Ashton's Market Hall Bell Unveiling
Unveiling of Ashton's Old Market Hall Bell
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Oh ye, oh ye, oh ye, it is today my honourable duty as the Town Crier of Tameside to make the following proclamation Executive Council Leader, Councillors of Tameside, distinguished and honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen it is indeed with the greatest of pleasure that I welcome you all here to Ashton’s fabulous Ashton Market Hall.
Ladies and Gentlemen Councillor Alan Whitehead, I thank you.
Morning everybody, Executive Leader of the Council, other Council Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, Market Traders especially.
Can I say firstly how proud and pleased I am that I have been asked to do this unveiling today. As an Ashton Member as Barry says for over twenty years and Chair of the Town Centre Steering Group for many of those years, and especially as a true born and bred town centre Ashtonian this is a memorable occasion for me.
Ashton’s historic Market Hall was devastated by a tragic fire as we all know in the early hours of Tuesday the 25th of May almost five years ago 2004. For those of us who were out in the early hours that morning with tears in our eyes and feeling that the heart was dripping, burning out of the centre of the town, it was a very sad occasion and for many of us this place was the centre of the universe, I don’t think a day went by without an Ashtonian walked through this place at some time or other.
The Market Hall first opened on this site in July 1830 it had been previously round the Old Cross area near the Parish Church and Ashton’s Market Charter was granted we believe in 1284. The Market Hall was again extended in 1852 and then in 1867 when the clock tower was built on this site where we are now. Further extension took place in 1881 and there was further work done on the Bow Street and Market Street side in 1930.
An original clock was completely and utterly destroyed during the fire, this bell hung in the tower and faithfully and accurately announced the time for many years, that’s when the clock was right, the damage caused from the bell when it fell to the ground could be clearly seen on the bell. It’s presented here today following completion and refurbishment of the Market Hall as a stark reminder of that tragic event but equally it’s a symbol of the Council’s dedication and commitment to the quality of the restoration of this building and what it stands for.
There will be a plaque erected later this week telling the story of the bell and the fire, then that will be part of the Council’s programme of street art and works, here throughout the Borough. Well I think we call all say now that the heart is back in Ashton, it’s beating strongly, after many sceptics said it never would, I’m told by the traders that trading over Christmas was excellent.
I believe we’re once again attracting coach tours to our town from as far afield as Yorkshire, Preston, Southport, Blackpool, Wolverhampton, North Wales and many more, so long may that continue. So can I thank the Leader of the Council for all the support to Ashton, I thank Councillor Kieran Quinn and his projects being lead by Peter Rawson who actually achieved this magnificent transformation I think it’s absolutely wonderful.
Applause