DA • 68S DO THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID V r^. \ mvTFom .^ ©pcniiiG of TLown 1F3aU, S)eptforb. Q DC o L. H a. LU Q < I z o J^ ^ Borougb of ©eptforb. SOUVENIR OF THE OPENING OF THE TOWN HALL. I9tb 3"l?, 1905. T^ Xit-!t of 3lluijtrattoiu-. Deptf.inl Town Hall Frontispiece Deptford's Mayors Page 1 Municipal Offices, Tanner's Hill 5 •H), Tanner's Hill, Interior G I'lans of Town Ilall 12 Town Hall Staircase 15 Council Chamber . . 17 Mayor's Parlour 18 One of the Crilles 20 Dynamos in Engine Room '24 Switchboard in En.Ejine Room .. 26 x> ivi3051?4 ni>cinbcr6 ot the IDcpttovb :l6oroiu3b Council. JoSKPH Arthi'r Pvnk, J. p. IIenky Geouck Dei.atoiche Benjamin Tom Hall aiC>crmcn. IIenkv Keylock Edward Joslmi Knh.ht Harry Marshall James Thuahs Tellini CoimciUois. Blaik Abbott Joseph Senior Boothrovd John James Boyd Owen Brogan George Collins Edwin Conner Uriah Cooke Walter Cox Charles James Day Alexander Dickson Joseph Graham Hill Daniel Hines Benjamin Joseph Jacob, j.p. Jesse Jacob Thomas Kavanagu James George King William Layer John 1'eter Lewis John Matthew Redding William Hammond Reynolds Robert Robinson William Sheehan Ernest George Simmonds Robert Soper George Carter Stoneham George William Strong Francis Thomas Tayler J. Halstkd Waterwurth William Henry Walker William John Walion Charles VVeiui Henry Garland Wells W 1 1 LI \M Wise J OS L 11 1 Wood William Wood loHN \'lnn Von(;e nOcnibcr? of tbc k3cncral ipurpotiCi? doinniittcc. (Tlie CoiiiiniltiC nf tlic Cciiiuil /uviiif^ charge oj the ucgoiiaiioui in ioiunctioii u-itli tlic 1 ou'ii Hull.) Chairman. Vice-Chairman. Aldtrman Li 1' Hail Councillor W. Wi^H Councillor D. Mines. Councillor R. Robinson. Councillor J. H W.atekwok i ii. B. J. J.\coB, ].!>. ., VV. Sheeh.\n. ,, II. G. Wells, J. G. King. ., G. C. Stoneh.\m. ,, W. Wi.ion. \V. H. Reynolds. ., li. W. Strong. ,, J, V. Yonge. ,, W, J W.\LTON. Zowm Iball BuilMno Sub^CLonimittcc. (The Committee directly supervising the details of the Building Work.) Chairman. ConncilU.r li. J. Jacob, j r Alderman B. T. Hall. Councillor \V. Wisi:. Councillor J. H. Waterwoutii. „ W. Woon Architects. Builder. Messrs, Lanciikstek & Kickards, Mr. H. L. Hollowav, 1, Vernon Place, Union Works, Bloonisbnrv Square. W.C. Church Street, Deptford, S.E. Vivian Orciiaru, Town Clerk. B J. JACOB Esq, J P MAYOR 1900-1901 »N0 1901-1902 Deptford's Past Mayors. ALEXANDER DICKSON, Esq. MAYOR 1902-3, W A SCHULTZ, Esq, F C A. MAYOR 1903-4. opening of Town HalL J. A. PYNE. Esq. MAYOR 1904-5 '^T^HE beautiful and commodious building which the Mayor ^" is to-day opening is one which \-aried considerations and man\- circumstances unite to render of peculiar interest to e\-ery ratepayer in Deptford and every resident in Introductory. f,-,^, neighbourhood. It therefore appears fitting that some particulars should be given as to the inception and grdwtli of the proposal tfi erect a suitable building in wliich could L)e focussed the municipal interests antl acti\ities of the borough, and with this intent the following pages ha\-e been prepared. I'or many years the successive local authorities of Deptford ha\c directed their efforts towards the pro\ision of suitable premises in which the business of the parish could conveniently be con- ducted, and after encountering difficulties which appeared almost OPENING OF TOWN HALL. insurmountahlc. their endeaxours in this direction have at last reached a successful cuhnination. It would be diificult to sa\- when and 1)\ whuni was lirst mooted the idea of providing; some buildini,' which should be the centre of local life in Deptford. and it is scarcely less difficult to trace the movement in its earliest stages. It would be safe however to conjecture that in the da\s when the \'estr\- met in the prenuses at Uiuon Street, few of the \'estrymen foresaw the time when their successors would meet in a huikliui,' so worthily uphoklini; the dignit\- of the borough as the present Town Hall. As far back, however, as the >ear bSUl, reference is made in the Minutes of the Vestry of St. Paul, Deptford, to the suggested •■erection, of a suitable Town "*" ^^^ Hall for this Parish," but long enough ere that date the suggestion ' had, it is remembered, been voiced and ventilated in more ways than one. About that time the provision of