This is a curious incident that most folk who come from the town are totally unaware . Approximately 12 months before the Town Hall was built , the Architect Mr E.E. Fetch condemned the wood used by the contractor and instructed him to remove the material and re do the work. The contractor , Neil and Sons of Manchester , disagreed and stated that the wood was to specification and refused to carry out the Architects instruction. the following are extracts from the Shields Gazette.
Saturday 13th February 1909.
The Municipal Building Committee , which comprises all the members of the South Shields Town Council , met yesterday under the Chairmanship of the Mayor Mr H. Hilton to consider the position with regard to the woodwork in the new Town Hall , which has been condemned by the Architect , and regarding which there is a dispute with the contractors . The architect , Mr E.E. Fetch , was in attendance , and the position was discussed at considerable length . The Corporation have previously called upon the contractors to remove the materials ( at their cost) , but the latter have declined to do so , contending that it is in accordance with the specification. It was decided yesterday that the Council should itself proceed at once to to remove the wood to which objection has been taken , charging the contractors with the cost , and proceeding to carry out the work by direct labour .
It seems at this point the contractors took control of the Town Hall site to stop anybody removing the wood and barricaded themselves in . Judging by the following picture it then turned very "nasty" .
Gazette 15th February 1909
On making enquiries at the Municipal Buildings this morning , a "Gazette" representative was informed that there were no fresh developments with regard to the dispute which has arisen between the contractors and the Council . Mr H. Yeoman , who has full charge of the works , said that matters had been very quiet over the weekend , and a guard had been kept over the building. No one , however , attempted to effect an entrance . We understand that the contractors are applying for an injunction against the Corporation which will be heard in London tomorrow pending a High Court action respecting the quality of the wood which is being used . A large consignment of material was received at the works today , and the contractors have been obliged to employ additional men .These are engaged in woodwork and ironwork , so that the "siege" of Saturday has caused little or no interruption in the operations.
What happened next is not clear , but it would appear that some behind the scenes discussions took place and a compromise was reached . Whatever happened it did not hinder the completion of a magnificent building , probably the best looking Town Hall in the country .