The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country, From 1800 to 1860

Chapter XVIII: Part 18

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Much unkindly feeling and animosity was occasioned in the Parish when this fine Old Parish Church was doomed to be demolished, more especially when it became known that a heavy Church Rate for years to come would be levied upon the Ratepayers, partly to meet the cost of building the New Parish Church.[37]

On laying the Foundation Stone of the present St. Thomas's Church, on October 25th, 1816, the following ticket was issued:--

ADMIT THE BEARER INTO ST. THOMAS'S

CHURCH YARD,

On the 25th of OCTOBER, 1816.

N.B.--This Ticket will entitle the Purchaser to a Medal.

As many discrepancies have often appeared in print as to the cost of the erection of the present Church of St. Thomas, Dudley, I am enabled, through the courtesy of Ephraim Ball, Esq., of Halesowen, to lay before the reading public some authentic information on this head, taken from valuable documents now in his possession, which belonged to the Churchwardens and Building Committee at that remote period. Mr. Ball's subjoined letter to the _Dudley Guardian_, in 1871, effectually sets that question for ever at rest.

We have also another very pleasant evidence of the liberality and care for the spiritual wants of the parishioners displayed at that time by the then Viscount Dudley and Ward, in erecting a new Gallery in St. Edmund's Church, to enable the church going inhabitants to obtain some sitting accommodation in public worship, during the very protracted time occupied in the erection of the New Parish Church.

_Dudley, July 10th, 1815._

MY LORD,

The Churchwardens of Dudley beg leave most respectfully to
inform your Lordship that, as it is found expedient to put up
a Gallery in Saint Edmund's Church, for the accommodation of
the inhabitants, while the Parish Church is building; that a
space on your Lordship's Chancel being the only one for such
Gallery, which will become your Lordship's property hereafter;
that there is no power of applying any part of the subscription
money, raised for the intended New Parish Church, towards the
said Gallery; and that the parishioners having contributed to
the utmost of their means, for the erection of the Church--we
are emboldened by your Lordship's great liberality, on
all occasions to the town of Dudley, to solicit your kind
assistance to enable us to complete the Gallery, according to
an estimate amounting to £181, which will greatly add to the
many obligations which we owe your Lordship. In behalf of the
parish, we are my Lord,

Your Lordship's much obliged,
And most respectful Servants,
T. HILL AND EDWARD GUEST.

The Right Honourable
Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward,
Park Lane, London.

* * * * *

[REPLY.]

MY DEAR SIR,

I shall be at Himley, quite as soon as I intended, and take the
liberty of sending the enclosed for your inspection; and beg
that you will inform the inhabitants of Dudley, that I shall
be happy to accommodate them with a Gallery in my Chancel, and
will talk further on the business when I have the pleasure of
seeing you.

I am, yours sincerely,
DUDLEY AND WARD.

_London, Wednesday July 12th, 1815._

* * * * *

Dudley, October 15th, 1815.

MY LORD,

A wish having been expressed by a few, that the Gallery with
which your Lordship has had the goodness and generosity
to present to this parish in the Chancel of St. Edmund's,
should consist of _close pews_ instead of open benches, we
respectfully request your Lordship will be pleased to inform
us, whether (if deemed expedient), such wish shall be complied
with, no additional expense falling on your Lordship in
consequence of any deviation from the original plan. And, if
complied with, whether any rent for the seats ought to be paid
to the Minister of St. Edmund's for the same. The children
of the charity schools being about 1,000 in number, we also
beg leave most respectfully to submit it to your Lordship's
consideration, whether, (when the new Parish Church is
completed), the said Gallery (if thought advisable), should not
be converted into open benches for their accommodation.

We are, my Lord, your Lordship's
Most respectful obedient Servants,
T. HILL, }
EDWARD GUEST, } CHURCHWARDENS.

* * * * *

[REPLY.]

To Rev. Dr. BOOKER, Dudley.

MY DEAR SIR,

I wish the Gallery to be so constructed as may best answer the
wants of the inhabitants, especially the householders, while
the Parish Church is being built. _If close pews_ will be most
eligible for the purpose during that time, I have no objection
to their being put up by the persons wanting them, under the
direction of yourself and the Churchwardens, provided the pews
be so formed as to be capable of being altered hereafter, as I
may think proper.

I am, my dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
DUDLEY AND WARD.

_Himley, November 4th, 1815._

The following correspondence is a valuable compendium to Dudley lore--

DUDLEY DURING THE LAST SIXTY YEARS.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY GUARDIAN.

SIR,--In my former letters to you I have given an account of
what took place and about the old Parish Church, in this I
shall give some information respecting the present church,
which is so great an ornament to the town. The foundation stone
was laid in the year 1816, and finished building in the year
1819, at a cost of £24,000, raised partly by rates and partly
by voluntary contributions. The following is a list of the
donors:--

£ s. d.
The Right Hon. Viscount Dudley and Ward 2000 0 0
The Rev. Luke Booker, (Vicar) 120 0 0
Edward Dixon 500 0 0
James Bourne 100 0 0
Thomas Wainwright 150 0 0
Elizabeth Wainwright 30 0 0
Whitehouse, Moore, and Guest 100 0 0
Richard Moore 100 0 0
Edward Guest 100 0 0
Cornelius Cartwright 60 0 0
Mary Cartwright 40 0 0
Thomas Hill 100 0 0
Thomas and Isaac Badger 80 0 0
W. O. Chinner 50 0 0
Edward Terry 30 0 0
John Badley, Blowers Green 100 0 0
John Badley, Surgeon 100 0 0
----------
Total £3760 0 0
----------