Baths and Washhouses was receiving the attention of the \'estry, and the earlier history of the acquisition of a site for the Town Hall is interwoven with that of the Public Baths and Washhouses, which stand to-day on a site immediatelx' at the rear of the Town Hall. Thus, in December, llSUl, the Vestry received a report from the P.atlis ('c.mmissioneLS submitting particulars of several sites available for Baths, including a site at the corner OPENING OF TOWN HALL. of Laurie Gro\-e and New Cross Road, thf propcrt\- of Christ's Hospital, and in [annar}- of the following year the \'estry instructed the Commissioners to negotiate tnr the jiurchase of this site. In Feliruary, 1S95, the Commissioners reported to the \'estr\- at some lenj^th on the accommodation which they considered could be provided on the Laurie C.rove site (which by that time had been purchased), that a portion of the site could be reserved for the erection of a \'estry Hall and Offices, and on the 10th .\pril, 1.S95, a resolution, moved by Mr. E. J. Knight, was unanimously carried, appointing a Committee to confer with the Baths Commissioners on the subject of such a \'estry Hall. When this Committee submitted their report to the \'estr\- thev had to point out that a serious difficulty had presented itself, as they were advised that the X'estrv had nu power to borrow money for the erection of a \'estry Hall and Offices. It was accordingly suggested that the Local Government Board should be approached with a \-iew to these powers being obtained; and in May. LS95, it was decided to approach the House of Commons and the Covernment with the view of obtaining for Ueptford the powers of a district council, under the provisions of the Local Government .\ct. 1SU4 (which had then recently come into operation), among the powers given bv that Act being authority to provide land and liuildings f )r public offices and for meetings connected with parish business. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. The Baths and \\'ashhouses were subsequentlv erected on the Laurie Grove site, and the portion of the site fronting New Cross Road haxing been reser\-ed. plans of suitable offices to be erected on such vacant land were duly prepared by Mr. Dinwiddy, the proposal at that time beini; merely to erect a \'estry Room and Offices, leaving sufficient space for the erection of a public hall at a later date if required. In November, 1897, the Vestry agreed to these plans. They were ho\\e\-er ad\-ised tliat the onl\- po\^■er which they had to liorro\\- mone\- for such a purpose was under the Vestries and \'estry Clerks' Act, 1)\- winch Act power was given to \'estries to borrow with the sanction of the Local Govermneiit r.oard. the maxuuuni period of repa\-ment being 10 years. At this point the efforts of the local authorit\- in this direction were interrupted, owing to the fact that at this particular period considerable uncertainty existed as to what changes were likely to be effected in tlie future in the local government o( London, and it was not until the proposals then afloat were crystallised into the London Cioxernmeiit Act. b'-^'.)'!. that an\- further progress was made towards the pn)\ision of the desired buildings. Before proceeding to trace the negotiations from the point where they were taken up h\ the Borough Council, as the successors of the \'estry, it may pro\e of interest to digress OPENING OF TOWN HALL. for a little in order to refer to the extremely incoin-enieiit and unsuitable ZU, 1 anner S premises in which for sixteen years the \'estry, and for five years the Hill. Borough Council, contrixed to carry on the business of the parish. Situate at the foot of Tanner's Hill the Municipal Offices consisted of two rooms on the first floor (together with the living rooms of the office caretaker) and two rooms on the second floor of the premises known as No. '20, Tanner's Hill, and in these four rooms (in the time of the Borough Council) the whole of the clerical staffs ol the Tow n Clerk and the Borough Accountant, together with the Sanitarx' Inspectcjrs, were housed during the daytime, one or more of the rooms being used in the evening for Committee and Council meet- ings. The room in which the meetings of the Vestr\- were held, and which was subsequently used as the Council Chamber, is about 37 feet by 21 feet, and in this confined and unx'entilated space it will MUNICIPAL OFFICES, TANNER'S HILL. