APPENDIX No. 18. THE VESTRY HALL.
Reading edition
REPORT OF THE DINNER COMMITTEE.
Vestry Hall, January 15th, 1861.
To the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea.
Gentlemen,—We, the subscribers hereto, members of your committee appointed to carry out the arrangements for giving proper effect to your resolution of the 23rd October last, to inaugurate the opening of this hall with a public dinner, have the pleasure to present the following brief account of our stewardship.
As so many of you were present upon the occasion, it is almost superfluous to say more than that it was attended by one hundred and twenty persons, many of them the most influential in the parish, and that it passed off, we hope and believe, to the general satisfaction of the guests.
We annex a financial statement for your information, from which it appears that the receipts from the sale of tickets were £113 8s., and the cost of the dinner and wines £113 12s., the two amounts as nearly as possible balancing each other.
The incidental expenses, for music, printing, toastmaster, a supper for the workmen, &c., amounted to £26 10s. 9d., which by the kind feeling of Mr. Pitt, of Cheyne-walk, has been reduced to the balance of £21 14s. 9d., a sum which we now ask at your hands.
Respectfully submitted,
Jas. Miles, William Rabbits, John H. Leete, John Till, W. Hall, J. Perry, W. Newton Finch.
INAUGURATION DINNER, NOVEMBER 30, 1860. Treasurer’s Account.
To Donation from J. Pitt, Esq. £5 0 0
Tickets sold at £1 1s. each 180 113 8 0
Free Tickets,—viz.:
Chairman and County Members 3
Dr. Pettigrew—paid by Mr. Michels 1
Mr. Lahee 1
,, Pattisson 1
,, Diggens 1
The Press—viz.;
Times 1
Morning Advertiser 1
West Middlesex Advertiser 1
West London Times 1
Telegraph 1
No. of Diners 120
Amount due to Treasurer 21 14 9
Mr. Michels, as Account £113 12 0
Messrs. Bell, printers, ditto 6 16 6
Mr. Hance, ditto ditto 4 1 0
Music—viz.:
Instrumental Band 2 2 0
Vocalists, &c.:
Mr. Carter 2 2 0
,, Bruton 1 11 6
,, Evans 1 1 0
,, Nunn 0 15 0
,, Smeaton 0 15 0
,, Vaughan 0 15 0
Hire of Piano and Men 1 3 0
10 4 6
Travelling and other Expenses making Arrangements 1 0 3
Supper for the Workmen 1 0 0
Bell Ringers 1 1 0
Toastmaster 1 11 6
Policemen (2) 0 6 0
Bill Sticker 0 10 0
26 10 9
£140 2 9
TERMS OF LETTING THE HALL,
A. B.
1. For at meeting on public or parochial questions on the requisition to the Vestry of not less than twenty ratepayers, to which parishioners are admitted free, and at which no collection is made With Platform, Side Entrances, and one or both Ante-rooms. No charge The same with Central Entrance in addition. No charge.
2. For a meeting by daylight called by any religious, educational, charitable, or other society, as a means of extending its operations, or increasing its funds £0 10 0 £0 10 0
3. The same by gaslight 1 0 0 1 10 0
4. For a concert, lecture, or other like purpose, in aid of the funds of any local charity or society 2 0 0 2 10 0
5. The same with orchestra 3 0 0 3 10 0
6. For ordinary concerts, lectures, &c. 4 0 0 5 0 0
6a. For ditto given by educational establishments and schools, when tickets are not sold 2 0 0 2 10 0
7. The same with orchestra 5 0 0 6 0 0
8. For a ball 10 0 0 12 0 0
CONDITIONS OF LETTING.
1. All applications for the use of the hall to be addressed to the Vestry Clerk, at the Hall, who will promptly obtain a decision upon them.
2. The charges to be paid at the time of engaging the room. The Vestry will not consider the room engaged until payment is made to the Vestry Clerk. No receipts are valid that are not on printed forms.
3. The nine members of the Letting Committee reserve to themselves, or their deputies, and for the Vestry Clerk, the right of entry to all parts of the Hall, at all times.
4. The admission to be at the east and west entrances only, except the terms include the use of the central entrance.
5. Should any damage be done to the building or furniture, the expense of making the same good to be defrayed by the person whose name is mentioned upon the printed receipt.