So that it will be seen that upwards of twenty thousand pounds
were raised from the Parishioners by a rate levied upon them
under an Act of Parliament. It would not have fallen so heavily
upon the Ratepayers as it did but for the fact that the person
who bought the materials of the old church never paid for them.
The agreement with the purchaser was to pay for them when he
fetched the last load away, but this part of the contract was
never completed, for he either forgot it or wilfully neglected
it. However this may be, a nice row of houses were built with
the materials he did fetch away on the road that cuts off at
right angles leading to Rowley from Dixons Green. The bottom
part of the ovens which were in the brewhouses belonging to
these buildings were laid with some of the gravestones taken
from the old churchyard, and not unfrequently was to be seen
upon the newly-baked loaves "Sacred to the Memory," "Departed
this life," or "Here lie the remains," &c. The individual
referred to was one of the leading men of the town in that day,
and the least we can say is that he had a jolly bargain at
the expense of the parishioners. The first Vicar of the newly
built Church was the Rev. Luke Booker, the next the Rev. W. H.
Cartwright, M.A., who gave up the living, and was succeeded by
the Rev. J. C. Browne, D.C.L. The present Vicar is the Rev.
W. R. Cosens, M.A. The magnificent organ in the church was the
gift of the Right Hon. Viscount Dudley and Ward, and at his
request, Mr. Richard Bourne, a very respectable inhabitant of
the town, was appointed organist. Mr. Bourne was much respected
by his Lordship, having been for many years his organist at the
church close to his baronial mansion at Himley. His Lordship
was a great patron of music, and every year at Christmas he
was in the habit of having some of the best singers down
from London, to spend a few weeks with him at Himley Hall.
The party who generally visited him were the Messrs. Abram,
Knyvett, Vaughan, Braham, and Bellamy, and during their visits
a selection of sacred music was performed, and often a number
of the leading families of the surrounding neighbourhood were
invited to the hall to hear these celebrated vocalists. His
Lordship generally selected a portion of the Messiah to be
performed, and would often join in the choruses, especially
"And the Glory of the Lord," and "The Hallelujah Chorus." A
remarkable instance of his Lordship's benevolence occurred one
occasion when these celebrities were visiting him. He observed
Braham to be somewhat downcast, and asked Mr. Knyvett if he
knew what was the matter with him. Mr. Knyvett did not probably
tell his Lordship all he knew, but from what he did tell him
he inferred that some money would be useful to Braham, and at
length determined to have a private interview with him, and
ask him the cause of his despondency, without Braham saying
much on this rather delicate subject. His Lordship inquired if
some money would be of any use to him; he replied that just at
that time it would, and he immediately wrote him out a cheque
for £500. His Lordship was remarkably charitable and often
caused three or four oxen to be killed weekly to be distributed
amongst the poor of Dudley, Sedgley, Gornal, and Himley, and
the couplet written by the late Dr. Booker, as a tribute of
respect to his memory, will not easily be forgotten--

"To doomsday may the name descend
Dudley, and the poor man's friend."

The present Earl of Dudley has shewn much kindness towards the
people of this town and district, and his noble gift of the
Hospital will confer an immense benefit upon the poor of the
town and neighbourhood, and may he long live to see some of the
good results of this great act of benevolence.

I remain, yours truly,
VERITAS.

_October 7, 1871._

Mr. Ephraim Ball's reply to "Veritas," based as his letter is upon absolute documents in the hands of Mr. Ball, at one time the property of the then Churchwardens and Building Committee, removes all doubts and conjectures about the cost of erection of our noble Parish Church, which has been beautified and adorned twice since that period.

OLD DUDLEY DURING THE LAST SIXTY YEARS.

_To the Editor of the_ DUDLEY GUARDIAN.

SIR,--In reference to the letters which have appeared in the
_Dudley Guardian_ for several weeks past signed "Veritas,"
and "Z."--such letters containing matters which are in many
instances preserved as historical records,--permit me to say
that some of the statements are very vague and indefinite.
We will take for instance Saint Thomas' Church, Dudley. Your
correspondent states it cost the sum of £24,000, raised partly
by rates and partly by voluntary contributions, also giving the
list of the donors, from which your correspondent omits many
old Dudley names. As there was more than one subscription list,
I beg to give you a copy of one of them:--

"Dudley Parish Church of St. Thomas.

_July 21st, 1814._

"At a meeting held at the time and place aforesaid, in
pursuance of public notice given on the preceding Sabbath
in both churches (the Rev. Dr. Booker in the chair), the
following resolutions were passed unanimously, to carry
into effect the pious intentions of the inhabitants of
Dudley, to erect a suitable parish church for the services
of the Almighty.

First.--That a committee be appointed, and that all
subscribers of forty pounds and upwards do constitute such
committee.

Secondly.--That the following form be immediately submitted
to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Dudley and Ward, the
patron, for his lordship's concurrence and subscription, as
well as that of the inhabitants at large.

