Just something for you all to read. This background to Governance in Bingley has been prepared by local historian Alan Cattell. His intention is to give a flavour of the events and bodies that have shaped Bingley as a town as regards Governance. This record is not intended to be exhaustive and has been compiled for illustrative purposes. Court Baron There have been 8 Lords of Bingley. Each Lord of the Manor exercised jurisdictional rights over his tenants and bondsmen concerning the administration of his Manor. He exercised those rights through his Court Baron. This Court had no power to deal with criminal acts. Court of Requests The Court Baron previously held at Kings Head in Bingley for the recovery of small debts was extended by Act of Parliament in 1777. This established a Court of Requests for the recovery of debts under 40 shillings. It amassed enough money to build its own courthouse in Myrtle Place (1831). Court of Requests moved to Keighley and became County Court in 1847. Court Leet The Court Leet was a Court of Record responsible for maintaining freemans oaths of peacekeeping and good practice in trade, but also to try by jury and punish small offences and crimes in the jurisdiction. Such Courts latterly ensured that sales of food, drink and agriculture were adhered to. On a number of occasions the Court Baron and Court Leet would meet together on the same day for ease of administration. After the 16th Century the duties of the Court Leet were increasingly transferred to the local magistrate/justice of the peace. Petty Sessions/Magistrates Courts in Bingley were held generally held in public houses, namely the White Horse, Brown Cow and Ferrands. Crimes such as gambling, poaching and drunkenness, stealing, default of fine payments, public affray and disorder were heard and sentences passed or referred to a higher court. 1821- New lock up built next to Workhouse in Myrtle Place 1860- New Courthouse and Police Station built at County expense in Myrtle Place 1929 New Court House and Police Station built on Bradford Road 2011 Court House closed and powers transferred to Keighley Vestry at Bingley For years the only government in Bingley were the vestry meetings originally held only once per year essentially for matters concerning the upkeep of the church and relief of the poor. However, examples below show that they did deal with other matters: 1726 House on Myrtle Place converted by Vestry into Bingley Workhouse 1776 Vestry set up Standing Committee to Act as Guardians of the Poor 1837 The Keighley Union, as formed in 1837, under the New Poor Law, comprised the six townships including Bingley-with-Micklethwaite, 1856 Appointment of parish constables 1860 Workhouse transferred to Keighley 1862 Vicar and Churchwardens distributed £30 to the ancient poor of the parish 30 April 1863 Vestry meeting at Bingley - Public meeting held in the Vestry at the Parish Church to take into consideration the propriety of adopting the Local Government Act of 1858 for Bingley, Harden and Micklethwaite except for the parts situate within the limits of the Bingley Improvement Act 1875 Vestry meeting reducing the qualification of Improvement Commissioners to £5 1899 Vestry appointment to Burial Board. Gradually the Vestry lost much of its power to the Bingley Improvement Commissioners and Local Government Board Bingley Improvement Commissioners 1847-1894 1844 Letter to Bingley residents to discuss application for the Improvement Act 1847 certain gentlemen connected with the town met at the Queens Head for the purpose of improving the lighting, paving cleansing ,sewerage ,draining of the streets in the town and neighbourhood of Bingley. They also looked after matters of public concern such as erecting of stalls in the market, public house hours of opening and licensing of hackney carriages. These unpaid, Bingley Improvement Commissioners included forty-one local property owners who were to be replaced annually by election. Originally they were formed as an association of property owners for the joint improvement of their property and in that role it was agreed that they should have certain public rights and responsibilities. They were generally made responsible for regulating and improving the town in a supervisory capacity. Maps of the time show a defined Bingley Improvement Act district which represented a small fraction of the town. This district was extended in 1867 In 1848 a Board of Health was formed as a result of the Public Health Act 1848. The Commissioners eventually responded in 1855 by appointing an Inspector of Nuisances and a Sanitary Inspector whilst also having a watching brief for tanneries, slaughterhouses, piggeries