6. No announcement to be made until the date mentioned on the printed receipt.
The foregoing terms and conditions may be modified under peculiar circumstances; and applications not embraced within them will be matter of special arrangement.
I, — the undersigned, agree to the foregoing conditions with respect — on the —
Dated this — day of — 18—
Signature —
M.B. of Coms. No. 2, Fol. 40. No external decorations, flags, or emblems will be permitted without the consent of the Letting Committee.
M.B. of Coms. Fo. 62. One or more policemen will be engaged at the expense of the applicants to preserve order.
Dr.
Ledger Folio £ s. d.
1860. 313.
Dec. 31. To London Gas Company for Gas consumed to date 4 14 0
1861. Mar. 25. Ditto ditto 7 11 3
12 5 3
Druce & Son for Coke 3 3 8
Hall-keeper for Cleansing 6 15 6
Police Attendant 0 6 0
Balance carried to credit of Establishment 78 8 1
£100 18 6
Cr.
1860. 305. By Cash from Sundries for Hire of Hall:— £ s. d.
Nov. 11 Madame De Vaucheran 4 0 0
Dec. 3 Mr. Harrison 1 10 0
,, 3. Mr. Anscombe 1 10 0
,, 7. Mr. J. H. Young 1 10 0
,, 8. Rev. Mr. McCarthy 1 0 0
,, 14. South-West London Protestant Institute l 0 0
,, 17. Madame De Vaucheran 1 0 0
,, 20. Mr. Delany 10 0 0
,, 20. South-West London Protestant Institute 1 0 0
,, 20. Ditto . . . ditto 1 0 0
,, 31. Mr. Delany 2 0 0
1861.
Jan. 4. Mr. Norfolk 2 10 0
,, 7. Rev. R. H. Davies 1 10 0
,, 8. South-West London Protestant Institute 1 0 0
,, 9. Mr. Johnson 6 0 0
,, 10. South-West London Protestant Institute 1 0 0
,, 10. Ditto . . . ditto 1 0 0
,, 16. Mr. Tuck 12 0 0
,, 19. Mr. Gusterson 1 10 0
,, 28. Young Men’s Christian Association 2 0 0
,, 29. Mr. Price 1 10 0
Feb. 1. Mr. Tomlin 4 0 0
,, 12. South-West London Protestant Institute 1 0 0
,, 15. Rev. Mr. Morley 2 0 0
,, 21. Miss Couves 5 0 0
,, 28. Christ Church Schools 7 10 0
Mar. 6. National Protestant Society 1 10 0
,, 6. Mr. Walgrave 1 10 0
,, 8. Mr. Carter 6 0 0
,, 12. Mr. West 4 0 0
,, 15. South-West London Protestant Institute 1 10 0
,, 20. Mr. Johnson 6 0 0
,, 20. Mr. Pearman 1 10 0
,, 25. Mr. Pamphilon 0 10 0
97 10 0
,, 25. By the Chelsea Literary and Scientific Institution for proportion of Cost of Lighting the Large Hall for one quarter 1 17 6
Warming the same ditto 0 6 0
Cleaning the same ditto 1 5 0
3 8 6
£100 18 6
REPORT OF THE LETTING COMMITTEE RESPECTING THE CHELSEA LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.
Committee Room, Vestry Hall, 18th, December; 1860.
To the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea.
Gentlemen,—
We the undersigned of your Committee, for Letting, &c., the Hall, beg to present this further Report with respect to the application of the Honorary Secretaries of the proposed Literary and Scientific Institution, which you referred to us from the Committee of Works and for General Purposes, on the 16th October (1).
On the 20th of October Mr. Bull attended us and explained his views, and followed up that interview with a letter, which was before us on the 19th November, in which, on behalf of the Council, he thanked the Vestry for the liberal manner in which they received the application for setting apart a suite of rooms, with the use of the Hall, for the purposes of the intended Institution. The letter proceeded:—
The Council sincerely rejoice in the view taken by the Vestry of the utility and benefit of such an institution to the whole body of ratepayers, and whilst they would desire to fix their home in the new Vestry Hall as a central point for their members, they do not for one moment expect that any of the necessary expenses incidental to the use and occupation of the rooms and hall should fall upon the ratepayers, but the Council will most readily be prepared to pay every such charge arising from the lighting, warming, or cleansing of the same.
