Assembly rooms in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were key public places of entertainment for the upper classes and were vital to a town’s social life and reputation. The Assembly Rooms in Haverfordwest were no exception. A minute book of the Assembly Rooms Committee held at Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies (PALS) is relevant to two of this year’s Focus Week themes: #Decisions and #Disco. It reveals insights into the key functions of the building between 1863 and 1888 and what was required to keep the Victorian equivalent of discos going.
Location & Layout
Built in the eighteenth century on the site of the White Hart Inn on St Mary’s Street, Haverfordwest, the Assembly Rooms had entertained Prince William (later William IV) in 1785. The premises included a supper room, cloakroom, music room, drill room, and a cardroom. There was a sitting room in the basement near the kitchen, whilst some of the rooms on the first floor were rented as lodgings. But the focal point was undoubtedly the ball room on the ground floor. At the back of the committee book is a plan (right) of the building.
Not-so Humble Beginnings
The first meeting of the committee was held on Saturday 5th September 1863. It was ‘carried unanimously that a committee be formed for the management of the rooms’. Those present were some of the wealthiest men in the county:
- John Henry Scourfield (1808-1876) was the Member of Parliament for Haverfordwest, which was a position he had held since 1852, He would continue in this role until 1868 when he was elected MP for Pembrokeshire. Previously, he had been High Sheriff in 1833 and was also Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, as well as Chairman of the Quarter Sessions of Pembroke.
- James Higgon of Scolton Manor.
- Robert Pavin Davies esquire to the Colby estate.
- Edward Taylor Massey of Cottesmore House.
- Edward Eaton Evans (right). He was a local solicitor who became one of Haverfordwest’s best known figures during his life. This included being elected Mayor in 1888. The committee book is from his collection at PALS that the assembly book can be found as he was the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.
Between them, these men either owned extensive land or were involved in the management of the wider affairs of the community.
Events
The Assembly Rooms were predominantly used by the gentry to host parties after special events in town, such as the yearly Pembrokeshire Hunt or Steeplechase, the Assizes in which members of the court would attend, or Pembrokeshire Militia gatherings.
The events featured in the Assembly Rooms Committee minute book were nothing new, with there being a long tradition of hosting balls. In 1846, the Pembrokeshire Herald & General Advertiser reported that around 220 ladies and gentlemen had attended a Bachelor’s Ball. Apparently, it showed exactly why ‘Pembrokeshire has always been celebrated for the beauty of its ladies and their taste in dress’. Meanwhile, in 1855 there was a military ball which was decorated with heraldry, hanging bayonets, and evergreens.
When balls weren’t being held, the building was used for other purposes. Mr Ballieu, a professor of dancing, established a dancing academy there in the early 1850s to give lessons ‘in the new and fashionable Dances in vogue’ (left). The ample space that the building offered was also taken advantage of to host auctions of household furniture as well as meetings for local societies. For instance, at a meeting on Saturday 16th October, the Pembrokeshire Cricket Club was formed.
The first event that was mentioned in the committee book was a hunt ball. At a meeting on Saturday 17th October 1863, the committee resolved to take up the offer of a Mrs Rogers to provide refreshments, music would be provided by Mr Ribbon, and the price of tickets was set at 3 shillings a ticket for ladies whilst gentlemen would have to pay double.
It was not however, without disagreement. In 1870 there was a dispute over what band should play at future balls. The aforementioned Mr Ribbon became the usual performing band. However, at a Winter Assize ball on 3rd January 1870, the stewards had hired a band from Carmarthen. To make matters worse, this was done without consulting the committee. So, later that month the committee officially ordered that Ribbon’s Quadrille Band should play at the forthcoming ball.
Later that year another steward, Mr Dudley, complained about the quality of music at a ball in August and recommended that better music be found for all future events. In response, the committee addressed a letter to him in disapproval of his views, explaining that more money would be needed to hire a different band. They also reminded Mr Dudley that the ball, including its music, was held ‘at the wishes of a few ladies and gentlemen, and not at the instance of the committee.’ Again, it was resolved that the Ribbons Band would continue to be ‘the Band of the Committee’. But the stewards would be at liberty to provide other music if they wished, adding rather bluntly, ‘at their own cost.’ This seems to have resolved the matter and indeed no other complaint can be found in the minute book.
In regard to what took place at these events the most helpful type of source are newspapers. Many of these can be found on Welsh Newspapers Online. The ‘discos’ ranged from a gathering of forty eight (twenty ladies and twenty six men) at the Pembrokeshire Artillery Militia ball in May 1869, to over 150 guests headed by Admiral Stokes at the Annual Hunt Ball in November 1884. Sometimes, the list of attendees was printed in the article, which provides a helpful and fascinating source for family history researchers. Such events could be the pinnacle of the social calendar for the local gentry, and so the printing of names would further cement their status. Especially as some were invitation only.
The newspapers also felt it worthwhile to report on the quality of the music and the food. As just like modern discos, these can make or break the mood! The most common name featured in regard to music was a Mr Johnson. At an April 1884 Subscription Ball he was the bandmaster of the Royal Pembrokeshire Artillery Militia, and they played ‘a choice programme of music.’ At the Annual Hunt Ball the same year, he contributed to ‘a very pleasant evening. ‘ His praises were still being sang four years later at the same event.
