Editing Sutton Coldfield (section)

==== Municipal projects and change of government ====
The 1800s would prove to be another century of major change for the town, built upon the wealth it had generated in years before and the power that the Sutton Coldfield Corporation had. Dealing with a growing town, they sought to improve the quality of life for residents. The corporation was forced to fell trees within the town and sell the timber as means to fund the construction of schools and almshouses. In 1826, timber worth £1,116 3s. was sold.<ref name="Salzman" /> The first of these schools were founded during the 1820s. The corporation also constructed two [[almshouse]]s in Walmley in 1828 and a further two adjacent in 1863.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones |first=Douglas V. |title=Walmley and its surroundings |year=1990 |publisher=Westwood Press |isbn=0-948025-11-5}}</ref> By 1837, there were ten almshouses in the parish under the ownership of the corporation, with others operated by charities.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wright |first=George |title=A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer, Volume 4 |year=1837 |publisher=T. Kelly |page=567 |location=Paternoster Row, London}}</ref>

The town hall at the top of Mill Street began to deteriorate throughout the 1800s and the decision was taken to demolish it in 1854. The adjacent workhouse and gaol were renovated to become the new municipal offices, and this was reconstructed in 1858 until 1859 to better suit its purpose. The new offices were designed by G. Bidlake.<ref name="freemason">{{cite web|title=SUTTON COLDFIELD MASONIC HALL – A BRIEF HISTORY |url=http://www.suttoncoldfieldfreemasons.org.uk/ |publisher=The Sutton Coldfield Masonic Hall Company Ltd. |access-date=6 November 2010}}</ref> A fire station was also constructed further down Mill Street.<ref name="freemason" />

During the 1830s, municipal corporations were investigated due to corrupt practices within the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. These inquiries led to the passing of the [[Reform Act 1832]] and [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] which reformed boroughs nationwide. Despite the radical changes imposed by the Acts, the Sutton Coldfield Corporation was left untouched.<ref name="Beresford" /> It was not until April 1882, as a result of the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1882]], that Sutton Coldfield became a municipal borough. The old Corporation was replaced with a new structure consisting of a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen elected councillors. Six wards were created in the borough – Holy Trinity, Hill, Boldmere, Wylde Green, Maney, and Walmley – from each of which three councillors were elected.<ref name="Salzman" />