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. 20, TANNERS HILL. COUNCIL CHAMBER, COMMITTEE ROOM AND TOWN CLERK'S GENERAL OFFICE. — 6 OPENING OF TOWN HALL. he readil\' understood that the atmospherical conditions prevalent did not tend to moderate the heat of debate, particularly ha\-ing regard to the fact that no less, than I'iO \'estr\-men were crowded into a room which appears fiJled to its utmost capacit\- when ;^0 or 40 persons are present at an ordinary meeting of the Borough Council. The apartment in question howe\'er served the double purpose of Council Chamber and Town Clerk's Ceneral Office, and sometimes no less than 10 officials could be seen working in this room every day under conditions so unta\'ourable as to cause surprise, not unmingled with amusement, in the minds of strangers accustomed to the office accommo- dation provided b\- pri\-ate firms in the Cit\- and elsewhere. The accompan\ing illustration sho\\s the office in question, also used as Committee Room and Council Chamber: and business men will appreciate the inconvenience of all books, papers and documents being continually displaced in order that space ma}- be obtained to use the room for public meetings, an expedient which had to be adopted nearly every week in the year. If dirt were iniiicatix'e of dignity, and lack of breathing space conduci\-e to health and good work, there would be l)ut little need for a Town Hall, as the present temporary offices fulfil these demands with absolute perfection : but it has fortunately been felt that apart from an\' claim to ci\ic imi>i)rtance which might be made b\- a mimicipalitv such as Deptford, mere business considerations peremptorih- demanded the proxision of more adequate accommodation OPENING OF TOWN HALL. for the efficient transaction of tiic work of local i^'ovcrnmeiit in the Borough : and one of the earliest matters taken in hand h\- the newly formed Fxiron^h fmiiicil was the provision of a Town Hall and Municipal Offices. The site available at the time of the formation of the Boroui^h Council was the land m New Cross Road pre\iousl\- referretl to as ha\ini; been reserved by the Baths and Washhouses Commissioners, but this bcin.i; found to be inadequate, after con- The Site siderable negotiations an extension of the site was obtained in l'.)()l, when the freehold was acquired of a i)iece of land on the eastern side, having a troiitai;e to New Cross Road of '27 feet. An attempt was also made, but unsuccessfully, to obtain a similar extension on the western side, with a view to straightening the boundary of the site on that side. It ultimatt']\- appearing impossible to huther enlarge the borders of the site m either direction, the attention of the Council was directed td the aci-oiiiinodation which it was possible to provide, which notwithstanding the drawbacks attendant on its limited area, had the great advantage of being centrally situated. A "lance at the map will show that not only is the Town Hall as a matter of fact almost exacth- in the centre of the Borough, but that it has in aihUtioii great advantages in the matter of accessibilit}-. — S — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. Situate in the main artery of tiie Borough, and indeed in one of the main roads out of London, a continuous stream of traffic passes its doors during the whole of the dav, the greater proportion of the vehicular road traffic between London and IS very Nqj.^j^ ^^^^^ j^,gjj^„ ^^^^ thoroughfare. In addition, the building is verv get-at-able — . . , near two miportant railway stations on ditterent systems ; the electric trams ot the London County Council pass the doors and give readv access to the whole of South London, \\hile Clifton Hill and Lewisham High Road make the building easy of approach from the northern and southern portions of the Borough respectively. It was at one time thought that in addition to providing office accommodation it would have been possible to provide a public assembly hall for the Borough capable of seating KOO or LOCH) persons. On closer investigation however, it became abundantly clear that if proper offices. Committee Rooms and Council Chamber were