We, whose names are hereunder written, do hereby undertake
and promise to subscribe the several sums of money set
opposite to our respective names; the same to be applied
in taking down and rebuilding the Church of St. Thomas, in
Dudley, and for defraying other expenses incident thereto.
Which sums we do hereby severally agree to pay into the
hands of the Treasurer hereafter to be appointed, by ten
equal successive quarterly payments, the first quarterly
payment to be made on the 25th of January, 1815.

Each subscriber of twenty pounds and upwards to be entitled
to sittings to the amount of one-half of his subscription;
the value of such sittings to be fixed by the Commissioners
appointed under the Act of Parliament: the other half of
the subscription to be a sacred gift applied towards the
erection of the church.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. £ s. d.

L. Booker, vicar, who, by a plan he means to adopt
and hopes to realize, trusts this sum will be
augmented to not less than £200[38] 120 0 0

The following additional Donations were subsequently added:--

The Right Hon. Viscount Dudley and Ward 2000 0 0
Edward Dixon 500 0 0
Elizabeth Wainwright 30 0 0
Mary Cartwright 40 0 0
Thomas and Isaac Badger 80 0 0
W. O. Chinner 50 0 0
Edward Terry 30 0 0
John Badley, Blowers Green 100 0 0
John Badley, Surgeon, Dudley 100 0 0
Thomas Hawkes 150 0 0
James Bourne (his services gratis as Solicitor) 100 0 0
Cornelius Cartwright 60 0 0
Whitehurst, Moore, and Guest 100 0 0
Richard Moore 70 0 0
Edward Guest 70 0 0
Thomas Onions 80 0 0
Richard Powell 80 0 0
Thomas Bunn 50 0 0
Richard Salisbury 100 0 0
Thomas Wainwright 150 0 0
Timothy Hill 80 0 0
John Jesson 40 0 0
Francis Downing 50 0 0
Thomas Caddick 60 0 0
R. G. Shaw 60 0 0
Joseph Haden 50 0 0
Thomas Davis 50 0 0
Joseph Cox 50 0 0
Richard Lakin 40 0 0
R. W. Hawkes 100 0 0

As regards the church costing £24,000, your correspondent is
quite in error, as will be seen by the following extracts
from two letters. On the 18th of January, 1818, the Bishop of
Worcester writes as under, from Hartlebury Castle, "and desires
to know what further sum, beyond what has been expended or is
in hand, is requisite for completing the new church at Dudley,
in order that he may judge whether, consistently with other
urgent claims on him for pecuniary aid, he can subscribe any
sum of importance to the undertaking."

The following statement was sent to the Bishop:--

£ s. d.
Church Contract 10,670 0 0
Bells 500 0 0
Organ 800 0 0
Extra expenses 1,000 0 0
Act of Parliament, &c. 460 0 0
------------
£13,430 0 0
------------
Raised by subscription £7,100 0 0
Expected deficiency 200 0 0

6,900 0 0 6,900 0 0
Parish rate till Midsummer 1,900 0 0
Unprovided except by Rate and Brief 4,630 0 0
------------
£13,430 0 0
------------

It also appears that the Churchwardens applied and obtained
leave to get a brief at the Sessions in October, 1817, but
being too late in the year they could not get it signed by the
Lord Chancellor, therefore they could not receive any sum from
it before 1820, and then not more than £200 to £300.

A few other particulars regarding St. Thomas's Church may be
interesting to your readers. Mr. Brooks, of London, was the
architect, and Daniel Evans, London, the builder. The following
is a statement how the builder was to be paid:--

£ s. d.
On laying foundation stone 500 0 0
When the several walls are built level with the
second plinth 500 0 0
When the walls are built up to the gallery, and the
timbers of the gallery put on and the tower
of Church built level with bell ringers' floor 1,500 0 0
When walls are built up to raising plates, the
window frames fixed in, and the tower level with
the bell loft 1,000 0 0
When the roof is wholly put on, and the gutters
laid, the battlements and upper roof put on, the
roof wholly finished, and the tower level with
the base of the pinnacles 1,500 0 0
When the pinnacles are finished, the ground floor
joists and small joists of the gallery are laid,
and the ribs for ceilings are finished 1,000 0 0
When the second coat of plastering is put on, floors
of gallery and ground floors are laid, and gallery
fronts are fixed up, and staircases erected 1,000 0 0
When the whole of the said buildings and erections
are completely finished 1,500 0 0
And when Architect shall have certified that the
whole of the work is finished to his satisfaction 1,400 0 0
Six months after completion 200 0 0
------------
£10,100 0 0

The builder of the organ was Mr. Thomas Elliot, of London, and
cost, with fixing, &c., complete, £1025. The order was given
for the organ in 1817, and some parties were not satisfied at
the position in which it was to be placed. Viscount Dudley and
Ward was written to early in 1818, asking if he would allow it
to be placed in the Chancel gallery which would prevent great
inconvenience in going into and coming out of the Church. The
reply of Viscount Dudley and Ward to Dr. Booker was:--

"I beg leave to repeat to you that my mind is unaltered and
unalterable with respect to the situation of the organ, and
that I shall not, by any means give my consent to its being
placed in the Chancel gallery." Dated Himley, February 5th,
1818.

After this letter from Viscount Dudley and Ward, Mr. Brooks and
Mr. Elliot were consulted. The result was Mr. Elliot informed
Dr. Booker that he would construct the movements of the organ
so as to leave a handsome entrance through the middle of the
organ, and if the plan was carried out Mr. Elliot considered
the organ would have a grand appearance.

