Denton Free Library (later Town Hall), Albert Street, Denton

FREE LIBRARY FOR DENTON AND HAUGHTON - At Denton on Saturday the foundation stone was laid of a building intended to commemorate the jubilee of the Queen's accession to the throne. Several months ago, when jubilee celebrations were taking place in every part of the kingdom, the leading inhabitants of Denton and Haughton considered the advisability of erecting a memorial of the national event. A free library and science class institute was suggested, and the proposal was received with manifest approbation. At a public meeting the Free Libraries Act was adopted with enthusiasm, and large sums of money subscribed by the manufacturers of the district. An influential committee was formed, and twenty-five guineas were offered for the best design of a building suitable for the object in view. The premium was awarded to Messrs. T. D. and J. Lindley, architects, of Ashton-under-Lyne, who evolved a design of considerable classical elegance. Land was secured at the corner of Market-street and Albert-street, and upon this site the initial stage in the erection of the building was completed on Saturday. [Manchester Times  Saturday, 5 May 1888]

DENTON FREE LIBRARY AND SCIENCE CLASSES - The Denton and Haughton Free Library an institution commemorative of the Queen’s Jubilee, was opened on Saturday afternoon by Alderman Walton Smith, chairman of the Manchester Free Libraries Committee. A large and handsome building in the Elizabethan style has been erected in the middle of Denton. The structure is of brick with stone facings, and its picturesque gables mark it out from the buildings around. The interior corresponds with the ornate exterior. The rooms are large and lofty, well lighted, and furnished solidly and tastefully. Entering from a large hall, a reading room some 40 feet by 30 feet is on the left. Next is the lending library, with a reading room for boys. On the first floor are lecture rooms which can be converted into classrooms, a laboratory for twelve students, and a balance room. The science classes for which this provision has been made are an important feature of the Jubilee scheme. Denton and Haughton are the centre of the hatting industry, and the chemical classes are certain to be of great technical value to the workers. The entire scheme has involved an expenditure of nearly £3,000. .... From a competition by 20 architects, the designs of Messrs Lindley, of Ashton, were accepted and the contract was let to Mr Joseph Clayton of Denton. Mr E J Sidebottom laid the foundation stone on 28 April 1888. [Manchester Guardian 2 September 1889 page 7]

The Free Library, in Albert street, erected in 1888-9, in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee, at a total cast of £2,700, is of red brick, in the Italian style and comprises on the ground floor a large reading room, library and reference room containing 2,000 volumes and residence for the librarian, and on the first floor, rooms for science and art classes; the library is managed by the Urban Council; adjoining the library are recreation grounds of about 5 acres laid out by the board at a cost of £5,000.{Kelly Directory of Lancashire 1895]

Subsequently, the Free Library & Technical School was built in Peel Street and the original library was then converted into the town hall, which was opened on the 6 March 1899 by the Chairman of Denton Urban District Council, Councillor Thomas Woolfenden JP. The conversion work was done by Joseph Clayton at a cost of £800.

Reference    Manchester Times  Saturday, 5 May 1888 – foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 September 1889 page 7 – opening
Reference    Manchester Times, Saturday, 7 September 1889