Part 17 (1/2)
Soon after the erection of the Corn Exchange, in 1856, the Mechanics'
Inst.i.tute was transferred to that building; two upper rooms being occupied, as library and reading room; the former premises in Queen Street being sold to the late Mr. Joseph Parish, who used them for sales, public meetings, dances, and so forth, until in 1866 he erected on the site a private residence for himself.
After some years the introduction of the above named branch of the popular London Library of Messrs. Mudie & Co., at the shop of Mr. Hugh Willson, Bookseller, in the Bull Ring, followed by the subscription library of Mr. W. K. Morton, in the High Street, and that of Messrs. W.
H. Smith & Sons, at the Railway Station, reduced the numbers of the subscribers to ”The Mechanics,” and it was removed to smaller premises in Bank Street; and eventually this same cause led to the Inst.i.tute being closed. On January 14th, 1886, a meeting was held in the library to determine its future, the result being that the Secretary, Mr. W. Betts, and the members of the committee resigned, Jan. 21st, and the books, &c., were removed to a small chamber at the Gas House, in Foundry Street, another small room there being used as a temporary reading room. These were closed about the year 1894, the books remaining stowed away. About the year 1899 an effort was made by the late W. Brown, of the Capital and Counties' Bank, to get the books transferred to the Technical School in Queen Street, of the committee of which he was chairman; with the object that they might be once more rendered available for public use; but this project fell through.
In 1905 the library was finally broken up by the late Mr. Joseph Willson, the last survivor of the Managing Committee, who sold the less valuable among the books by auction in Lincoln, the rest being divided between the permanent subscription library of Mr. W. K. Morton, Bookseller, High Street, and that of the Grammar School.
It is much to be regretted that a valuable collection of books thus ceased to be public property. A catalogue of the library, published by Mr. W. Johnson, Bookseller, High Street, in 1865, shows that the number of volumes was at that date 1,468, with annual additions; while in 1879 a bequest was made by the late Henry James Fielding, Esq., of Handel House, South Street, of about 230 volumes of standard works, bringing the total up to about 1,750 volumes. (Cla.s.sified List, published by W. K. Morton, 1879.)
The first librarian was Mrs. Wood, a.s.sisted by her daughter (afterwards Mrs. Panton). She was succeeded by Miss South, who was followed by Miss Stephenson, and she was succeeded by Mrs. W. Johnson.
The late Mr. Henry Nicholson acted as secretary, and for several years took a great interest in all that concerned the Inst.i.tute, until his prolonged serious illness, which ended fatally in June, 1900. Mr. C.
Hensman was treasurer while the library was at the Corn Exchange, resigning when it was removed to Banks Street. During the same period the late Mr. Berridge, Master of the Union, acted as Secretary, and was succeeded by Mr. W. Betts, of the Dispensary, who only held that post two years, before the Inst.i.tute was closed.
There were in the library, besides the books, a quant.i.ty of weapons of war from the South Sea Islands, some cases of objects of natural history; valuable sepia paintings by the late Rev. C. P. Terrot, of Wispington, an almost unrivalled artist in his own line; and several fine Roman vases exhumed in the town; all these were disposed of by Mr. Joseph Willson, only surviving trustee, now deceased.
THE CORN EXCHANGE.
The Corn Exchange is a s.p.a.cious and lofty building of brick, with stone facings, capable of holding 500 persons, situated on the south side of the High Street, and standing on what was formerly the eastern wall of the old Roman castle; a well of pure water, still in use, under the adjoining house, having been just within the wall of that fortress. It was opened on July 5th, 1856. From the terms of the original deed of settlement of the company we may give the following items.
The Indenture, dated July 18th, 1855, was registered the 31st of the same month; the agreement being, on the first part, between Thomas Armstrong, Merchant; Henry Turner, Land Agent; George Wright, Merchant; Henry Nicholson, Draper; William Preston Carlton, Chemist; and others, all of Horncastle; with certain residents in the neighbourhood on the second part; and Frederick W. Tweed, of Horncastle, Gentleman, as trustee to give effect to the covenant, on the third part. The said parties agree to form themselves a Joint Stock Company, within the meaning of the Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 110, to provide a building for the purposes, according to these presents, viz., a Corn Exchange, which can also be used for concerts, exhibitions, and other public objects, on such terms as the committee may think fit.
The capital of the company to be 3,000, in 600 shares of 5 each; annual meetings of shareholders to be held on May 2nd; any five, or more, owning 25 shares, may require the directors to convene an extraordinary meeting.
