The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-17 00:00:00

TREAT TO WORKMEN.

On Saturday last the workmen and hands em.
ployed by Mr. William J. Turner, at the Leather,
Parchment, and Glue Works of this town, were
treated by their employer to a day's recreation.
It may not be uninteresting to many of our
readers to give a short descriptive sketch of Mr.
Turney's establishment. The leather and parch-
' ment works consist of a block of building
slightly irregular, which stands upon about three-
quarters of an sere of ground, and is 3 and 4
stories high. The centre of the works is entirely
of an ornamental character, grassed and laid out
with shrubs, and upon entering presents a beau-
tiful appearance, after the style of a gentleman's
private garden. There is a fountain playing in
the centre of the works, with a fish pond. The
works are regulated by a clock situated in the
south-west wing, and the average number of
hands employed is 190, so that something like
600 persons are depending on these works for
their maintenance. The works were commenced
in 1867, and completed in eighteen months.
At nine o'clock the workmen began to assem-
ble at the works, andishortly after a number of
breaks, wagonettes, 'bases and private carriages,
numbering in all seventeen, entered the works,
and were soon loaded. The Worcestershire
Yeomanry Band (under the direction of Mr. W.
Field) struck up a lively march, and the proces-
sion was soon formed. On arriving in the High-
street, the Fife and Drum Band (under Sergeant-
Major Walker) struck up a lively air, and the
procession commenced to move through High-
street and Kidderminster-street, en route to
Stourport. Each wagonette and break had flags
and banners, and as the party passed through
High-street, thousands of persons were present
to witness the procession. On arriving at Stour.
port the party drove up to Mr. Cartwright's, the
Swan Hotel. The procession re-formed, and,
headed by the bands, marched through the town
to afield selected for them adjoining the Severn.
Unfortunately, at this time the rain descended
fast, and they had to take refuge in a large tent
on the ground, erected for their convenience.
Rain having ceased and old " Sol " came out, a
cricket match was commenced, and play con-
tinued until half.past two o'clock, when dinner
was announced, and 257 persons sat down to a
substantid repast; after which the health of
Mr. Turney, their respected employer, was hear-
tily given, amid tremendous applause. The
dinner supplied by the host was first-rate, there
being an abundance of the good things of this
life.

Dinner being over, a large number of the party
wended their way to the cricket field. Cricket
was resumed, and football,dancing, and a variety
of old English games were indulged in, whilst
a portion of them preferred to remain on the
bowling-green, and the Cavalry Band during the
dinner and on the green played a fine selection
of overtures and popular music, which gained
them considerable applause. It was intended for
the party to have returned home at seven o'clock,
but at that time rain again descended fast, and
it was eight before they left. Previous to doing
so, the bands played lively airs amid great ap-
plause from the Stourport residents, who were
loud in their expressions for the welfare of the
visitors, and hoped on some future occasion that
they would again see them at Stourport.
The party then commenced to return, the
bands playing at intervals, and arrived at Stour.
bridge at ten o'clock, where hearty cheers were
again given for their employer. The band hav-
ing played "The Fine Old English Gentleman,"
concluded with the National Anthem, and the
workpeopte retired to their various homes,
highly pleased with the day's out, nothing hav-
ing occurred to mar the day's amusements.
We must not forget to mention that the flags
and banners were supplied by Mr. E. Stringer,
and the wagonettes, &c., by Mr. Parkes and the
Talbot Hotel Company (Limited), which gave
great satisfaction.