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That a bottle containing some of the current coins of the realm and newspapers be
provided for placing in the stone, together with a parchment scroll containing a short
description of the day's proceedings, and a list of the Members and Officers of the Vestry.
The Committee also reported that their attention had been called to the excavations for
the foundations of the buildings, the depths of which according to the specifications had
apparently been deviated from; that they had attended on the site and met the District
Suveyor, Architect and Builder thereon, that the Architect explained the exact alterations
in the foundations which he proposed to make, and in which Mr. Stenning, the District
Surveyor, concurred:—
"The main trenches and the concrete thereto to office block to be spread from
5 to 8 ft., the foundation of Tower to be spread from 18 to 25 ft., the pier holes to
Hall to be spread 9 ins. all round the bottom of all trenches, and the concrete to
same to be placed at an average of 12 ft. 6ins. from ground line instead of 14 ft.,"
which he considered quite satisfactory and would take all responsibility, and stated that the
reason of the proposed alterations was that the ballast was found to be of a higher level
than was anticipated, and that in his opinion the present bottom was quite good enough and
would be no better further down, being perfectly reliable and quite sufficient for the
superstructure and as good as pile driving, and in view of Mr. Murray's explanation, the
Yestry
Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Committee, to leave the matter in the
Architect's hands to carry out as suggested.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone by Mrs. Carr-Gomm, the Lady of the
Manor, took place on Tuesday, 17th September, 1805, at 3 o'clock, and the company present
included amongst others the following:—
F. C. Carr-Gomm, Esq.,
Hubert Carr-Gomm, Esq.,
W. H. C. Payne, Esq.,
Stafford Still, Esq. (Steward of the Gomm Estate),
Rev, Canon Beck, M.A., J.P. (Chairman, and ex-officio Member of the Ventry).
Mrs. Beck,