The capital may be increased by additional shares of 5, not exceeding 300; money may be borrowed on mortgage, not exceeding at any one time 1,500. {140} One-third of the original directors to retire in May, 1856, being eligible for re-election. In May, 1857, one-half of the remaining original directors to retire; and similarly in succeeding years one-third to retire in rotation, according to seniority. Any director to forfeit office on ceasing to hold five shares; anyone intending to apply for directorate, to give at least 10 days' notice. Directors to meet at least once every three months; any two directors may require the secretary to convene a meeting, at any time, for any desirable special object.
The Court of Directors to apply to the Privy Council (Board of Trade) for permission to purchase, or rent, land or buildings, as may seem to be needed; or to let, or lease, buildings, offices, &c., as they may think fit; or to make mortgages, conveyances, &c., for the purposes of the company. A reserve fund (by clause 67) to be established, by setting apart one per cent of the profits in any year; the acc.u.mulation to be employed for the benefit of the company, as may seem to them desirable.
Shares to be sold (by clause 68) for the benefit of the company, by a vote of a majority at a general meeting. No sum beyond 400, at any one time, to be negotiated by promissory note or bill of exchange.
[Picture: Watermill Road during the Flood, Dec., 31, 1900]
That a report be presented, and dividend declared, at an annual meeting, on March 25th, with seven days' notice to each shareholder. A common seal to be kept in a place of safety, and affixed to all legal doc.u.ments, by the secretary, in the presence of three directors. Henry Nicholson, Draper, to be the first auditor, paid as committee of directors decide.
Samuel Sketchley to be the first solicitor; and the Lincoln and Lindsey Bank the company's bank. Thomas Armstrong, Timothy Collinson, and Robert Edwin Kemp to be the first trustees of the company.
The books may be inspected by any shareholder, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., in the presence of the secretary, or other person nominated in accordance with Act 7 and 8 Victoria, c. 110. By clause 89 it was provided that, in case of the company being wound up, the chairman should declare the company to be dissolved with all convenient speed; all property to be sold, and converted into ready money, to meet all claims; a final distribution of a.s.sets to be made; no sale by private contract to any shareholder being allowed. This deed was signed, sealed, and delivered by the said F. W. Tweed, and witnessed by J. S. Cropper, Horncastle, July 18th, 1855.
On Nov. 6th, 1889, a meeting was held to consider whether the company should be wound up; but it was decided to continue it, and of late years the financial position of the company has improved; the report for 1906 shews total receipts for the past year, 145 13s. 1d.; expenditure 87 2s. 10d.; leaving balance 58 10s. 3d.; allowing a dividend of 1 10s.
per cent., the sum of 6 0s. 3d. being still in hand. Offices on the same premises are rented by Mr. Reuben Roberts, Corn Merchant.
THE WHELPTON ALMSHOUSES.
The Whelpton Almshouses are situated in Queen Street, on its east side, being six small residences, for the reception of deserving poor persons, natives of the town. They were established in the year 1861, under the following circ.u.mstances.
The late Mr. Geo. Whelpton was a shoemaker, occupying a small shop, one of several then standing in the Market Place, on or near the site of the present Stanhope Memorial; {142a} the whole of these being cleared away when the late Honble. Edward Stanhope presented that piece of ground to the town, for the enlargement of the Market Place. He resided in a small house in Stonewell Row, but afterwards removed into better premises in Queen Street. While living in Stonewell Row he purchased some furniture cheap, at an auction, and in a drawer of one of the articles purchased he found a recipe, said to have been written by a Boston doctor, for the medicine eventually to become known universally as ”Whelpton's Pills” (a powerful stomachic, for kidney diseases, &c.), and from the sale of which he and other members of his family realised large fortunes. {142b} His wife had been for some time in a bad state of health, and after she had consulted various doctors without deriving any benefit from their treatment, he decided to try for her the prescription which had thus accidentally come into his possession. The result was so satisfactory that other sufferers applied to him for the pills, which for a time he freely gave to his neighbours; ultimately, however, these applications became so numerous that he was obliged to make a charge.
As he began to realise a considerable income from this source, he gave up the shoemaking business, and left Horncastle; his first move being to Derby, {142c} where he occupied a residence known as ”St. Anne's House,”
afterwards moving to London, where he, at first, lived in Crane Court, Fleet Street, which still continues to be the depot of the pill business.