The sun continues to shine, creating a warmth absent for most of the summer, so the inclination is to abandon plans and enjoy. I had some unease arising from a prior enquiry about my visit to Jarrow Town Hall but in fact the occasion proved memorable because of the contact re-established.
Jarrow was first created as a local authority only in 1875 by Queen Victoria, having been created a town by the decision of Charles Palmer to bring a shipyard and the workers from Ireland and Scotland to the banks of the Tyne. The first election was held on 10th August 1976 and Mr Palmer, having been elected to the South Ward become the first Mayor. Without St Paul's and the Monastery it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Jarrow would been renamed Palmerstown.
It was not until 1899 that the decision was taken to build a town hall and the foundation stone was then laid by ten Sir Charles Palmer MP in 1902 and the present building was completed in 1904 at a cost of £12000 The building is classical renaissance style finished with red terracotta and red brick. The main staircase is of marble with oak panelling. The Council chamber at the front of the building on the first floor is of fumed oak and red morocco and the stained glass windows were gifted by Lord Northbourne, Sir Charles Palmer and the Town Clerk. The building also housed the County Court reached by a separate entrance. The Town Hall Clock was only added in 1951 at a cost of £1000.
The building is present used by council department providing direct services to the public and by Councillors representing Jarrow wards and the Mid Tyne Parliamentary constituency. From 1974 the chain of office of the Jarrow Mayor has been worn by the deputy Mayor of South Tyneside. I did not make enquiries as to whether the resentment at losing separate municipal status along with Hebburn and the Boldens which also covered Whitburn and Cleadon as second tier authorities to Durham County Council has changed over time, but there is no question that the development of private housing will change the political complexion in the future, but hopefully not the outlook where political representatives are regarded by the public as servants to get things done or put right 365 days and nights a year.
After the visit and a cup of coffee there were more photos to be taken, having been reminded that the 65 town centre pubs had been reduced to half a dozen and then a visit to the Supermarket after a second and more leisurely look at the shopping centre which has a greater range of shops and stores including Woolworths and Wilkinson's, but not a McDonalds or similar, but at least one Italian bistro with one line of well used outside tables. The Old Ellison's has become a bingo centre and I did learn that the new Ellison's retains a male only room while the Community Centre has full stage performance facilities.
My anticipation that Morrison's would meet my food shopping needs better than that at Sunderland together with Azda near my home was more than justified and I had stayed up the previous evening ensuring that the freezer was defrosted and ready for restocking. The purchases were mixed between those designed for healthy eating and controlling weight to self indulgence. One love is stuffed shoulder of lamb which even when crisp has lots of edible fat. I have resisted for almost a year in which my weight has maintained at 16 stone and along way from the target of 14. Another is the kipper and a pair caught off the North East Coast would do for tea, as did an experiment of mussels. I have enjoyed the modest winkle since childhood but these like peanuts are best heavily salted and which has become taboo, but the mussel like the oyster has never appealed. They were the most expensive of fish buys and were OK but nothing special or justifying the price. Perhaps I will have a go at oysters, but not immediately. I did have a snack of some parcels of cream cheese with smoked salmon on crackers, also costing more than the kippers, trout bought fresh and frozen, or the lamb. Other buys which should have been resisted included chopped beef in a rich peppercorn sauce, one portion eaten for Saturday lunch, some chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and cheese and a penne bake in more rich sauce. There will have to be a lot more compensatory walking
There was an exciting afternoon before the television as the English cricket team bowled out India for under 200 runs and then after a shaky start in which two quick wickets were lost the match was won and I was able to set off to visit my mother for late afternoon and evening and the vital European finals qualifying game against Israel at Wembley. I was able to watch this at my mother's bedside and then during the evening meal for the patients after which they were prepared for the night, I moved to the day room where some patients and other relatives required to vacate wards enjoyed parts of the second half of a game which was won 3.0 with some great goals and several bad misses.
The evening was spent writing including a draft letter to the author of a New Work, play in progress.
Jarrow was first created as a local authority only in 1875 by Queen Victoria, having been created a town by the decision of Charles Palmer to bring a shipyard and the workers from Ireland and Scotland to the banks of the Tyne. The first election was held on 10th August 1976 and Mr Palmer, having been elected to the South Ward become the first Mayor. Without St Paul's and the Monastery it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Jarrow would been renamed Palmerstown.
It was not until 1899 that the decision was taken to build a town hall and the foundation stone was then laid by ten Sir Charles Palmer MP in 1902 and the present building was completed in 1904 at a cost of £12000 The building is classical renaissance style finished with red terracotta and red brick. The main staircase is of marble with oak panelling. The Council chamber at the front of the building on the first floor is of fumed oak and red morocco and the stained glass windows were gifted by Lord Northbourne, Sir Charles Palmer and the Town Clerk. The building also housed the County Court reached by a separate entrance. The Town Hall Clock was only added in 1951 at a cost of £1000.
The building is present used by council department providing direct services to the public and by Councillors representing Jarrow wards and the Mid Tyne Parliamentary constituency. From 1974 the chain of office of the Jarrow Mayor has been worn by the deputy Mayor of South Tyneside. I did not make enquiries as to whether the resentment at losing separate municipal status along with Hebburn and the Boldens which also covered Whitburn and Cleadon as second tier authorities to Durham County Council has changed over time, but there is no question that the development of private housing will change the political complexion in the future, but hopefully not the outlook where political representatives are regarded by the public as servants to get things done or put right 365 days and nights a year.
After the visit and a cup of coffee there were more photos to be taken, having been reminded that the 65 town centre pubs had been reduced to half a dozen and then a visit to the Supermarket after a second and more leisurely look at the shopping centre which has a greater range of shops and stores including Woolworths and Wilkinson's, but not a McDonalds or similar, but at least one Italian bistro with one line of well used outside tables. The Old Ellison's has become a bingo centre and I did learn that the new Ellison's retains a male only room while the Community Centre has full stage performance facilities.
My anticipation that Morrison's would meet my food shopping needs better than that at Sunderland together with Azda near my home was more than justified and I had stayed up the previous evening ensuring that the freezer was defrosted and ready for restocking. The purchases were mixed between those designed for healthy eating and controlling weight to self indulgence. One love is stuffed shoulder of lamb which even when crisp has lots of edible fat. I have resisted for almost a year in which my weight has maintained at 16 stone and along way from the target of 14. Another is the kipper and a pair caught off the North East Coast would do for tea, as did an experiment of mussels. I have enjoyed the modest winkle since childhood but these like peanuts are best heavily salted and which has become taboo, but the mussel like the oyster has never appealed. They were the most expensive of fish buys and were OK but nothing special or justifying the price. Perhaps I will have a go at oysters, but not immediately. I did have a snack of some parcels of cream cheese with smoked salmon on crackers, also costing more than the kippers, trout bought fresh and frozen, or the lamb. Other buys which should have been resisted included chopped beef in a rich peppercorn sauce, one portion eaten for Saturday lunch, some chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and cheese and a penne bake in more rich sauce. There will have to be a lot more compensatory walking
There was an exciting afternoon before the television as the English cricket team bowled out India for under 200 runs and then after a shaky start in which two quick wickets were lost the match was won and I was able to set off to visit my mother for late afternoon and evening and the vital European finals qualifying game against Israel at Wembley. I was able to watch this at my mother's bedside and then during the evening meal for the patients after which they were prepared for the night, I moved to the day room where some patients and other relatives required to vacate wards enjoyed parts of the second half of a game which was won 3.0 with some great goals and several bad misses.
The evening was spent writing including a draft letter to the author of a New Work, play in progress.
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