And one who had to pay the piper to a heavy tune in the
celebrated Wood case.
_Dudley, May 20th, 1852._
The result of this severe Parochial Contest was that the 1d. Church
Rate was carried by a majority of 98 votes. This contest was the death
warrant for Church Rates in Dudley.
April 21st, 1852. A cab stand was established in the Market place (by
Mr. William Beddard, of the Castle Hotel), a long wanted convenience.
The two parsonage houses of St. John's and St. James' Churches were
built this year by subscriptions; Lord Ward giving the ground and £100
donation to each house.
May 28th, 1852. The Churchwardens of St. Edmund's Church (Messrs. C. F.
G. Clark and Thomas Danks) called a Vestry Meeting of the inhabitants,
for the purpose of adopting the most efficient means for erecting a
Parsonage House for St. Edmund's parish. A very handsome subscription
list was commenced at this meeting, which ultimately ended in the
erection of the present St. Edmund's Parsonage House, at a cost of
upwards of £1,600. Mr. C. F. G. Clark exerted himself very zealously in
this necessary business.
June, 1852. The state of the political horizon in London, and the
distrust and uneasiness which prevailed amongst all classes, and
more especially in reference to the veiled intentions of the Emperor
Nicholas in Russia, to conquer and add the Turkish Empire to his
already vast dominions, pointed to the necessity of an appeal to the
constituents, to ascertain how the British pulse beat upon these
momentous questions.
The following address of Mr. Benbow to his constituents shews that he
thought "coming events cast their shadows before them:"