Builth Cottage Hospital, A Centenary History 1897-1997, by Gwen Davies
Foreword | Acknowledgements | Prologue Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6
Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Epilogue
The League of Hospital Friends, by Betts Pugh
Builth, Queen of the Wye, by Jim Davies
Chapter Two - "The
Laying of Foundation Stone 10th June 1896"
Great was the excitement in town when it was learned that. at last,
an agreement had been signed and the building of the new hospital
was about to begin. Everyone involved themselves with fundraising
and many organisations, such as the Builth Choral Society, gave
concerts in aid of the “Hospital Building Fund”. It
was fortunate that “Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Year” was
to be celebrated in 1897, as the proceeds of many events, making
that occasion, were given to the hospital fund.
As soon as the contract was signed, the work was put in hand,
and the trustees turned their attention to organising the ceremony
of the laying of the foundation stones. A day which they
determined to make into an unforgettable occasion, to be equalled
only by the actual opening of the hospital.
With the agreement of Margaret and Elizabeth, it was decided that
Wednesday 10th June 1896 should be the “Foundation Stone
Laying Day”. Wednesday being the half-day closing of
the local shops would mean that all the trade’s people could
attend. The local clergymen were to be invited to take part
in the ceremony and the foundation stones were to be laid jointly
by the Misses Powell. Under each stone would be placed a
time capsule containing coins, and copes of the Times Newspaper
and the Western Mail. It is said that, when alterations
were taking place to build the first Out-Patients Department, of
the foundation stones were inadvertently dug up, the t9ime capsule
disturbed and had to hastily re-buried!
The day of Wednesday 10th June 1896 was a brilliant summer
day; the sun shone brightly and it seemed that all Builth
had turned out to see the Foundation Stones of their new
hospital being lad. The
clergy were there in force as were all the leading figures in the
town and district. It is not difficult to picture the scene
as it then was, with a steady stream of people trudging up the hill,
ladies in long skirts and well decorated hats, accompanied by the
men in their best suits and bowler hats, to join others who had arrived
by pony and trap. Such was the importance of the occasion
and such interest generated, that no one was going to miss being
there.
The Ceremony
The Rev William Williams, Chairman of the Committee, took charge
of the proceedings and made a lengthy opening speech, saying, that
although the committee had had varying opinions on some aspects,
they had met that day on the common ground of humanity in connection
with the building of a hospital to relieve the sickness of their
fellow men.
He paid tribute to the late John Davies, who had been a dear friend
to ?Builth, whose wish it had been for the town to have a hospital;
and to John’s sisters-in-law, Margaret and Elizabeth Powell,
who had carried out his spoken wishes, and, although nothing had
been written down to compel them to do so, they had done what many
others would not have done, and put aside the magnificent sum of £6,000
out of the money John Davies had left them, to erect a hospital
for the benefits of Builth and the surrounding district. The
Rev Williams then reminded everyone that although this gift had
been most generous, a hospital was a very expensive institution
to keep up and there would be a great need for donations and subscriptions
to be continually maintained. He further suggested that
a certain Sunday each year should be known as “Hospital
Sunday” when the collection taken in every church and chapel
on that day, should be given for the benefit of the Hospital. (This
is fact was done and continued for many years.)
The Vicar of Builth, the Rev H A Crosbie, offered up a prayer
asking that the building and all connected with it might be blessed. He
then invited Miss Margaret Powell to lay the first memorial stone. This
stone with words:
Laid by Miss M Powell
10th June 1896
is to be found incorporated into the building on the right hand
side of the main entrance. Before Miss Elizabeth Powell was
asked to lay the second stone, a prayer was offered up by the Rev
Lewis Beynon, Minister of Horeb Congregational Church, after which
Miss Elizabeth laid the stone engraved with the words:
Laid by Miss E Powell
10th June 1896
This stone to be seen on the right hand side of the entrance to
the Out-Patients Department.
The two ladies were then presented with a silver trowel engraved
as follows:
Presented to the Misses Powell on their laying
Memorial Stones of the Builth Cottage Hospital
10th June 1896
(This trowel can now be seen in a glass case hanging on the wall
in the entrance hall of the Hospital. It is of interest
to note that it disappeared for many years but reappeared again
in 1951 when it was presented to the then Matron, Matron Dodds,
by Mr Milward, Willerby, Llandrindod Wells, for display in the
hospital).
Mr Luther Jones thanked the Misses Powell for the part they had
taken in the ceremony, and the townspeople for attending in such
large numbers. Mr C A Price replied on behalf of the ladies. Everyone
involved left the site knowing that they had witnessed an historic
occasion and happy that, at last, their long wait for their own
hospital, would soon be over.
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