Marking town's rich history (From Stroud News and Journal)

Marking town's rich history

Two years from now Stroud will celebrate its links to two significant historical events - the 175th anniversary of Lord John Russell's Reform Act in 1832 and the 200th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Joseph Delmont, said to be the last man to die in a duel on British soil. As Stroud Town Council considers its plans for the twin anniversary, SNJ reporter Will Saunders explores the two very different events.

Lord John Russell and the Reform Act of 1832. What was it?

The passing of the Reform Act in 1832, masterminded by Stroud's only Prime Minister, Lord John Russell, was a triumph for democracy over elitism and corruption.

Bitterly opposed by the Duke of Wellington and the House of Lords, it extended the vote to people who owned property or paid rent of more than £10 a year.

Why was it important?

In the years leading up to 1832 there had much public unrest - and even riots - about the unfairness of the electoral system, which only extended the vote to a privileged few.

This meant that constituencies often had just one or two electors, the so-called 'Rotten Boroughs', meaning bribery and corruption were commonplace.

Not only did the Reform Act hugely increase the electorate and helped smash Parliamentary corruption, many historians believe it may even have saved the country from revolution.

"It gave people like me the vote," said town and district councillor Charlie Burling. "I really think it is worth celebrating - we managed to bring democracy, not by civil war or revolution but by brave men who actually managed to get this legislation through.

"Even today, there are many parts of the world that would love a Reform Act."

What is being proposed to mark it?

Lord John Russell is still remembered in Stroud with two streets - John Street and Russell Street - that bear his name and town centre pub The Lord John.

But among the suggestions mooted so far is the idea of placing a statue of the famous peer on one of these streets as a permanent memorial to his achievements.

Supporters of this idea include Stroud's Labour MP David Drew, who said: "I would have thought something like a statue would be good - something that says that Stroud has its own place in the battle for representative democracy. "I think we forget how long and hard that fight was."

Lieutenant Joseph Delmont and the 'Last Duel'. What is it?

The Delmont duel in 1807 is thought to be the last fatal duel on English soil. Lieutenant Joseph Francis Delmont, in Stroud to recruit fresh soldiers for the war against Napoleon, was shot by fellow officer Lieutenant Benjamin Heazle after an argument.

No-one is sure what the argument was about but the myth is that it was about a mutual lady friend. Heazle was said to have cheated, turning and shooting Delmont in the back before he had completed the allotted six paces.

Delmont died of his wounds four days later and was buried in St Laurence's churchyard. Heazle is thought to have escaped to the West Indies and died soon afterwards.

Why is it important?

This tragic story has captured the imagination of many visitors to Stroud and has secured its place in the folklore of the town. Mystery still surrounds the events of the duel, as the only known record is from Fisher's Notes and Recollections of Stroud.

The romance - and the macho stupidity - of duelling is still good material for writers and film-makers alike and the fact that the town hosted the last duel in the UK is one of the first things a newcomer learns.

Local history buff Howard Beard said: "I do not suppose the average person in the street would know much about the duel but it is such a colourful story, with a certain amount of deceit and skull-duggery.

"I am sure something will happen to mark it but at the moment I have no idea what that could be."

What is being proposed to mark it?

The place where the duel occurred, just off Folly Lane in Stroud, is remembered with the street names Delmont Grove, Shooters End and Heazle Place.

Plans for 2007 are still very much in the pipeline but one suggestion has been to do more to mark the grave of Lt Delmont, which is located in the corner of St Laurence's churchyard next to Mill's Caf.

Town councillor Andy Read said a more distinctive grave had been suggested as a way to raise the profile of one of Stroud's most tragic historical figures.

"The most likely thing we are looking at is certainly to put something to designate which grave he is buried in," he said. "We do not want to glorify it in any way - in fact it is nice to know society has moved on. But it is one of those stories that a lot of people know."

Another suggestion has been sort of reconstruction - although a somewhat less fatal one - of the duel itself.