The Council are anxious to make the Institution a credit and a benefit to the whole body of parishioners, and by fixing a low rate of subscription, to enable every person, however humble his position, to become a member, should he have the inclination to avail himself of its privileges. The rate of subscription to a large proportion of the members would not exceed 3d. per week, the highest being one guinea per annum.
In reply we informed Mr. Bull “that we were of opinion that £30 per annum (being the interest upon £1000) would be a fair sum, alike equitable to the members of the Institution and the ratepayers, to be paid as rent for the suite of rooms and the use of the hall one evening in the week, the Institution themselves bearing the incidental expenses of lighting, warming, and cleansing the same, as stated in his note. That if the council agree to those terms, and will make a proposal to that effect, we would lay it before the Vestry for their approval.”
The Council then addressed to us the following letter, to which we have given the most attentive consideration:—
“19, Walpole Street, Chelsea, December 3, 1860.
To the Committee of the New Vestry Hall, Chelsea,—Gentlemen,—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, and to thank you for allowing our Council the use of your room for their weekly meetings.
The Council have taken into consideration the proposal of the Vestry Committee for letting them the suite of rooms and use of the hall for £30 per annum, as a rent for the same, besides paying all expenses incurred for cleansing, warming, and lighting.
The Council are apprehensive that this proposal may prove a stumbling block to their future progress!
The object of the promoters of the Institution was, to establish a Literary and Scientific Society so comprehensive in its objects, and at the same time so accessible to all classes, that it might possess almost all the advantages of a free library, without its inconveniences.
To accomplish this desirable end, the Council fixed a low rate of subscription, so that the industrious mechanic might share the advantages of the Institution, in common with all the other classes of the inhabitants.
In order however to meet the views of the Vestry Committee, so far as the faithful carrying out of the above purpose will permit, and also to expedite the arrangement between the Vestry and the Council, the following resolution was agreed to at a special meeting of the Council on Thursday evening last, the Rev. Frederick Blunt in the chair:—
“Resolved,—That in answer to the letter of the Vestry Committee of the 21st instant, the following proposal be submitted in lieu of that contained their letter:—
“‘That the sum of £40 per annum be offered to the Vestry Committee as the utmost that the Council can give consistently with the avowed objects of the Institution, this sum to include the use and occupation of the three rooms, with conveniences, on the ground floor of the building, and use of the large hall once a week, together with all expenses incurred for lighting and warming, the Council taking upon themselves to keep in order the three rooms, leaving the cleansing of the large hall in the hands of the Vestry.’
“The Council trust that the Vestry will take an enlarged and liberal view of this proposition; and whilst the stated rent of £30 per annum would be of infinitesimal value to the ratepayers, this sum, in addition to the other charges, would prove a heavy burden on the funds of the Institution, if it did not altogether put an end to its future proceedings.—We are, Gentlemen, your obedient servants, Thos. Bull, Markham R. Evans, Hon. Secs.”
We find that the cost of lighting, warming, and cleansing the hall and anterooms, and of warming and lighting the suite of rooms, will reach, on a moderate estimate, £38 19s. (say £40) per annum, and we continue of opinion that if the Vestry undertake these expenses, the Institution should pay in addition, for the reasons above stated, £30 per annum as rent.
We understand that an influential deputation will attend you this day upon the subject. We therefore, as the application is for the permanent occupation of a portion of these premises, leave the ultimate decision of the question respectfully in your hands.
Respectfully submitted,
Blazdell W. Newton Finch
William Rabbits W. Hall
J. H. Leete J. Perry.
ESTIMATE LAID BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE 21ST FEBRUARY, 1861, BY THE VESTRY CLERK, OF THE TOTAL PROBABLE COST OF THE VESTRY HALL BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE FITTINGS AND FURNITURE.
£ s. d.