to be provided, the Public Hall would have to be sacrificed, as the site was not large enough to provide this accommodation, and accordingly the idea was reluctantly abandoned. When it is remembered however that 40 or M) permanent officials will have to be accommodated in the new buildmg, and it is also borne in mind that the — but hardly , duties and responsibilities of the Council are cjntinuallv being increased large enough. (there being even now no less than 10 Standing Committees) the wisdom — 9 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. of this decision \\iil hardly be (lucstioned, particiilarh when due regard is had to the comparative smalhiess of the site. Some delay arose o^vin^ to nei;otiations with the London County Council on the subject of a ten foot \va\- for exit purposes on the eastern and western sides of the prop.>sed buildint;, hut in March. I'.HJ-J. it had become possible to take the important step of apponitniK' Mr. |ohn Belcher, A.K.A.. then one of the \'ice-Presidents and now the President of the Koyal Institute of British .\rchitects, to act as assessor in regard to a competition for designs for a Town Hall. Conditions were then prepared and advertisements issued, and eventually 4-i sets of designs were submitted to the assessor, the majority proving to be in his opmion of a high order of merit, and at the meeting of the Conned on the 14th October, I'.M):^. it was annonnc-d that the successful architects were Messrs. Lanchester, Stewart (.\: Kickards, of 1. \'ernon Place, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. The style of the firm has since been altered owing to the death of Mr. Stewart, and the firm is now known as Messrs. Lanchester & Kickards. The whole of the competitors, together with the press, were invited to inspect the designs sent in, and through the kindness of Mr. W. J. l-lvelvn. J. P.. who granted the use OPENING OF TOWN HALL. of the pivmiSL-s for the purpose, such desiyjns were pubHcl\- exhibited at Sayes Court Hall for a period of six da}'s. Advertisements having' been issued invitins; tenders for erectini^" the Town Hall in accordance with the accepted desi.^n. the tender of Mr. H. L. Hollowa\-, of Union Works, Church Street, Deptford, to carry out the work fur the sum of 4'iiS,4;V) was accepted (this bemg the lowest tender), and very shortly afterwards, to the great satisfaction of all concerned, work was commenced on the foundations of the building. The then Ma^or (Councillor Alexander Dickson, J. P.) performed the ceremony- of kuing the foundation stone of the buildiiv; on Wednesday-, the 14th October. ]'.)(i;i, in the The presence of the Lord Mayor of London and the Lad\- .\Li\-oress, the Foundation Sheriffs, their ladies, the Lord Bishop of Southwark. most of the ^Llyors Stone. and Mayoresses of the Metropolitan I'joroughs, the Mendjer of Parliament for the Borough, many members and ofticers of the Council, and a large company. The stone bears the foll(n\ing inscription : — "This stone was laid 1>\- the Worshipful the Mayor of Deptford (Alexander " Dickson, Lsq., J. P..) this 14tli day of October, 190:;. ^■i^•ian Orchard, Town " Clerk. Lanchester. Stewart and Rickards, .Architects. H. L. Holloway. I'.uildei." — II — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. member's RDOri A35EMDLY ROOM AND 1 A'./<--ro"?!(^5 ON ntZZArJiNt rLC2DR Rtu:iti TOWN HALL-GROUND FLOOR PLAN TOWN HALL-FIRST FLOOR PLAN. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. In commt-moratidii of the occasion a sihcr trowel was presented to His Worship by the Architects, while the lUiikler also presented him with a mallet, both bein^; suitabh- inscribed. Since that date the work of bnildini,' has proceeded without internijition, although in several respects the original plans have been modified, improvements suggesting themselves as the work proceeded. That the building itself is of the \er\- highest architectural merit Th RdiMino- ^^'" ^^'^' ^diiT'tted by e\-ery qualified critic, but probably its most obvious features are the artistic excellence of its front elevation and the convenience and symmetry of its internal planning. The following particulars will give some further idea of the building: — The ground floor is devoted to the principal offices arid the first ,_^ -, floor to the