The organ being made for the situation it now occupies, and the
protest of the Viscount Dudley and Ward against it being put
elsewhere, it is to be hoped a fixed determination will be made
against any party or parties wishing it moved from its present
situation--In fact, I have no hesitation in saying it will
spoil the appearance of the church.

The magnificent Altar Window, painted by Blackler of London,
was commenced in 1818 and finally completed and placed in the
church in Sept., 1821. The original estimate for this splendid
window was 500 guineas, and which Mr. Blackler, in a letter,
states was but a moderate calculation for the work. Mr. Brooks,
however, assured him that such a sum would be considered far
too high, he therefore undertook to execute the window for one
hundred guineas less than his first estimate, and the expense
of fitting up and completing the window in the church was to
be fifty guineas extra. The window is a masterpiece, and the
Dudley people may well be proud that they obtained the same at
so small a cost.

The bells, clock, and palisading cost (after
allowing for old bells) £1120 0 0
Other sundries about 400 0 0
----------
£1520 0 0
----------

Your correspondent will see by the above items that the Church
did not cost £24,000. Your correspondent also states that a
leading man of the town of that day had a jolly bargain at the
expense of the parishioners, having bought the materials of
the old church, which he was to pay for when he fetched the
last load away. This I presume he has stated on hearsay, not
from any foundation on fact. The person referred to could well
afford to pay for anything he contracted for, and I do not
think the Dudley people at the time would allow him to go scot
free, or would they make such a foolish bargain as stated. I
also see the party hinted at gave £50 towards the new Church.

In conclusion allow me to say Dr. Booker at the time worked
hard for the building of the new Church. He was a good sound
churchman, also an author of several works on various
subjects, his name to the present day is an household word, and
Saint Thomas' Church remains a monument to him as first Vicar.

I may mention that Dr. Booker's history of Dudley Castle is the
most authentic work upon the subject that has yet been issued,
and is now become very scarce and valuable.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,
EPHRAIM BALL.

_Dudley, October 23rd, 1871._

The late Mr. Mainwaring of Dudley, an old St. Thomas's Chorister for a many years, gave us an amusing story of a marriage at the New Parish Church. "Soon after the New Parish Church was opened, Mr. Bourne, the Organist, and I went into the Parish Church to have a little practice upon the organ, after Mr. Bourne had played a voluntary, Mr. Richard Stanley, the Beadle, came to us and said, that the Vicar, Dr. Booker, wished us to give over for a time, as a parish wedding was about to take place; not exactly understanding what this meant, we determined to go and see it. As soon as we had reached the Chancel, we were informed by Mr. Bond, the Parish Clerk, that a certain sum of money was to be given to the young man by the parish authorities. As we had no Board of Guardians in those days, the parties in charge of the parish funds did pretty much as they liked with them, in this instance, and for certain reasons, they offered the young man about to be married five pounds. When we arrived near the altar rails we observed several young men and women in the pews, and there was an abundance of sly winking and laughing going on. At last, the Doctor entered from the vestry, and all the people became orderly and quiet. The service commenced and all went on smooth as a marriage bell, when the Doctor came to that part of the service where he said to the man, 'Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy state of matrimony,' &c., &c. Here Mr. Bond, the Clerk, stepped forward, and told the man to answer 'I will!' He replied, 'I'll have the money first.' The Doctor was indignant at this proceeding, and said, 'What money do you mean sir?' The man said, 'Why the money they have promised me if I will marry this young woman, and I'll have it before I answers, I will!!' Upon this the Clerk went up to the Doctor and explained the matter to him, Mr. Bond also told the man that it was all right, the money was at his house ready counted, and after he was married he could go with him and have it. The man said, 'I don't care where it is, I'll have it now and in my pocket _before I am married_.' Upon this Dr. Booker told Mr. Bond to go and fetch it; the service being delayed until he came back. When Mr. Bond returned, he put the money into the man's hands and after he counted it and put it into his pocket, he said to the Doctor, 'You can go on now, it's all right!' and the service was completed, and the man, woman, and money, were all united in this (let us hope), blissful celebration."

At the earlier part of the late Dr. Browne's ministry among us, he met with a singular amount of innocency and ignorance at the baptismal font. A man and woman, well-known characters at Gornal Wood, thought they should like to have their next child christened at Dudley by Dr. Browne. In due course the child was brought to the font, and the portly Doctor, already equipped, enquired in his usual clear and musical voice, "Was this child born in wedlock?" "Noa, it worn't," says the man, "it wur born in Gornall Udd!" It is needless to say that the child got the spiritual induction, and the Doctor a homely sample of ignorance amongst the colliers in the Black Country.

* * * * *

This subjoined Bill is a curiosity in its way, shewing the way we did in the Army, long, long ago.

THE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

TO R. MOORE, DR.

1804.
Mar. 26. Paid for a Lock mending 0 1 4
May 27. Ditto ditto 0 0 6
Sep. 10. Ditto 0 1 0
" Flints 0 1 0
Oct. Ditto 0 1 0
Paid for Drink at Droitwich,
by order of Major Wainwright 1 8 6
Paid for Sick Men at Worcester 1 6 6
Paid for Mending Locks 0 4 6
Ditto 0 0 8
------
£3 5 0
------

Examined,
J. PAYTON, W. HARRISON,
EDWD. DIXON, THOS. MOORE.

