A Work in Progress
Over the next two years work proceeded satisfactorily. It is an interesting comment on the dangers of working on Victorian building sites,that the contractor should feel it worth remarking at the subsequent opening festivities that nobody had been killed during the building. 5,200 cubic feet of earth had to be removed for the foundations and 168,000 bricks were used in the construction. The roofing required 84 tons of wrought iron and 29 tons of cast iron held together by 40,000 rivets and 12,000 bolts and screws. Among local contractors involved were Messrs. J. Orrel & Sons, who did the base and superstructure, Mr. James Heavyside, who did the slating, Mr. John Knowles, who did the plumbing and glazing and Mr. Robert Jackson, who did the plastering and painting. Other contractors came from London, Derbyshire, and Nottingham.
The Marquis of Hartington, Liberal M.P. for North East Lancashire and Secretary of State for India was invited to perform the opening ceremony. He was a leading political figure of the day and was soon to play an important role in the Sudan crisis, when General Gordon was killed at Khartoum in January 1885. He had officiated at Darwen several times and had a popular following. The opening day was to have been at the end of May 1882, but at the beginning of the month Lord Frederick Cavendish the brother of the Marquis was assassinated at Phoenix Park in Dublin and the ceremony was postponed.
A Market Hall for Darwen?
Planning and Selection
A Work in Progress
Some Disappointments
The Opening Ceremony
In Recent Years...
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