Preston Guardian, Saturday, August 23, 1862
OPENING OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY ROOM,
LYTHAM,
BAZAAR AND BALL FOR THE
LYTHAM VOLUNTEER
RIFLES.
Visitors to Lytham, during the present year, will have noticed, rising on
“
the Beach," in front of the unrivalled esplanade which is so great an attraction at
Lytham, an elegant structure, where has hitherto stood a few old-fashioned
cottages, such as Lytham in the days of our grandfathers mainly consisted of.
This new building is intended for the baths, arranged on the best plan, and, along
with them, large and handsome assembly rooms, the want of which has long been felt
in Lytham. The baths are not yet completed so as to be available to the public,
but the assembly-rooms being finished, they have this week been opened by a bazaar
and a ball, and certainly no more attractive way could have been hit upon for
encouraging the room.
The bazaar was in aid of the funds of the Lytham (29th Lancashire) Rifle Corps, for
the ladies of Lytham felt that if they did not, like the ladies of other towns, do
their share in the way of supporting the volunteer movement, their public spirit,
if not their patriotism, might be challenged. If a little later in the movement
than some other places, they have done their work well, and no one who visited the
new Lytham Assembly-rooms on Wednesday and Thursday, could fail to be struck with
the industry and the good taste which had been brought to bear on the work, which
had resulted in such a successful exhibition, and which evidently showed the warm
feeling of the fair sex for the patriotic movement.
The room itself is spacious and handsome, and on Wednesday morning, when it bad
undergone decoration at the hands of Mr. Bell, of Lytham, who, with Mr. Collinson
and Miss. Greaves, had arranged the numerous trophies, (lace, banners, arches,
festoons, &c., and when the handsomely trimmed and elegantly finished stalls
were opened to public view, the coup
d
’
oeil
was truly splendid.
There was a stall occupying the east end of the room, which was presided over by
Mrs. Talbot Clifton, who was assisted in the disposal of her wares by Miss Fludyer;
also by the youthful heir of the Clifton family. Her stall contained a number of
most valuable articles, contributed by her friends, of the character usually seen
at bazaars, and a large assortment of useful articles in wooden ware, from King's
Cliff, Northamptonshire; also a selection of Minton's china ware; and some
exquisite specimens of needlework.
Stall No. 2 was presided over by Mrs. Fair, Mrs. T. Fair, and the Misses Fair.
Among one the contributions to this well-furnished stall was a small bed, complete
in all its appointments; toilet articles, in great variety; elegant needlework
fender stools, in walnut frames; contributions from Canada; fruit, in waxwork;
vases, with paper flowers; cases of moths, &c., &c.
Stall No. 3 had been provided by Mrs. Stevenson, Miss Stevenson, and Miss
Hincksman, who were assisted in the disposal of their wares by Miss Macdonald, and
Miss Fletcher, of
Leyland. They had amassed a vast quantity of tasteful articles in needlework,
including an excellent copy of " Feeding the horse;" a particularly elegant chair,
made up in walnut; a vast number of water colour drawings; some chaste specimens
of artificial flowers; some tasteful screens, in needle work, bead work, etc.;
various specimens of papier-m
â
ch
é
work; travelling caps, smoking caps, and an immense variety of other articles, to
use an auctioneer's phrase, " too numerous to mention."
At Stall No. 4 were Mrs. Robinson, Misses Robinson, Miss Baldwin, and Miss Shepherd
Birley, who disposed of wax-. work in great variety, screens and cushions,
exquisite specimens of needlework, dolls in great variety, including one in the
perfect costume of a bride, and which, consequently, bad great admirers,
illuminated printing, cases of moths, fender stools and other needlework, ottomans,
photographs in great variety, drawings, cushions, and lots of other articles found
chiefly at bazaars.
The refreshment stall was presided over by Mrs. Ashton, Miss Ansdell, Mr. Wilson,
and Mr. F. Morley, and here were provided all the delicacies of the season, served
in good style by the obliging
“
waiters." But not only at the stall were the good things served; the lower
assembly-room was fitted up as a
salle a manger
, and here, during the day, luncheons, dinners, &c., were provided. Bountiful
was the provision, which had been given for the benefit of the bazaar funds by the
hotel keepers, wine merchants, butchers, provision dealers, &c., of Lytham, for
this stall, like the others, bore testimony to the good will entertained by the
inhabitants of Lytham to the corps.
We must confess that if there were any disposition on the part of the Lytham corps
to retire from the position they have assumed, they could not well do it now after
such a manifestation of the good will and good wishes of their friends and
neighbours towards them.
On the opening of the bazaar in the morning the attendance of visitors was
numerous, and included not merely the leading inhabitants of Lytham, but of
Kirkham, and the villages of the neighbourhood. In addition to the ordinary buying
"and selling there were numerous raffles, and in the getting up of these lotteries
the ladies exerted themselves most successfully, for so persuasive were
they
in their appeals, so
winning were their ways, that there was no resisting them. So successful were they
that when stock was taken on Thursday, evening it was found that after paying the
expenses there will remain a clear profit of above
£
500 to the funds of the corps, and many articles remain unsold.
We ought not to omit mentioning that in addition to the ordinary means of "bringing
grist to the mill" Mr. Tyrer's marionettes gave several performances, and various
enterprising young gentlemen amused themselves, and added to the funds of the
volunteers, by knocking Aunt Sally's pipe out.
On Thursday evening, a ball was held in the Assembly-room, at which a fashionable
company assembled. Nearly a hundred persons were present. It passed off most
agreeably and successfully, and, what is more to the purpose, added to the already
large proceeds of the bazaar.
During the bazaar, on Wednesday and Thursday, the band of the Lytham Rifles was
stationed outside the assembly-room, discoursing appropriate music, and by so doing
added to the liveliness of the scene.
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