History: 

The plaque underneath the statue reads "Laurie Town". Laurie Town was built east of the marketplace about 1850 as a tiny middle-class suburb by London sadler John Laurie. The Old County Court building known as Laurie Hall tried prisoners until a new building was built at the other end of the marketplace in 1858. There were stocks to punish cheats, thieves and wrong-doers. This was near where witches, nagging wives (scolds) and harlots, were once fastened to a ducking chair and lowered into Loam Pond. If the offender survived this ordeal it proved their guilt and they were usually condemned to death. However, if they drowned while being ducked it proved their innocence. When no longer used as a Courthouse, the hall became a place of entertainment. It is alleged that author Charles Dickens performed there while on one of his tours, impersonating characters from his novels to thrill audiences. Later the hall became a cinema.

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