Company, the model of a colliery railway, &c.; Mr. Fairburn, card making; Messrs. Thos. Haigh, cotton in the raw state and in cop and warp; Messrs. Hartley Brothers, leather: Mr. J. E. Birkhead, cycles; Messrs. Wilkinson and Co., greasy shoddy and what is produced from it; Mrs. J. Barker, samples of all the wools of the world; Mr. J. Ledgard, harness; Messrs. J. F. and J. Crowther, malts; &c. &c. There were exhibits in wood-carving, mostly by members of classes taught by Mr, Joshua Buckley, and very, beautiful they were. In the open competition Mr. H. Muschamp took the first prize. There were also exhibits by members of the Institute of the Girls' Friendly Society, the public elementary day schools, the boys of the Calder Farm Reformatory School -excellent in quality- and church Sunday scholars and pupil-teachers. Prizes were offered, and some were declared last evening; but the full list will be completed today, and all are to be awarded on Saturday, and at night the exhibition will close.

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