Council Chamber, Committee Rooms and certain of the The Interior. Members' Rooms (the others being on the mezzanine floor). In the basement is a series of spare offices, muniment rooms and la\'atories, while the caretaker's quarters are situate in the western wing o\'er the side entrance. — 13 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. On entering the buildins; the visitor can hardly fail to observe the bold and effecti\-e piece of carving over the door: and, advancing, will see that the vestibnle opens out into a pillared entrance hall pa\-ed with marble and lighted b\' a dome over the staircase. This staircase faces the entrance, and the stairs lieing of a light coloured marble with w rought-iron balustrade and gun-metal handrail, tlie whole forms one of the tinest features of the interior. On the landing are two w rought-iron grilles, in each of which will be seen a ship's lantern of antique design, lit b\- electricitw and one of these it will be seen is illustrated on another page. The suites of rooms for the Town Clerk, the liorough Sur\'e\'or and their respecti\e staffs occupy the front portion of the ground floor, \\hile m the rear due accomtuodation is provided for the Medical Officer of Health and the l>orough Accountant and his staff. On the mez/anine floor are provided a .Members' Librar\-, assembh- room and lavatories, and on the first fio(M- opposite the top of the staircase is the entrance to the Council Chamber. This is shewn in the acconipan\ing ilhistration. Entering the Council Chamber, which apartment extends across the whole of the main jiortion of the building, the Mayor's dais will be seen on the right and the public galler\- on the left. The floor is of polished oak and the chamber is surrounded liy a dark oak — 14 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. If ' THE STAIRCASE. — 15 OPENING OF TOWN HALL, wainscot. The general scheme of decoration is of a very roHned and restrained description, suggestive of the best architectural traditions of the times of the Georges. The members" seats are arranged in sets of three and are upholstered in dark red morocco; each member beini; provided with a lock-up desk. The table in front of the dais is for the use of officers attendmg the Council meetings, and the press reporters" desks are in the north-east corner of the room, A suite of three handsome Committee rooms communicating with eacli other occupies the whole of this floor at the rear and as these are connected w ith the Council Ciiamber b_\- an ante-room on the eastern side and a retiring room on the western side, a connected suite of six handsome apartments is obtained, through which a large number of guests could circulate in the event of a reception or other public function being held. The Mayor's Parlour, which is illustrated on another page, is situate next to the Council Chamber at its eastern end, and is also connected w ith this suite of rooms. In the decorations of the Committee rooms the fireplaces are a special feature and deserve favourable notice. It is, however, in the front elevation that the Architects have given most rein to the imagination and it will hardly be denied that in the whole ot South The Front. London no more artistic and tasteful piece of architecture could be found. — i6 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. COUNCIL CHAMBER OPENING OF TOWN HALL. MAYOR S PARLOUR. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. K^'plii'tc with [loctic fcL'liiii^-, and symbolic in tivatnifnt as far as its decoration is concerned, the Architects themselves have described the facade as " an attempt to carry on the tradition of the 17th and iHtli reiiturx l)nililini;s in the ri\erside towns, such as Greenwich, Gravesend and Rochester." The naval associations of Deptford ha\e been dexterously WDven mto the scheme of decoration nf this facade, and dolphins and shells, cables and anchors, tridents and windlasses, appear in profusion, while over the arch at the side entrance (by way of architectural pleasantry, periiaps) a crab is seen disportin,;; itself. The coat of arms immediately above is taken from the Councirs seal, and in one of the quarters Peter the Great is represented at work, having the crown over but ncjt on his head, while on another is a reproduction of a ship on the stocks. These also figure in the Deptford Mayoral badge, and the public need hardlv be reminded that these designs are reproduced in the drop scene of the I)roadwa\- Theatre. More ambitious treatment is reserved for the decoration of the larger spaces, and in the tympanum of the main pediment is a representation in relief of an old-time naval battle. No description of the Town Hall would be complete without special mention being made ot the fine series of statues of ISritish .