A NARRATIVE OF THE REJOICINGS AT THE CORONATION OF KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, WITH A SEQUEL, BY AN EYE WITNESS.

On Thursday, the 19th July, 1820, the day appointed for
the Coronation of His Majesty King George the Fourth, the
inhabitants of Dudley entered into a subscription for the
purpose of furnishing the poor people with a dinner, and
also to regale the children of the different Sunday schools
and schools of industry in the said parish, to the number
of four or five thousand. This was a most delightful sight;
they paraded the different streets in a very orderly manner
indeed. Four sheep were roasted in the Market Place and
distributed, with a large quantity of ale, to the populace.
There assembled a very considerable number of people, the
principal street being utterly crowded from one end to the
other. An advertisement had been distributed announcing a
display of fireworks which would take place in the course of
the evening; this caused a great number of people to remain in
the town during the whole of the day. The shops were ordered
not to be opened during the day, and the mandate was obeyed,
save and except the public houses, where most of the lower
orders of people resorted to after having been plentifully
regaled by the inhabitants. The old saying is much would have
more, and it is difficult to satisfy such people, or even keep
them peaceable and quiet, when a little elevated. The Himley
and Enville troop of Yeomanry met on the morning of that day
at Himley, and after partaking of some refreshment, proceeded
to Wolverhampton, where they paraded the town and partook of a
considerable quantity of wine, which, to many not being in the
habit of drinking, must have had considerable effect, and was
very distinguishable by one drawing his sword and threatened
to cut a man down for crying the Queen. This act very much
irritated the populace, and it was asserted that if they (the
Yeomanry) had not filed off as they did, they would have been
very roughly handled. They then bent their course to Dudley,
where they arrived about three o'clock, not very sober; and
after going through their exercise and firing, repaired to the
hotel (Dudley Arms) to dinner in some of the lower apartments.
The gentlemen of the town with the Dudley Cavalry occupied the
assembly room. Things were going very peaceably in the town
till between eight and nine o'clock, when the Yeomanry became
very refractory, and proceeded to violence among themselves;
the windows were thrown open, and one of them jumped upon the
table which stood under the window facing the street, and
held out a white handkerchief, and cried out "the Queen, my
lads," which immediately caused a shout from the surrounding
multitude. This was followed by the Cavalry commencing a battle
royal. The tables, bottles, glasses, and furniture went to
rack; the remains of the bottles and glasses, in part, were
thrown through the window on the heads of the populace, which
they took as a gross insult. The boys procured some squibs and
threw into the room, and the noise became very loud, which
soon reached the ears of the gentlemen above, some of whom
came into the street very drunk, and began to assault several
persons who had committed no offence whatever. The young
men and apprentices had been parading the street in a very
sober and quiet manner, not offering to give offence to any
person or persons, but having in the course of the day worn
white favours in their bosoms, they excited the indignation
of some very hot-headed persons who were possessed of more
money than wisdom, and to shew over and above loyalty, would
go any lengths to serve the cause they had espoused. At the
time these scuffles were taking place, the young shop men and
apprentices, as before stated, were coming through the throng.
Messrs. Clymer and Stokes were arm-in-arm, and Clymer was
robbed and assaulted by one of the gentlemen who could hardly
articulate; Stokes said "I would never suffer myself to be
insulted in that manner, knock his red nob off," which was
noticed by a person near and one of the party. This appeared
a favourable opportunity for these gentlemen to show their
loyalty to the world at large, by prosecuting these young
men, who had done no harm to any one individual. Several of
the runners were sent out to take any of the young men into
custody, which they soon effected; some were confined for the
night, and others bailed out till morning, when a Bench of
Magistrates would sit to judge the case. On the morrow, those
who were not apprehended on the preceding night, and who were
seen wearing white favours, were sent for by the Magistrates,
which summons was immediately obeyed. The examination took
place, not by the magistrates only, but by some unknown
gentlemen, whose word, had it been as strictly scrutinized as
these unfortunate young men, they would e'er this have crossed
the briny ocean; but their time is not yet come, when it does
I have no doubt they will cut a very conspicuous figure. The
young men were ordered to find bail or they were committed.
Some had no bail, or would not get any one to give bail for
them. What was the consequence; they were sent to prison to
the Workhouse in Dudley, and were to be removed to Worcester
Gaol on the morrow morning, but about nine o'clock at night the
prison door was thrown open and the prisoners ordered to go
about their business. These very men had confessed they broke
the windows at the hotel; this is a most strange business to
release the guilty and punish the innocent. This appears to be
Dudley law. Stokes was not apprehended till Monday following,
when he attended at the Public Office; as soon as he appeared
in the room one of the Magistrates asked his father who had
put that plaster on his son's head, and whether it was a real
or an artificial scar. It is proper to remark here that on the
Coronation night, when one of the young men was being taken to
the hotel, the Constable used him very roughly, on which Stokes
cried out "don't use him so bad, he will go gently with you
without such rash behaviour." At this moment came up Payton
the Constable and struck Stokes with his stick or club on the
head and broke a hole in his hat, he again lifted his staff and
gave him a violent blow which cut his head; this took place in
consequence of his interceding for a friend, to one who had
neither pity nor mercy. As soon as the Magistrate received an
answer he took his hat and left the room, and did not return.
Spurrier, the Attorney, was employed on the occasion, who
immediately rose and addressed the other Magistrates, saying
that Mr. Stokes's son had been served with a warrant, and was
there ready to answer to any charge. If that is the case, said
one of the magistrates, it ought to be heard, and immediately
asked the prosecutor if he had any objections to its being
gone into. He first said no, then said he had nothing against
him. Spurrier then replied to the Magistrates, the warrant
then in course must be discharged--the Magistrate answered
assuredly so; then the matter ended as was generally supposed,
but, a few days previous to the Sessions a fresh warrant was
obtained, under the same charges, and Stokes was taken into
custody on Friday, bail was taken for his appearance next
morning at ten o'clock, which was punctually attended to; his
father attended with him, met the Magistrate in the street, who
shook hands with him, and said, why there is a warrant against
your son, yes the father said, it is very strange he should be
brought up to answer the same charges which were contained in
the former warrant, he replied, pity but he had kept better
company, and walked off. He was then sent after by one of the
Constables, who brought word he would not hear it till four
o'clock in the afternoon; the Lawyer for the Plantiff sent a
Constable after Stokes, and put him into confinement till the
case would be heard, which took place about five o'clock; his
father was bound for him to appear at Sessions. In that part
of this narrative which relates to the disturbance between the
Himley and Enville Cavalry in the Hotel, it will be proper
to remark what succeeded; the broken glasses, &c., that were
thrown upon the heads of the people in the street, caused
an immediate retaliation by the populace throwing stones,
brick-bats, or anything they could lay their hands upon, and
thought themselves justified, the assailants broke two or three
dozen panes of glass; it has been said that the Riot Act was
read, but that is very much doubted. To prevent further damage,
someone, more wise than the rest, ordered the gas-lights and
fireworks to be immediately lighted, which was done with all
possible speed, and had the desired effect. The High Constable
was, I believe, the person who furnished the fireworks, and
his shop was generally furnished with those kind of articles,
and exhibited for sale which is contrary to, and in violation
of, the established laws of the land. It having been evidently
reported that the young men had dined together at the Saracen's
Head, on that day, for a widely different purpose than really
was the case, the fact is that sometime previous to the
Coronation a wager was laid among the young men that the Queen
would be crowned with the King; not being able to decide the
wager then, it was agreed to dine together on that day, and
whoever lost to pay for the same. The party broke up at a very
early hour perfectly sober, and conducted themselves with the
greatest propriety during the whole of the evening. Had there
been no Cavalry at Dudley that day there would have been no
disturbance; when the first commotion took place several of the
Cavalry came into the street and proceeded to draw their swords
and strike several persons in the throng, who gave them the
answer to it without delay, and forced them to go back more
rapid than they came. One of the Cavalry fired and wounded a
man in the face in a most shocking manner. The young man (one
of the Himley Cavalry), who had excited the attention of the
populace by holding out his handkerchief and crying "the Queen
my lads," was brought to a Court Martial soon after, but not
discharged; great numbers are ready to attest the statements
herein contained, if it should be found necessary.