SITE—Purchase of the Leasehold Interest of Nos. 5, 6, and 7, Manor Terrace 1920 0 0
Mr. Graham for Possession 25 0 0
Mr. Walgrave, Purchase-money of the Leasehold Interest of the Garden at the rear 280 0 0
Cost of the Freehold, invested in Three per Cent. Consols, producing £427 2s. 1d 400 0 0
Messrs. Lee & Pemberton Law Charges 272 2 2
Ditto for Mr. Brooks’ ditto 13 0 0
2910 2 2
BUILDING—Messrs. Willis & Cowley, Excavations 87 1 0
Mr. J. Corbett, Drainage Works 10 12 2
Messrs. Piper & Son, Contract 5630 0 0
Extras (See Mr. Pocock’s Certificate) 1492 10 2
Omissions (See Mr. Pocock’s Certificate) 315 4 6
1177 5 8
Further Works, January 28,1861 100 0 0
6907 5 8
7004 18 10
FITTING—Messrs Piper & Son, see ditto 565 0 5
Messrs. Weeks & Co., Hot Water Apparatus (say) 220 15 0
Messrs. Buckley & Beach, Lighting (ditto) 180 7 6
Messrs. Fuller Brothers, Blinds 36 10 0
Messrs. Toby and Son, Sundries 25 18 10
1028 11 9
FURNISHING—Mr. Chapman, Seats, Chairs, &c., (say) 266 16 0
Mr. Dawes, Tables (ditto) 72 2 0
M. Bosson, 500 Rush Chairs 37 10 0
Mr. Jackson, Looking Glasses, &c. 6 17 6
Mr. Davis, Mats 16 16 4
Messrs. Smith & Baber, Matting, &c., (say) 50 0 0
Sundries (ditto) 50 0 0
500 1 10
SUNDRIES—Architect and Clerk of the Works (say) 427 0 0
Premiums for Designs and Exhibition of same 81 14 0
Watson & Son, Loan Charges 26 17 6
Piper & Son, First Stone 24 1 10
Pocock ditto 5 15 0
Vestry Clerk ditto 25 13 3
Rev. Mr. Huelin, Compensation 25 0 0
616 1 7
£12059 16 2
Abstract of the Foregoing.
Cost of Site £2910 2 2
,, Building 7004 18 10
,, Fitting 1028 11 9
,, Furnishing 500 1 10
,, Sundries 616 1 7
£12059 16 2
Cr.
By Proceeds of Sale of Old Houses 187 18 6
,, Dividends on Consols 24 12 1
212 10 7
Net Estimated Cost £11847 5 7
I think the divisions in the foregoing account are proper and sufficient.
W. Newton Finch, 181, King’s-road.
Wm. Hall.
February 22, 1861.
CHELSEA LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION
Dr.
Ledger Folio £ s. d.
1860. 311.
Dec. 31. To London Gas Company for Gas supplied to date 0 14 6
1861. Mar. 25. Ditto ditto 5 7 6
6 2 0
3 3 8
,, 25. W. Druce & Son, for Coke 3 3 8
,, 25. 313. Proportion of Cost of Lighting the Large Hall, quarter of £7 10s., from Christmas to Lady-day, 1861 1 17 6
,, 25. Ditto of Warming the same, quarter of £1 4s. per annum 0 6 0
,, 25. Ditto of Cleaning the same, quarter of £5 per annum 1 5 0
£12 14 2
Cr.
1861. Mar. 25. By Mr. T. L. Bull, Honorary Secretary, for Quarter’s Rent to date 12 10 0
,, 25. Balance carried down 0 4 2
£12 14 2
Memorial re additional Loan of £2000.
To the Honorable the Chairman and Members of the Metropolitan Board of Works.
The Memorial of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex.
Sheweth,
That the Parish of Chelsea is very extensive and populous.
That it comprises about 9000 houses, is nearly 800 acres in extent, and contains a population of about 70,000 persons.
That the matters of public concern to so large a number of inhabitants are necessarily very numerous and weighty.
That by the 92nd section of the Metropolis Local Management Act, your memorialists are authorized to defray expenses, as well for paving, lighting, watering, cleansing, or improving the parish, as for those public concerns; by the 150th section they are enabled to erect a building for parish purposes; and by the 183rd section they are permitted, with the sanction of your Honourable Board, to borrow any sums of money necessary for defraying such expenses.
