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l Denbigh Council and Food…

Denbigh County AppealI Tribunal.…

SOLDIERS . FOR FARM WORK.I

Put The Clock On.

British Red Cross Hospital,…

Pianoforte Recital at Howell's…

Recollections of a Ruthinian.

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Recollections of a Ruthinian. Ruthin during last Haif Century. Well Street-Continued. MR JAIIES MAURICE.—In addition to the previous notes, it may be mentioned that he was Mayor in 1860, when the first sod of the Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Rail- way was cut by Miss Florence West, and that he also cut a sod on the occasion. The ceremony took place in Cae Gwynach, near the site of the footbridge which now spans the line on 4th September. RECORD STREET. THE COUNTY HALL.-This fiiie and commodious building has the following inscription above the front entrance The Magistrates of this County at the expense of the Inhabitants, for the convenience of the Courts of Law, and the safety of the Public Records, erected these in the years of Christ 1785, 1786, 1787. Joseph Turner, Architect." [He was also Architect for the old Gaol.] Primarily designed for the holding of the Assizes and Sessions, the building was also obviously in- tended to be used as a place of entertainment and ball room, seeing that the body of the hall is so large, and that under the floor are springs which can be adjusted to give it elasticity when used for dancing. Before the new Town Hall was built in 1863 dramatic entertainments, concerts and balls were allowed to be given here as there was no other "room of such size. A stage was easily adjusted above the big table and the dock. So that Ruthinites I enjoyed here several forms of enter- tainment on one occasion they might hear an unfortunate prisoner I at the bar tried before a jury, and on another might themselves pose as I a jury upon the performers who appeared before them. When the Assembly Room became available for entertainments the notice went forth in regard to the County Hall No admittance except on business," for which it has during the last half century been strictly reserved. OLD ARMOURY.—The front ground floor room of the house adjoining the Cross Keys yard on the east was the first Armoury of the Rifle Volunteer Corps when it was formed in 1859. CASTLE STREET. PLAS VN DEE.—Mr J C Davies's house was for many years the North and South Wales Bank after its removal from the site of the present Post Office until it was taken to its present habitation On a stone above the front door is inscribed, Rebuilt by I Jones, 1823." MRS THOMAS'S HOUSE.—The pas- sage opposite the Constitutional Club was used as the Armoury, when it was removed from Record street, until the Drill Hall was built. MR JOHN ROBERTS, DRAPER.—The same kind of business as the present has been carried on here for at least 70 years, as at the beginning of that long period Mr Walter Davies traded as a draper and also had a grocery business, which combination by the way was in the old days a very common one. Upper Clwyd Street. A CONSTELLATION OF TAVERNS.— Within the memory of some old Ruthinites still living there were I here at one time seven public houses adjoining one another: The Corpor- ation Arms, Ye Olde Wine Vaults, The King's Head (now Miss Owen's shop), The Spread Eagle, The Old Coffee Hcuse (at the top of the Spread Eagle yard), The Princa of Wales (L and P Bank), and The Waterloo (Reform Club). They might well have been collectively described as a Bacchanalian Charles's Wain The Corporation Arms and Wine Vaults formed the hind wheels the King's Head and Coffee House the fore wheels the others the three horses. Alas the steeds are dead, and all left of the waggon are the hind wheels—whether for weal or for whoa ? In these referred-for-compensation days who can say ? The present Bank buildings were 'erected by Mr Thomas Bealey in place of the old inn which he pur- chased and demolished and the new premises were used as a tavern until taken over by the Bank. Mr Bealey was a Lancashire gentleman who came over and settled down at Ruthin. He bought and laid low several other old houses, and re- placed them with well built structures, among them being' Leamington House, Well street, Nos 11, 13, 15 Clwyd street, and the County Court Office, Prior street. He also erected The Mouut as a residence for himself The front lower portion of the old Prince of Wales was parallel with the entrance to the Spread Eagle yard, and where the front wall of the Bank now stands there were pillars which supported, the building above, leaving a covered open square underneath. In the ciorner of that square, next to the yard, half a century ago, was the shop of Peter Vaughan, the last bookbinder as a separate trade in the Itown. He also during the winter months did a it roaring" business amongst the boys as a manufacturer and seller, sub rosa, of bombs." These were composed of a smojll quantity of some substance wra^ppecfc in tissue paper, which when hrow1 upon a I hard surface exploded with a bang. The"price was a halfpenny for five. 'They were expended in giving shocks to old ladies and gentlemen and girls (young men fleet of foot being carefully avoided by the bombers) by being thrown before or behind them when out walking. Eventually the practice came to be looked upon as a nuisance, and the Majesty of the Law in the guise of the Police squashed it. MR C ALDRIcit.-The business of a printer, bookseller and stationer has been carried on here without inter- mission since at anyrate the be- ginning of last century. In 1825 Mr Robert Jones, who was then the only tradesman in the town in any of those lines, published a Memoir of Dean Goodman (founder of the Grammar School) written by the Reverend Richard Newcome,Warden, which was probably the first book published at Ruthin. Mr Jones died in 1853 aged about 75, so was born about 1778. His son James succeeded him, followed in 1862 by his sister M C'J ones, who in 1873 was followed by her niece M A Jones. In 1875 Mr W Green Jr. took over the business, being succeeded in 1881 by Mr Charles Aldrich. Mr Jones also published A History of Anglesea by Miss Angharad Lloyd An Account of the Castle and Town of Ruthin, and An Account of the Castle and Town of Denbigh, both by the Rev R Newcome. A second edition of the Ruthin Castle bock published in 1837 has the imprint, Royal Victoria Press. Printed by Robert Jones, Ruthin." The designation no doubt was bestowed on his humble handpress in honour of Queen Victoria. A hand press used by him bearing the name Ii Columbian Press, Clymer's Patent, 1838," is still in Mr Aldrich's Office in good work- 'I ing order. Fine quality there. No jerry building in those days. One of Mr Jones's daughters married Mr Robert Edwards, at one time Town Clerk. (To be Continued.) dim-

Bath afar n Hall Parks.

Ruthin Red Cross Hosptial.

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--BUTRIN.

Agricultural Malls Ruthin.

- The Vale of Ctwyd Toys.

RUTHIN TOWN COUNICL.