The Strand Enclosure

This piece of ornamental ground, situate in the centre of the town, and enclosed with iron pallisading, was opened to the public on April 6th, 1871. On this site stood the old Market-house, which was erected in 1830 and taken down in 1869, when the present more convenient market-range was constructed. The land was generously conveyed by the Hon. Mark Rolle as a free-gift to the town for the purpose to which it has been put, and forms an agreeable promenade and resting-place to all-comers during sun-rise and sun-set. The ground was enclosed and laid out partly at the expense of the ratepayers and partly by the aid of public subscriptions, the burden of raising the latter having been undertaken by Mr Geo. Foster, of this town, whose ever-ready willingness to further promote the interests of the place was further exemplified by his voluntarily guranteeing the sum of £150 towards the expenses. Many gifts of shrubs and trees have recently been made to it by various inhabitants, and when in bloom with the newly-planted grove of sycamore, chestnut, and other variegated trees, forms one of the prettiest pleasure-grounds that any town can boast of. It is kept up and maintained under the care and management of the Board of Health.

[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]