West Bromwich Town Hall
 It was during August 2000 that my interest was aroused in the history of West Bromwich Town Hall. I distinctly remember the occasion, for I read that a banquet had been planned to celebrate the opening of the Town Hall in 1875.
I thought about that colourful and auspicious event when the rich and influential families of the town gathered for this important social occasion. I tried to visualise the colours, textures and style of the ladies gowns of that Victorian era. There must have been a tremendous air of excitement and anticipation as the guests arrived in their carriages and the ladies were escorted up the broad stairway to the gallery where they observed the scene below in the main hall.
If only the walls could talk what a wealth of stories they would tell about the life and times enacted within its portals. Then I realised that this could be achieved if members of our present community could be persuaded to write their reminiscences of events and leisure pursuits within the building.
Past and present inhabitants of the town took up the challenge and this book is the result of their contributions. People were keen to discuss not only social events held in the Town Hall but also their memories of particular parts of the building which touched on their working and social life. So, in an attempt to answer their questions, the research widened to include the building and its contents.
This started a very interesting trail of discovery in researching the part that the Town Hall played in the public and social life of the borough. Reminiscences were collected dating from 1927 to the present day and they revealed an interesting, stimulating and amusing life within the building that equals any event enacted there in the past
I am sorry but I have sold out of this book - however, I understand that Amazon, Foyles and Brewin's History into Print still have copies available and also, you may be able to obtain a second hand copy through ebay or Amazon |
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