As for refreshments, Mrs Ellis of the Castle Hotel (just down the road from the Assembly Rooms), ‘catered with her usual excellence’ at the Hunt Ball in December 1885, which followed on from her success the previous year. Taking her place in 1887 was Mr George John, whose catering ‘gave every satisfaction.’ He was again present at the Haverfordwest Hunt Invitational Ball in 1888, where he ‘excelled himself, the tables being artistically decorated with rare plants and flowers’.
Repairs
The priority of the committee was the maintenance of the building. In their second meeting, a subscription was agreed towards repairing the rooms (right). £45 and 10 shillings would be raised by this. This allowed them to commence repairs to the outside of the building, as resolved in the next meeting on Saturday 3rd October 1863.
Click below for all the repairs that were undertaken.
List of Repairs 1863-1888:
- Saturday 9th April 1864 – it was agreed that the roof should be re-slated and its lead renewed. Furthermore, a small door was added that led into the cardroom. In all, this cost them £47 and 21 shillings.
- Saturday 6th August 1864 – A new grate was ordered to be placed in the downstairs sitting room. Eaton Evans was directed to obtain tenders from the principal painters in the town to repaint the rooms. The following week, the tender of Mr William Morgan was accepted by the committee for the painting.
- Saturday 24th September 1864 – Chandeliers were ordered to be repaired at a cost of £16 and 10 shillings. Finger plates were directed to be placed on doors of the ball, tea, and reception rooms and the door in the front passage to be covered with red baize.
- Saturday 16th January 1869 – it was decided to light the Assembly Rooms with gas, which the previous week’s minutes reveal cost around £40. The idea had first been proposed five years earlier, when Eaton Evans was directed to obtain an estimate on Saturday 30th January 1864.
- Saturday 16th January 1869 – three new 12 light star chandeliers were also ordered at a cost of £7 and 7 shillings each. It was noted that these should be like the ones at Pembroke Assembly Rooms. Like the gas, this had also been first proposed in 1864.
- Saturday 18th October 1879 – the roof was to be repaired where absolutely necessary and boughs cleaned so as to make the rooms watertight. Rooms were also to be insured against fire damage in the amount of £1500.
In one of their last meetings, a list of claims against the committee is given. This shows that between 1875 and 1887, over £30 was spent on maintenance and repair. The majority of this was on an ironmonger, but money was also spent on a mason and a coal merchant. In total, the committee owed £111, 1 shilling, and 4 pence at the end of the year in 1887. This would be the equivalent of over £12,333 today.
Tenants
The committee decided at the first meeting that an advertisement was to be inserted into two local newspapers in order to find a tenant. Until then, permission was given to Mr R.H. Harvey to use the rooms for a singing class. No doubt this was intended to raise funds as well as ensure the rooms were not left in an idle state.
After this advertisement, they did indeed receive an application from a Mr Edward Ribbon. Whether it was accepted or not is unclear, as in January 1864 they again resolved to ‘make enquiries as to whether a respectable tenant could be found for the rooms above’ for half rates and for the card and tea rooms to be used as lodgings. They did not have success until April of that year, when it was unanimously agreed that ‘Miss Cole of H[averford]west be accepted as tenant’.
The terms agreed (right) included the following:
- Rent free but had to pay water rates and ½ taxes.
- To keep the rooms properly clean and aired.
- To be allowed 3 tons of coal for firing in the ball room.
Overall, it seemed a pretty good deal! The one prohibition was access to the ball room, which was considered the exclusive reserve of the committee. On the 1871 Census she is recorded living there with her step mother and a servant.
By the end of the next year however, she had moved out. As on Saturday 14th September 1872 it was agreed to let the rooms to Miss Phillips of Tower Hill, on the same terms. Within a month, Miss Phillips had let some of the rooms out as lodging, and so it was proposed she pay the full rate and taxes. She was also requested to ‘be more careful as to cleaning the rooms.’ Clearly, Miss Phillips left a lot to be desired!
Later Life
In April 1924, St Mary’s Church acquired the Assembly Rooms to house working parties, parochial council meetings, and choir practices. After that it became referred to as the Church Hall. It was used for functions until 1970 when it was declared unsafe. It was converted into flats in 1997.
Blue plaque aside, there is little to mark the building out now as a place of previous grandeur and importance. But the glimpse into its maintenance and organisation of events offered by the minute book and newspapers shows the that it was a key part of the town’s social life.
With an assemblage of eager dancers, delicious food, and quality music, the events held would rival any modern disco.
By Elliot Macmillan
Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies
Sources & Further Information
- D/EE/8/20, Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies, ‘Minutes of the Assembly Rooms Committee’
- Welsh Newspapers, The National Library of Wales
- The Assembly Rooms, Haverfordwest Civic Society, (2017).
- Simon Hancock, A Photographic History of Victorian and Edwardian Haverfordwest 1860-1914 (2010)
- Dillwyn Miles, A Short History of Haverfordwest (2007)
- Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies Catalogue