and stagnant pools. In 1850 The Commissioners purchased a fire-engine and were responsible for appointing a fire brigade. In 1853 The Commissioners introduced standards for cellar dwellings In 1854 The Commissioners discussed the need for sewerage schemes and plans In 1862 The Commissioners leased local waterworks and springs from their owners for a period of 30 years In 1866 The Press were admitted to Bingley Improvement Commissioners meetings In 1867 The Commissioners bought out the privately owned gasworks in Bingley for £26000 Between 1865 and 1878 there was considerable construction of new housing in the area around Park Road, Charles Street, Mornington Road, Clyde Street and Whitley Street. New Mills and Churches were also built in the area which was termed to be New Bingley. The Improvement Commissioners were involved in sanctioning plans for this building and ensuring that drains, pavements and roads were fit for purpose In 1871 The Commissioners introduced regulations for new buildings and guidelines for paving and draining of streets in new developments. These also stipulated that there must be on privy for every 2 houses 1890 The Commissioners leased the mechanics Institute as a Town Hall and 2 years later converted the old news room into a Council Chamber In 1890 ratepayers adopted the Free Libraries Act. The building was also converted to hold a Public Baths in the basement. Major contribution to the Library which opened in 1892 was made by local benefactor Alfred Sharp. In 1890 Bingley Cottage Hospital opened and was mainly supported by public subscriptions. Credit should be given to these unpaid members of the public who were instrumental in working for the improvement of the town. Their meetings eventually resulted in far reaching changes for the town. Local Government Board 1863-1894 On Saturday last at the Court House, Bingley the first election took place of a Local Government Board for the District of the Township of Bingley which comprises the whole of Bingley except the portion of the town of Bingley situate within the limits of the Bingley Improvement Act..... 1/10/1863 Bingley from 1863 was governed by a Local Board for the Outer Districts and the Improvement Commissioners for the town who had been elected once a year since the Bingley Improvement Act of 1847. The Public Health Act 1875 designated local government districts as urban sanitary districts, with the local board becoming the urban sanitary authority. The titles of the district and board did not change however, the local board assuming extra duties as a sanitary authority. May 1889 - Discussion on lands for treating sewage and the forming of a cemetery 1894 Local boards and local government districts were finally abolished by the Local Government Act 1894, when all urban sanitary districts became urban districts. A new Bingley Urban District Council was to govern the district. County Councils In 1888 County Councils were established. Urban District Councils 1894 The Parish Councils Act. Under this Act Urban and Rural District Councils were established. Improvement Commissioners came to an end. 1894 Elections for a new Bingley Urban District Council were held. The new district was divided into 7 Wards 1895 The Local Board was replaced by Bingley Outer Urban District Council 1898 Amalgamation of the Urban Districts of Bingley, Bingley Outer and Wilsden 1900 Street lighting was improved 1902. The new Bingley UDC built a Fire Station on Elm Tree Hill 1907 Mechanics Institute and Technical School vested in the Council 1908 Myrtle Grove estate was bought by the UDC 1914 Bingley Tramway was constructed Bingley Urban District Council - Examples of Officers - Circa 1936 Local Population - 21,540 • Clerk and Solicitor • Treasurer and Accountant -Rating and Valuation Officer • Medical Officer of Health • Health Visitor and School Nurse • Engineer and Surveyor • Architect • Gas Engineer • Electrical Engineer • Baths Superintendant • Sanitary Inspector • Water Manager • Manager of Sewage Disposal Works and Inspector of Trade Wastes • Fire Brigade Superintendant • Librarian • Head Master, Technical and Evening Institutes Members of District Council Divided 20 members and one Chairman amongst 7 Wards including Cullingworth and Wilsden One representative on the County Council Main Committees • Lighting and Tramways • Education and Libraries • Parks and Allotments • Transport and Fire Brigade • Water and Baths • Health, Maternity and Child Welfare • Highways and Buildings • Finance and General Purposes • Housing. Rating and Valuation Sub-Committee • Golf Course Sub-Committee Chronological table of local events Year Event 1821 - New lock up built next to Workhouse 1847 - Constitution of the First Bingley Improvement Commission 1847 - Railway from Shipley to Keighley and Bingley railway station opened 1848 - Bingley Gas Company formed (private) 1860 - Workhouse transferred to Keighley 1860 - New Courthouse and Police Station built at County expense in Myrtle Place 1864 - Harden Road reservoir completed 1867 - Gasworks purchased by Commissioners 1868 - Market (Saturday) transferred to Myrtle Place 1869 - Prince of Wales Park acquired 1870 -Public subscription 1870 - Mechanics Institute opened 1870 - Bingley Burial Board formed 1872 - Purchase of first steam Fire Engine 1881 - Lease of water from St Ives estate 1881- Bingley Water and Improvement Act passed 1882 - Market rights purchased from Lord of the Manor 1887 - Bingley Technical School erected - Public subscription 1887 - Central Cooperative Building opened on Main Street 1888 - Old Market Place and stocks removed to Prince of Wales Park 1888 - Elm Tree Hill removed for widening of Main Street 1889 - Bingley Technical School opened 1889 - West Riding County Council instituted 1890 - Mechanics Institute leased as Bingley Town Hall 1891 - Bingley Cottage Hospital opened - public subscription 1892 - Mechanics Institute reading room converted into Council Chamber 1892 - Opening of Public Library and Baths in Mechanics Institute 1892 - New Bingley railway station opened 1894 - Improvement Commissioners reconstituted as Urban District Council 1895 - First Sewage Disposal works opened at Dowley Gap 1898 - Urban Districts of Bingley, Bingley Outer and Wilsden amalgamated 1900 - Bingley Sewerage and Sewage Disposal Works constructed 1901 - Fire Station erected in Market Street 1903 - New road (Keighley Road) made through churchyard 1908 - Myrtle Park purchased 1911 - Bingley Training College for women teachers opened 1913 - Bingley Tramway opened 1913 - Bandstand Built in Myrtle Park 1914 - New Post Office erected in Main Street 1921 - Bowling Green and 3 Tennis Courts built in Myrtle Park 1923 - Bingley Education Week held 1924 - 2nd Bowling Green at Myrtle Park 1926 - Mechanics Institute handed over to Library 1926 - Myrtle Grove became the Town Hall 1927 - Princess Hall and Baths opened 1928 - Mini Golf Course and Refreshment Pavilion - Myrtle Park 1928 - St Ives Estate purchased from the Executors of the Ferrand Estate for £39k 1929 - Sports Turf Research Institute established at St Ives 1929- New Court House and Police Station 1931 - St Ives Golf Course opened 1932 - Electricity Offices on Main Street opened 1936 - Childrens Paddling Pool- Myrtle Park 1950 - Bingley UDC proposes By-Pass (Relief Road) 1973 - Library at Mechanics Institute closed and moved to Shopping Centre 1973 - New Library opened in Myrtle Walk Shopping Centre 1962 - Bingley Building Society Head Office opened 1970 - Major redevelopment of Central area of Bingley around Myrtle Grove Chapel Lane, Main Street and 7 Dials area 1974 - Bingley becomes part of Bradford Metropolitan District 1974 - West Yorkshire County Council (aka WYMCC) replaced West Riding CC 1974 - Old Holy Trinity church demolished 1975 - Dedication of new Holy Trinity church 1979 - Bingley Training College closed 1986 - The Metropolitan County Councils were abolished in 1986 with most of their functions being devolved to the individual boroughs, making them de facto unitary authorities 1991- Better Bingley Campaign 1991- Music at Myrtle introduced 1998- Pulse Party in the Park (Partnership with Bradford Met) 2002 - Mornington Road Methodist Church demolished 2002 - Bingley Technical School closed 2003 - Bingley Relief Road (the new A650) opened 2003 - Friends of St Ives founded 2007 - Bingley Music Live introduced 2008 - New Childrens Adventure Playground in Myrtle Park 2008- Myrtle Walk Shopping Precinct demolished 2009 - Friends of Bingley College Reunion 2009 - New Skate Park in Myrtle Park 2009 - 5-Rise Shopping Centre opened, replacing Myrtle Walk 2010 - Bradford and Bingley Offices closed 2011 - Bingley Hospital demolished 2011 - New Beckfoot School built, the old one demolished 2011 - Bingley Court Buildings closed 2012 - Post (Sorting) Office Closed 2012 - Friends of Prince of Wales Park founded 2013 - Proposal to close Swimming Pool 2013 - Bingley Conservative Club for sale 2014 - Future of Town Hall?2014 - Bingley Pubilc Toilets under threat of closure but, following a petition signed by over 2,000 people, Bradford Council has decided to keep the amenities open for four hours a day, 11am to 3pm, six days a week.
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 21:42:40 +0000
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