ANCIENT DUDLEY SOUP KITCHEN.

In the earlier part of this book I have had occasion to refer to the commencement of the present Dudley Soup Kitchen, which I consider is well supported by the town, and does an immense amount of real good, in distributing such large quantities of excellent soup amongst the poor and indigent classes in bad winter weather; since that was printed I have been favoured with the following particulars of the old Soup Kitchen, established in 1799. The establishment of this Soup Kitchen and Relief to the poor commenced in November of that year, in consequence of much stagnation in the then local trades of the town, and great distress amongst the poor. A Subscription List was opened by a few leading individuals, resident in the town, which was heartily supported by all classes in the town from the peer to the peasant.

£ s. d.
Lord Dudley 63 0 0
Edward Dixon 50 0 0
Edward Hancox 35 0 0
D. and R. Parsons 42 0 0
J. and B. Hodgetts 42 0 0
Whitehouse, Moore, and Guest 42 0 0
James Cartwright 21 0 0
James Wainwright 21 0 0
James Bourne 21 0 0
Edward Cockshutt 15 15 0
Charles Roberts 15 15 0
Joseph Hill 12 12 0
Richard Parkes 15 15 0
Luke Booker 10 10 0
G. and B. Parker 52 10 0
Samuel and William Bennett 42 0 0
John Simpson 31 10 0
Jos. Amphlett 25 0 0
Exors Abiathar Hawkes 25 0 0
John Twamley 10 10 0
Thomas Wainwright 10 10 0
William Perry 10 10 0
William Penn 10 10 0
John Bolton 10 10 0
John Hateley 10 10 0
Leah Parkes 10 10 0
Southall & Co. 10 10 0
John and Edward Davies 10 10 0
&c., &c.

This handsome commencement was quickly followed by 82 other subscribers of smaller amounts, making a grand total of £804 17s. raised by the good people of Dudley in those hard times, for the sustenance and relief of their poorer brethren.

On November 19th, 1800, the accounts were duly examined and audited, when the sum of £781 16s. 4d. had been expended during the year, amongst the poor and helpless in the parish.

_Signed_,
S. BENNITT, B. HODGETTS.
JOS. HATELEY, EDWARD DIXON.
RICHARD MOORE, EDWARD HANCOX.
B. HUGHES, J. WAINWRIGHT.