\dmirals which 1 he Admirals. jjj,-,j.,^ ^i^^. fi.,,,^^ ^^( ^^^^ building, and form one of its distinctive features. — 19 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. ONE Or THE GRILLES ON THE STAIRCASE. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. These statues are four in number, and the figure in the eastern end position represents Admiral Drake, the date underneath carrying us back to the spacious days of Oueen Elizabetii. The gallant admiral, who is attired in all the bravery of slashed doublet and hose, holds in his hand a medal at which he is gazing, and which is attached to a chain suspended round his neck. In the background is a globe, this being an allusion to the fact that Sir Francis was the first naxigator to sail round the world. It w ill be remembered b\- those versed in local historv that after the return of the daring navigator from his famous voyage in 1.580, Oueen Elizabeth came to Deptford and conferred on Sir Francis the honour of knighthood, after partaking of a banquet in the cabin of his ship the " Pelican," which was afterwards renamed the " Golden Hind.'" This ship, by command of the Oueen, was for many years preserved in the dock at Deptford, and appears to ha\-e been afterwards used on man}- occasions, for banquets and festivities. The next naval worthy depicted is Admiral Blake, whose leathern jerkin and top boots proclaim the period of the Commonwealth. CromweH's naval commander lived in troublous times, and the date {li'url) under- neath his effigy is that of one of his famous battles with \'an Tromp, the Dutch Admiral, OPENING OF TOWN HALL. when lihikc witli '2'c> ships CDiiipellcd the Dutchmen with 4") sail tn retire. Some months after, ho\\e%'er, \'ai' Tromp returned with o\erw liehniiii; numbers antl forced Blake up the Tliames, Van Tromp foUowint; with the famous liroom at his masthead. Twice, however, duiint; tile follow iiij; \'ear Ijlake intlicted such crushinj^ defeats on \'an Tromp as have effectually prevented an\- further e.xperiments of that kind being made in the displa\' of brooms from that da\' to this. The statue on the other side of the oriel w indow needs no description. The spare, one- armed man in an admiral's hat could be none other than England's greatest naval commander, Horatio Nelson, antl the date 180-5 accentuates the fact tnat the present year is the centenary of his death at the battle of Trafalgar. The figure occupxing the western-most position is a conx'entional representation of a IJritish .\dmiral in the \ear of grace l'.)!.).") and does not represent any particular admiral at present holding His Majesty's commission. From the above description it might possibh' l)e gathered that the front of the building is overloaded with ornament, but as a matter of fact a single glance will dispel any such idea, as the general impression created by the decoration of the fayade is one of restraint and reser\-e, and it is not until more carehil inspection has been made that the excellence of the detail is observed. OPENING OF TOWN HALL. The note of s\-inholism is maintained do\^ n to the smallest trifle, as is illustrated hy the wreaths underneath the admirals. Thus amid the toliage in the wreath under Admiral Drake is hung a cluster ot beads and trinkets as well as a chalice and crucifix, which suggest the spoils of a Spanish galleon, or the plunder of some Spanish Church, while among the oak leaves under Admiral Blake is a clasped Bible in allusion to his puritanism. \'arious orders and decorations can also be seen interwoven in Lord Nelson's wreath, and under the statue of the modern admiral can be plainlv discerned his sextant and binocular. Descending to more practical matters, the fullowing financial details will probably prove of interest. The total cost of the site was