Freemason’s Hall 9 Cooper Street Manchester

NEW MASONIC HALL FOR MANCHESTER – It has long been a subject of remark that the city of Manchester, which forms so important a position of the Masonic province of East Lancashire, and includes among its inhabitants so many members of the craft, has not a central place where the numerous lodges, chapters, and encampments can assemble, a privilege which is enjoyed by many towns of smaller size and les considerable importance. To supply this want it has been determined to erect a Masonic Hall, which shall be of sufficient dimensions to answer all the requirements of the craft and at the same time take a creditable position among the public buildings of the city, A central and commodious site has been secured for the purpose in Cooper Street. The shops for 50 feet from the corner of Bond Street, excepting that of Messrs Palmer and Howe are to be pulled down, and the ground cleared to Back Mosley Street. From designs furnished by four architects, all brethren of the order, those of Mr. William Mangnall has been selected. According to these plans the principal elevation to Cooper street will be 59 feet in length and five storeys in height, including the basement.  The main entrance will be deeply recessed and flanked by a pair of Doric columns; the first floor will have columns of the Ionic order; and the upper portion. which is more especially to be consecrated to Masonic purposes will be ornamented with handsome columns of the Corinthian order. There will be an attic surmounted by a pediment, in the tympanum of which will be placed the arms of the Grand Lodge of England, with their supports. Four niches in the principal front will be occupied by appropriate emblems at the four cardinal virtues - Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, and Prudence. Over the main entrance will be the motto—Sit lux et lux fust. The cornices above each storey are to be of different designs, projected boldly and decidedly, the most ornate being on the second floor. The front is to be faced with Bath stone. There to be three entrances, the centre and principal one being for the exclusive use of the Masonic body. It will lead into the handsome vestibule and hall, from which a staircase will conduct to the banqueting-room and offices, and by a further ascent to the spacious lodge room. The banqueting hall will measure 56 feet by 28 feet and the lodge-room will be the same size. The latter will be 26 feet in height with a semi-circular ceiling appropriately decorated. The entrance on the right of the centre will lead to 52 feet by 28 feet, with coffee-rooms attached. These rooms be appropriated to the use of the public generally. The entrance on the left will give access to a part of the building which will be let off as a warehouse, and in two suites of offices. It is intended to proceed with the erection of the hall as soon as the requisite notices to the tenants of the property expire. The undertaking is in the hands of a Company consisting of the prominent members of the Order in the East Lancashire district. [Manchester Guardian 28 February 1863 page 5]

The Manchester Masonic Hall Company Limited was formed with capital of £10,000 and acquired a site with a 59 feet long frontage to Cooper-street. Designs for the new building were obtained from four brethren and the one from William Mangnall was selected. The foundation stone was laid on 26 July 1863 with a procession and banquet, William Mangnall participating. Mangnall’s daughter also involved - one of fourteen young ladies in white dresses with blue sashes who walked round the foundation stone. This part of the proceedings was photographed by Mr S Eastham of Market Street, Manchester.

The building will be of a composite character. The principal entrance is flanked by Doric columns, the first floor has columns of the Ionic order and the upper portion is decorated with columns of the Corinthian order. The last named is especially consecrated to masonic purposes. The arms of the Grand Lodge of England and their supports ate placed in the tympanum and the four niches in front are filled by emblems of the cardinal virtues, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence. Over the main entrance is the motto “Sit lux et Lux fuit” There are bold cornices of different designs over each storey. The building has three entrances, the principal one being for the exclusive use of masons when meeting for craft purposes. The lodge and banqueting rooms are of similar dimensions, each measuring 56 feet by 28 feet, the former being 26 feet in height with an appropriately decorated semi-circular ceiling. The entrance to the right will lead to the restaurant and coffee rooms; and that to the left, to the portion of the building which will be let off as offices and warehouses. [Manchester Courier Saturday 1 August 1863 Page 9]

Very little variation has taken place in the plans as originally designed by Brother William Mangnall and which were described at length when the foundation was laid. We may now generally say that the frontage to Cooper-street is 59 feet; and the building, which is five storeys in height, is of a composite character. The principal entrance is flanked by Doric columns, the first floor has columns of the Ionic order and the upper portion is decorated with columns of the Corinthian order. The last named is especially consecrated to masonic purposes. The arms of the Grand Lodge of England and their supports are placed in the tympanum and the four niches in front are filled by emblems of the cardinal virtues, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence. Over the main entrance is the motto “Sit lux et Lux fuit” There are bold cornices of different designs over each storey. The building has three entrances, the principal one being for the exclusive use of masons when meeting for craft purposes. The lodge and banqueting rooms are of similar dimensions, each measuring 56 feet by 28 feet, the former being 26 feet in height with an appropriately decorated semi-circular ceiling [Manchester Courier Friday 4 November 1864 Page 3]