That with reference to the purposes for which a building so erected may be used, Mr. Toulmin Smith is of opinion that “under these words, (public concerns of any parish, or of the inhabitants thereof) it will become matter of obligation on the Vestry in the case of a single parish, and on the District Board in the case of parishes combined in a district, to provide for the expenses of public meetings, and those other similar matters touching ‘public concerns’ which are now done irregularly and illegimately. * * * The words in the section are imperative,—these expenses ‘shall be defrayed accordingly.’” Again, “the most economical course will always be to make such a building a part of the erection for the offices, &c., of the board, as has already been done in the case of St. Pancras Vestry Hall, and in some other cases in the Metropolis.”
That acting within the discretion thus vested in them your memoralists have erected a Vestry Hall, which is suitable in every respect for the purposes of your memorialists, and for the before-mentioned public concerns of the inhabitants.
That as evidence that the large room was much required in this parish, and is fully appreciated by the inhabitants, your memorialists do state that since its opening on the 30th November last, seventy meetings of various kinds have taken place therein, which may be thus classified:—Religious and Moral, twenty-seven; Intellectual, twenty; Social, Political, and to encourage the Volunteer movement, twenty-three.
That for nineteen of these meetings the use of the room has been given absolutely without charge, and for the others a scale of payment has been arranged by your Memorialists, which is in their opinion equitable and fair—and which has been submitted to your Finance Committee.
That the building erected by your Memorialists is plain and substantial in its character; the plan of it having been submitted to, and approved by, your Honourable Board before it was commenced, (which original plan has not been departed from in any substantial particular) and will cost (excluding the cost of the site) the, not unreasonable, sum of Seven Thousand pounds; being the original contract sum of £5630, and the remainder for extra and additional works, which your Memorialists fear are inevitable in all such undertakings.
That particulars in full detail of the estimated cost of the site, building, fittings, furniture and sundries, have been laid before your Finance Committee, by your Memorialists, amounting in the whole to about, £12,000.
That your Memorialists are of opinion that the most equitable manner of defraying the said expenses both for the present and future Ratepayers is by means of a loan, repayable with interest in twenty years, thus rendering the sanction of your Honorable Board requisite.
That the Large Hall is intended to be used for purposes of the Vestry, and in fact is now about to be so used for the election of Vestrymen under the Act.
That although a portion of the premises is now temporarily made use of as Reading Rooms, as stated in the letter of your Memorialists to your Finance Committee, those rooms will most probably be required for the Gas Examiner under the Metropolis Gas Act, and the analyst under the Act for the Prevention of the Adulteration of Food and Drink of last session.
That your Memorialists under the 150th Section of the Metropolis Local Management Act deem the whole of the buildings necessary and expedient, and under the 92nd section such buildings are fully authorized inasmuch as they are clearly used for the public concerns of their Parish and the inhabitants thereof.
That no further or additional rate, than was contemplated at the time the original loan of £10,000, was sanctioned by your Honorable Board, will be required.
That the following objects may be mentioned as showing the necessity of the Vestry Hall:—A place of meeting for the local magistrates in petty sessions; a place for the public discussion of important local public questions, as the Embankment of the River at Chelsea, the Enfranchisement of the District, the Removal of the Asylum Wall in the King’s Road, and the Equalization of the Poor Rates.
That with reference to the remarks of your Finance Committee in their report that their inquiries have satisfied them that the building has not been erected exclusively for the purposes of the Vestry, but for other objects not contemplated by the Metropolis Local Management Act, your Memorialists submit that under the Act referred to, it is not imperatively necessary that buildings of this description should be erected exclusively for the purposes of the Vestry; and that the building erected by your memorialists has not been erected for any object not contemplated by the said Act.
Your Memorialists therefore pray that, as they, and the inhabitants of the Parish represented by them, are of opinion that the expenses of the said Vestry Hall, &c., are in relation to the regulation, government, or public concerns of this Parish, and of the inhabitants thereof, and that the sum of £12,000 is necessary for defraying such expenses; and that such expenses will be best defrayed by a loan upon the credit of the rates, your Honorable Board will not deem it expedient to refuse your sanction to the additional loan of £2,000 already applied for.
Given under the common seal of the said Vestry, this 10th day of May, 1861
(Signed) Charles Lahee, Vestry Clerk.