1) Female witness at the Inquiry 2) Ant Steel with Mayor, Cllr Anthony Rowlands 3) Jacob Bell
Last Friday (18th August) Mayor, Cllr. Anthony Rowlands dropped by to see how the new mural on the north wall of Sovereign Way, off Market Place, was progressing.
The mural, generously sponsored by Christopher Place, is part of a cooperative project between Conservation 50, St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society, BID and St Albans City & District Council, to revive, the historic alleyways of St Albans. The artist Ant Steel, who is the Artist in Residence at the Cathedral, has been commissioned to recreate images from St Albans' great election scandal.
In 1851 a corrupt parliament candidate, Jacob Bell, bribed over 300 voters. It all happened down Sovereign Way, off Market Place. Entering a door on the south side of the passageway, members of the electorate were offered refreshments and then called to go upstairs to meet the candidate's agent. There the agent would turn his back and the voter could help himself (only men of a certain property status could vote then) to a sovereign. The scandal became exposed and an official inquiry was set up at what is now the Museum+Gallery, which resulted in all of St Albans being punished, as the constituency was not allowed an MP for over 30 years.
Once the mural is completed St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society will provide an information board that explains ‘the scandal’.
The Mayor said, This is a stunningly innovative public art project. Ant Steel has created a suitably colourful visual representation of one of the most notorious episodes in our City's history. It is also a great example of the hitherto untapped historic interest of city centre alleys.
Professor Tim Boatswain, Chair of Conservation 50, who has been leading the project, said.
We are absolutely delighted that the amazing artist, Ant Steel, has undertaken this project which highlights this unfortunate but fascinating episode in St Albans' past. If people are wondering why there is a beautiful lady wearing a plumed hat in the mural when only the men could vote, it is because there were seven female witnesses, called by the inquiry who gave crucial evidence about the scandal. I hope this mural will serve as a lovely example of what can be done to the rather neglected alleyways of the city centre.
For images, interviews, or additional information and quotes, please contact: timboatswain@hotmail.com (07873586074)
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