DEDICATION OF THE MANCHESTER MASONIC HALL – This ceremony took place yesterday at noon. The building is in Cooper Street, and extends to Back Mosley Street. It consists of a ground floor and three storeys, and is practically, as regards the interior, divided into a centre and two wings. The easterly wing, that nearest Booth Street, is occupied by offices which have been let. The end of the building nearest Bond Street (Princess Street) is devoted to the purposes of a restaurant. The kitchen is at the top of the building, thus avoiding all annoyance from smells; and the dishes are conveyed to the first floor, where there is a banqueting room, and to the ground floor where a public dining room has been opened, by means of a hoist. The centre of the building is devoted exclusively to masonic purposes. A capricious stone staircase, the wall on one side of which is faced by Mr Oakden’s coloured tiles, there being on the other side a handsome railing, gives access to the lodge-room, the principal apartment in the building. It is on the second storey, extends along the whole width of the building, and os half the depth between the two streets. Its dimensions are 59 feet by 30 feet by 26 feet in height. The roof is vaulted and supports two sun-lights. By day the room is lighted by five double windows on the Back Mosley Street side. Beneath these windows are perforated panels filled with elegant tracery in iron, behind which are the hot water pipes for warming the room. At each end of the room pilasters in the corners support figures representing the four corners of the globe. Two circular columns at each end are surmounted by figures of the four cardinal virtues – temperance prudence, fortitude and justice. At the sides are eight elegant gas brackets of a novel construction; and on the walls, in neat frames, are hung the warrants of the lodges and chapters issued by the grand lodge of England. In the centre of the room is a floor cloth which occupied the late Mr Pitt, the dancing master, many years in the painting of it, and was exhibited as a curiosity at the Exhibition of 1851. Opening from the lodge-room is a fireproof room for keeping the records of the lodges. Adjoining it are cloakrooms and other conveniences; and between it and the front of the building, in the second and third storeys are the library, and a billiard room for use of members of the Masonic Club. The library is at present used as a smoke-room. Beneath the lodge-room, and of the same size, except in respect to height, is the club room or banqueting room. On its walls are hung portraits of the Duke of Sussex, Mr S Blair and Mr A H Royds. On the ground floor is another large room, beneath the banqueting room, and which is the dining room already alluded to in connection with the public restaurant. A passage from Back Mosley Street to the front of the building makes this room somewhat smaller than the two above it. Between the dining room and the front is a very commodious public smoke-room.

With respect to the exterior, judgements of it as a work of art and as a masonic hall will be widely different. The façade is composite in the fullest sense of the term. The ground floor is of Yorkshire stone, and the upper storeys are faced in Bath stone, which by contrast looks not unlike stucco. The columns are round and flat, of red and grey granite and stone. The capitals include the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian; and for some of the decorations the Italian style has been laid under contribution. Some of the windows are arched, and others are square. Thus while there are separate portions that will please the upholders of the various styles, as a whole the façade will satisfy no one. At the same time Masonry will doubtless se in it all the more symbolism. There are four stone statues of the cardinal virtues in the second storey, the masonic coat of arms in the pediment, and some symbolic figures surmount the apex. The architect was Mr W Mangnall, Mr John Bramall was the builder, and Messrs Heaps and Harrison have furnished the interior appointments. The building has cost upwards of £12,000; and is the property of a limited liability company of which Mr W R Callender, junior, is chairman, and Mr Bradley the secretary.  [Manchester Guardian 4 November 1862 page 2]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 February 1863 page 5
Reference    Manchester Courier 18 July 1863 Page 9 – foundation stone arrangements
Reference    Manchester Courier 1 August 1863 Page 9
Reference    Building News 17 July 1863 page 554
Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 November 1864 page 2
Reference    Manchester Courier Friday 4 November 1864 Page 3
Reference    Builder 19 November 1864 Page 852
Reference    Manchester City News Saturday 5 November 1864 Page 2 –opening ceremony
Reference    The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal. 1 September 1863 page 258