** OSSETT CIVIC TRUST **

HELPING TO PROTECT THE PAST & PRESENT OF OSSETT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Town HallTOWN HALL CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS HELD ON SATURDAY JUNE 7th 2008:

On a summers day in June 1908, Ossett witnessed an estimated twelve thousand people descend on Market Place for the grand opening of the Town Hall.

Following the Borough Charter being granted in 1890 it was noted that the council had no Town Hall to hold meetings, therefore a site for a new Town Hall was purchased in Bank Street. But sadly no funds were released to build the hall after the land failed to meet government approval.

Some fifteen years after the Charter was granted the site of the old Grammar School in Market Place was purchased and A.W Hanstock & Sons of Batley won the contract to design and build the Town Hall as we know it today.

The cost of building and furnishing this magnificent hall was £22,000 and Mayor of Ossett, Councillor John T Marsden opened the Town Hall on June 2nd, 1908.


Ossett Town Hall was the focal point of celebrations again this summer when the centrepiece of the town reached the centenary milestone. 100 NOT OUT was a major event held to celebrate the centenary of Ossett Town Hall. The celebration was organised by the people of Ossett for the people of the town and provided a golden opportunity to join in with the celebrations and show appreciation for one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the West Riding district. Inside the Town Hall courthouse was a display of photographs and memorabilia chronicling the one hundred year history. Outdoors there was all the fun of the fair and one of the major events taking place in the afternoon was a wrestling tournament in the main hall promoted by The Squared Circle Wrestling Store of Bank Street, Ossett. These celebrations were organised by Ossett Civic Trust, Ossett Town Centre Partnership, Ossett Town Hall User Group, Ossett and Horbury Neighbourhood Network under the guidance of VOX.

To celebrate the centenary of the Town Hall, a new book has been published chronicling it's history. Ossett Town Hall 1908 - 2008 has been written by Ruth Nettleton of Ossett Historical Society and is on sale from selected shops in Ossett costing only £8. The book features many interesting stories and photographs from the past one hundred years. * Click here to read Ruth Nettleton's brief history behind the building of the Town Hall.......

Ruth Nettleton's Book Advert

AS ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE DAY OF THE TOWN HALL CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS, PETER SAVAGE TALKS ABOUT HOW THE DAY WENT...

At 8.30am the day was overcast and things did not look good but by 9.00am the fair rides were almost ready for business and stall holders started to arrive and the precinct became a hive of activity. Stall holders were putting out their displays which seemed to be the cue for the rain to start, so it was all systems go to get the covers on and as soon as they were in place it seemed to be the cue for the rain to stop. By 10.30am everyone was ready and waiting. A steady stream of people began to arrive and everyone knew the big day had arrived. Volunteers were busy telling people about their groups, the exhibition in the Court Room had a steady stream of visitors wanting to know more about the history of the Town Hall, the Fun Fair was beginning to take off and of course the food stalls were in action, first morning coffee and biscuits at Paulsworld, lunch at the burger and hot dog stall and in the afternoon back to Paulsworld for strawberries and cream.

In the afternoon it was the turn of the wrestlers and from the cheers, groans and howls of delight from the children one could tell it was a huge success, one lady remarked how she was taken back in time when Giant Haystacks was the star attraction. As the afternoon became warmer, time seemed to have gone by so quickly and thoughts turned to the change over in the Town Hall. Volunteer stall holders started to dismantle their displays as it was all systems go to get ready for the Songs of Praise. This was a fitting end to the day with over 200 hundred packed into the Town Hall with everyone in full voice to the strains of the Salvation Army Brass Band from Leeds.

At the end of the day organisers were talking of what was right and what was wrong, but no one could fault their enthusiasm for the centenary celebrations of one of the most magnificent buildings in the Wakefield District and that they added another piece of history to Ossett Town Hall.

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