Extensions to Mechanics Institute, Horwich

HORWICH - EXTENSION OF THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE. The people of Horwich and the surrounding district are this week celebrating the opening of extensive additions which have recently been made to the Horwich Mechanics Institute and Technical School. In the year 1887 when the works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company were removed from Miles Platting to Horwich, the population of the latter place was only four or five thousand. Since then the population has steadily increased and now it stands at something like fourteen thousand. To meet the educational and recreational needs of this increasing community it has been found necessary to make considerable additions to the Institute and School. In 1888 buildings were erected which provided for a library, reading and smoke rooms, two classrooms and a small lecture hall. The number of classes then started was four, and the average weekly attendance of students 90. The number of classes in actual operation in the past winter session was 26 per week, and the average attendance of students was 790. To meet this increasing demand for classroom accommodation it was determined to erect new reading, magazine and smoke-rooms and library, with a public hall having seating capacity for between 800 and 900 persons, and to devote all the existing buildings to technical teaching. The accomplishment of this work would, however, not have been possible but for the generous gift of the "Samuel Fielden Wing" by Mrs Fielden of Centre Vale, Todmorden, in memory of her late husband, who was for many years a director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. An eastern wing had already been provided, and Mrs Fielden undertook to provide a western wing; and with a gift of £2,500 from the shareholders of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, the two wings have been joined and the design completed by the erection of a fine central hall. [Manchester Guardian 29 July 1893 page 4]

Reference           Manchester Guardian 29 July 1893 page 4 - opening