* * * * *

In January, 1813, it is recorded that this town and district was at this time visited with great depression in trade, and much sickness and distress prevailed amongst the working classes. A very handsome subscription was at once started, with most encouraging results, for the sum of £870 11s. 9d. was (before the end of March) raised for the relief of the Poor by 171 subscribers, giving another evidence of the good will and care of the rich for their poorer neighbours.

1816. This year was one of the most disastrous in our annals; an awful wet harvest followed close upon the war, which had just then successfully terminated, with the finances of the country in a very disordered state, casting a settled gloom and distrust all over the land.

The parish of Dudley unhappily shared in these hard times, for we find that on November 30th, 1816, a Public Meeting was held at the Public Office. Mr. Edward Guest occupied the chair. At this meeting a Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions for a Soup Kitchen and relief of the necessitous poor, when the appeal was equally successful, for the sum of £831 2s. 0d. was speedily subscribed by 162 contributors, and judiciously given amongst the poor.

July 29th, 1817. At a meeting of the subscribers to the Soup Charity held this day, it was resolved,--That the accounts produced by Mr. Guest appear so highly satisfactory that he be requested to accept our best thanks for his services. Resolved,--That the thanks of the Society be also voted to Mr. Gordon, for his kind and active services. Resolved,--That as a reward for Mrs. Stilyard's particular attention in the management and superintending in the making of soup, the sum of two guineas be presented to her for the same. Resolved,--That the balance, after discharging the small debts, to remain in the hands of Messrs. Dixon, Dalton & Co., the Treasurers appointed.

LUKE BOOKER, THOMAS FEHR.
THOS. BADGER, RICHD. LAKIN.
TIMOTHY HILL, RICHD. BOND.

* * * * *

There are varied scenes near the neighbourhood of the town of Dudley, where antiquity and picturesque beauty, art, and nature present themselves in every wondrous form. The secrets and wonders of former worlds are to be found in our Limestone and Silurian formations, which are daily worked by the active miner; the very extensive employment of manufactures and commerce are well worth an inspection by the stranger who may visit our ancient town; for these mixed sources of contemplation are adequately fitted to engage the attention of the curious, and the searcher for scientific truth, and to fill the mind of the moralist, the poet, the politician, and the philanthropist with sentiments akin to reverence and thankfulness.

* * * * *

My labours being now ended, I trust that this memento of many humorous and stirring events, in the social and political life of this ancient borough, may prove a source of amusement and happy reflection to the aged, and lessons of instruction to the young, and the comparative strangers in our midst; bearing in mind that we now live and move under very altered conditions of both social and moral life, leading us to feel thankful that we are now living in the age of national progression.

* * * * *

I have studiously avoided commenting upon the various charities in this town, because an abler pen than mine has recently undertaken that most necessary illustration of the "Charities of Dudley," which I feel assured could not be in safer hands than our highly esteemed Town Clerk of Dudley, Edward M. Warmington, Esq., Solicitor. Let us hope that these learned "Articles on the Charities of Dudley" may shortly be collected and printed in a volume for local preservation. I have, finally, greatly to thank many ladies and gentlemen, in and around Dudley, for their courtesy and kindness, in furnishing me with copies of many additional paragraphs which appear in this book.

C. F. G. C.

=Finis.=

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Lecturer cannot sufficiently express the delight he experienced, when, at the termination of the lecture, he was informed, that the gentleman who first applied the principle here noticed to practical purposes was at that time in the lecture room. Under the management of our able and ingenious townsman, MR. RICHARDSON, "the Dudley Gas Works" consume in the furnaces this singular species of fuel; _gas tar_ being used with the _water_ to effect its decomposition; after three years' experience MR. RICHARDSON bears testimony to the importance of the discovery.

[2] Formerly a banker, but at time of the Procession a bankrupt, on an extensive scale, in the neighbourhood.

[3]
"A low prelusive strain, to nature true." SOUTHEY.

[4]
"A sudden storm, with terrible ding dong,
Swept through the streets and wash'd the crowd along."
TOM THUMB THE GREAT.

[5]
Thus fear and interest will prevail with some;
For all have not the gift of martyrdom. DRYDEN.

[6] An apt conjunction of lawn and black satin, we entitle a Bishop.
TALE OF A TUB.

[7] He is a main scholard, Latins it hugely, and talks his own mother tongue as well as one of your varsity Doctors. DON QUIXOTE.

[8] Video meliora, proboque. OVID.

[9] Cantabit vacuus. JUV.

[10] Post ingentia facta Decorum in tomplum receptus. HOR.

[11]
Raro antecedentem scelestum,
Deseruit pede, pœna, claudo. HOR.

[12]
----The wind sallied forth,
And in anger or merriment, out of the north
From the peak of the crag blew his rev'rence away. WORDSWORTH.

[13]
Such was the wight: th' apparel on his back,
Tho' coarse, was rev'rend; and tho' bare was black. POPE.

[14] The Poet glanceth at copper tokens, which these disinterested tradesmen had issued in great abundance, solely with an eye to the public good, and which by reason of their being, as was said, recently counterfeited, were in no very high repute at the time of the procession.

[15] He was once thought to be a great Presbyterian, if not worse.