i.'li,4'2p ^^■■^- ir^* 1 ■ =*= ^^m —jjt~ T" _i ■ A* k P ^^c^ l^w SWITCHBOARD IN ENGINE ROOM. 26 OPENING OF TOWN HALL. Thf existing st(iraf;e battery has been re-erected in spacious and well ventilated quarters next to the engine-room. It has also been thoroughly overhauled and added to by the Hart Accumulator Co., with satisfactory results. A "booster" is provided for charging the batter}, and all necessary connections have been made to enable the dynamos in the baths engine-room to be worked in conjunction with the new plant and vice versa. Messrs. Drake & Gorham were the coiitractt)rs for the wiring of the Town Hall, which has been carried out on the " looping-in " system, with rubber insulated wires drawn into steel-armoured insulating conduit. The distribution boards are mounted in cast-iron cases, and sound metallic contact between these cases and the conduits throughout the building has been rigidly insisted upon. The conduit system is earthed in the engine-room. The electroliers and other special fittings were selected by the Building Committee, and are of Messrs. ¥. & C. Osier's manufacture and design. The question of telephonic communication has been carefully thimght out and three distinct systems of telephones provided : — (1) The National Telephone Compan\'s instruments in connection with their exchange and the various extension instruments in the building. — 27 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. (2) An intercommunication batter\- system between the various members' and officials" rooms. (8) A reply and call battery S}'stem between various rooms. This work was carried out by Messrs. Drake & Gorham, and all the wires are dra\\n into steel insulating conduit, as in the case of the electric light wires. The electric lighting and telephone installations have been carried out to the designs and under the supervision of Messrs. F. H. Medhurst & Lloyd, Consulting Engineers to the Bormigh Council. As before mentioned the Architects of the buildings were Messrs. Miscellaneous. Lanchester and Rickards, and the Builder, Mr. H. L. Holloway. while the quantities were taken out by Messrs. W. T. Fartiiing cS; Son, of 40, Strand, W.C. The furniture for the Council Chamber was designed and made by Messrs. Walker & Sons, of 111), Bunhill Row, E.C. A large amount of the furniture for the offices was obtained from the Globe \\'ernicke Co., of Holborn Viaduct, while the curtains and draperies for the chief rooms were supplied by Messrs. Maple, of Tottenham Court Road, the blinds throughout the other portions of the building being supplied by Gill Bros., Ltd., of Brockley. — 28 — OPENING OF TOWN HALL. The whole of the photographs ilUistrating this Souvenir, with the exception of the frontispiece and the portraits, were taken specially for the purpose by a member of the Town Clerk's staff. Mens ,si!«(! ill coi'porc sano is a motto the truth of which will not be disputed, and when the spacious and air\' Committee Rooms and Offices in the Town Hall are compared with the four dusty rooms in Tanner's Hill, it is reasonable to surmise that in their new surroundings the members and officials will be in a position to devote themselves to the public ser\ice with increased vigour both of body and mind. In the meantime the Imperial Parliament having bestowed on Deptford civic honour by making it a separate municipal entit\-, it were sureh' well that the municipal spirit should be fostered in the Borough, and the mere fact that in the heart of this compact and densely populated municipalit\', there is such a building as a Town Hall of anv kind, should in itself tend to concentrate and consolidate local feeling and to stimulate public interest in matters municipal. Having regard however to the fact that the Deptford Town Hall is one of which ever)- resident may justly be proud (and such without doubt is the building which is to-day being opened) it is to be hoped that in the future a more lively concern will be shown by the public in matters concerning the welfare and good government of our ancient and historic town. -^£>?■ FINIS. ■1<^ LONDON: Printed bv F, Gavlakd, 446. New Cross Koad, Deptfoki}. 4 i^3()5t?4 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY U. C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES CDSllMESMS J «*.