SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

The following is a short extract from a lengthy item taken in John Mayhall’s ‘Annals of Yorkshire’ vol 1:-August 17 1853. “The first stone of the Leeds Town-hall, was laid by John Hope Shaw, Esq, in the presence of a vast concourse of spectators. The day was made one of popular enjoyment…Mr. Alderman Hepper, the chairman of the Town-hall committee commenced the proceedings by asking the mayor to lay the foundation stone, and presented to him a richly embossed silver trowel, with an ivory handle, and a mallet made of polished oak, with silver mountings…The mayor…assisted by the architect and contractor proceeded to lay the first stone, at the south west corner of the new building. First, was deposited in a cavity in the stone a bottle hermetically sealed, containing specimens in gold and silver only, of the several current coins of the realm, from a sovereign to a penny, (except a 5s. piece, which could not be obtained of the present reign,) a copy of the Leeds Mercury, the Leeds Intelligencer, and the Leeds Times, published on the 13th; a list of the members of the council, of the several committees, and of all the officials of the town council, and a copy on vellum of the inscription on the plate, provided to cover the cavity in the foundation stone. Over the cavity was placed a brass plate which was covered with melted wax to keep it air tight…The contractor having placed the mortar on the stone, the mayor spread it with his silver trowel, and the upper stone was lowered upon the one containing the deposit”.I wonder if those objects are still there? Mind you, don’t blame me if people now try to break into the south west corner stonework in an attempt to get at the gold and silver coins in case they are still there!

The contractor then laid mortar on the stone, the mayor spread the mortar with the silver trowel, and the upper stone was laid upon the foundation stone. The mayor squared and levelled the stone, struck it three times with the mallett, and said:'Thus and thus and thus, I lay the foundation stone of the new Town Hall of Leeds; and may God prosper the undertaking.'There was applause and cheering from the crowd, and a choir of members of the Motet and Madrigal Society sang a chorus which began:'A blessing we ask on the work now begun,May it prosper in doing – be useful when done:May the Hall whose foundations thus broadly are laid, Stand a trophy to Freedom – to Peace and to Trade.'There were speeches by the Mayor, Alderman Hepper, Dr. Hook (the vicar of Leeds), Edward Baines, and many others. The Mayor and his guests went on to a banquet at the Albion Street Music Hall. The bands and a crowd of more than 60,000 people joined in festivities on Woodhouse Moor, and the day ended with a display of fireworks.The inscription on the brass plate covering the cavity in the foundation stone read as follows:'The Corner Stone of this Town Hall, erected by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Leeds, was laid on the 17th August 1853, in the 16th year of the reign of Queen Victoria , by John Hope Shaw, Esq., Mayor. Building Committee:-Chairman, Alderman william Edward Hepper; Aldermen John Wilson, John Darnton Luccock, William Kelsall, Charles Gascoigne Maclea, Francis Carbutt; Councillors Richard Bissington, John Marshall, George Brook, John Ardill, David Newton, Joshua Garsed Heaps, Joseph Broadhead, John Croysdale, William Kettlewell, James Smith, Robert Wood, Robert Meek Carter, William Illingworth, John Lister, George Skirrow Beecroft, Robert White. Town Clerk:-John Arthur Ikin. Architect:- Cuthbert Brodrick.'    

I would imagine the objects are still there - why would'nt they be?