[16] Hark ye, Sir, a word in your ear. You are a coxcomb by all the rules of physiogonomy. But let that be a secret between you and me. ADDISON'S DRUMMER.

[17] I know a lady in Venice would have walk'd barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his nether lip. SHAKESPEARE.

[18] He carries fate and physic in his eye. CRABBE.

[19]
Good morrow, Benedick: why what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness? SHAKS.

[20]
Oh! I thought I should faint, when I saw him, dear mother,
Feel my pulse with one hand, with a watch in the other;
No token of death that is heard in the night
Could ever have put me so much in affright:
Thinks I--'tis all over--my sentence is past,
And now he is counting how long I may last. NEW BATH GUIDE.

[21] Procul discordibus armis. VIRG.

[22]
They were all of opinion 'tis proper to cheer,
The stomach and bowels as well as the ear. NEW BATH GUIDE.

[23] Vivitur ex rapto. OVID.

[24] Thence from cups to civil broils. MILTON.

[25] The Vicar's live stock is said to be of the starveling family, like the nags in the Epigram:

"Thy nags (the leanest things alive)
So very hard thou lov'st to drive;
I heard thy anxious coachman say,
It cost thee more in whips than hay."

[26] Intus et in cute novi. PERS.

[27] Our author's little anachronism, in wishing the ladies to be mothers first, and wives afterwards, it is hoped will be pardoned as an unavoidable sacrifice to the rhyme.

[28] Had not the pious Doctor given us his word that the Epigram was totally unnoticed by him till Monday morning, we might have been inclined to suspect that the following lines of Pope were descriptive of the manner in which he spent his Sunday evening hours.

"Swearing and supperless the hero sate
* * * * *
Then gnaw'd his pen, then dash'd it on the ground,
Thinking from thought to thought, a vast profound
Plung'd far his sense, but found no bottom there,
Yet wrote and flounder'd on in mere despair."

[29] This vaunted concern for the glory of the church, we would charitably hope, is real, and not like that of Rebel, in the Comedy of the Committee-man curried by Sam. Sheppard. I laugh (says Rebel) to think when I counterfeit a whining passion, and talk of God and goodness, walk with a sad and mortified countenance, how I'm admired among the brethren, and styled a man of God.

And thus I cloke my naked villany
With old odd ends stolen forth of holy writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the Devil. SHAKSPEARE.

[30]
Like will to like,--says the Proverb.
A lizard's body lean and long,
A fish's head a serpent's tongue. CAMELEON.

[31] Who more fit to unkennel the fox, than the honest terrier who is part of him. HICKERINGILL.

[32] Feliciter is sapit, qui periculo alieno sapit. PLAUT.

[33] Of these I am told that our respected fellow-townsman, Mr. Lester, retires owing to illness, but will continue to evince his interest and good wishes by nominating his late colleagues, with some others, for your approval.

[34] The Circular issued by the Vicar and Warden, dated August 20th.

[35] This note was received through the Post on Sunday morning in an unstamped envelope.

[36] This large increase in the number of electors arose from the fact that the Borough of Dudley was included in the Act of 1873, which gave a large increase of voters to many boroughs in the country, by embracing in their boundaries large adjacent populous villages.

[37] The reason why this account of the building of the Parish Church does not appear at the beginning of this Book, arose from the inability to obtain a copy of these documents until the work was nearly printed off.--EDITOR.

[38] We have seen this item in Dr. Booker's handwriting.

Dud Dudley's

_Metallum Martis_:

OR,

IRON

MADE WITH

Pit-coale,

Sea-coale,

&c.

And with the same Fuell to Melt and
Fine Imperfect Mettals, and Refine
perfect Mettals.

LONDON, Printed by T. M. for the Authour.
1665.

N.B.--This Work is an exact reprint from the original, and the errors in spelling and the peculiar Grammar of the Author have been faithfully followed.

Dud Dudley's Metallum Martis.

TO THE PUBLIC.

This Work "_Metallum Martis_," first printed in the year 1665, and written by "_Dud Dudley_," a member of the ancient and honourable family of the Lords of Dudley, is most curious in its composition and most valuable to the antiquarian, and all engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel, and all their varied products, showing the indefatigable efforts of this enterprising artificer in metals, "_Dud Dudley_," to make iron by the liberal use of coal, so abundant in this neighbourhood. The noble forests of timber in England were fast disappearing from our hills and valleys to meet the demand of household fuel; but the increased demand, yearly becoming greater, for the purpose of smelting iron ore with charcoal, became a matter of very serious consideration to all classes, for the King and Parliament were loudly called upon to prevent the total destruction of our noble forests. Acts of Parliament were ultimately passed for that object, for Symon Sturtevant, in his "Metallica," says "That there was then in the 12th year of King James in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, 800 furnaces, forges, or iron mills _making iron with charcole_." Dud Dudley says "Now what loads of wood or charcole is spent in Great Britain and Ireland annually? In one furnace, that makes 15 tuns per week of pig iron for 40 weeks: I shall give you the table, and leave you to judge of the rest of the furnaces."

Also for one forge that makes _three tuns of bar iron weekly_ for 50 weeks.

"Yet," he says, "by this barring of iron _alone_ with pit-cole, by his invention 30,000 loads of wood have been preserved for the general good, which otherwayes must have been had and consumed."

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The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country, From 1800 to 1860Chapter XVIII: Part 18

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