Manchester Free Grammar School Long Millgate

Referred to as the “Old Building,” it was erected in 1870 at a cost of £28,750.

MANCHESTER FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL - The numerous applications for admission to the Manchester Free Grammar School having rendered it necessary to provide more accommodation for scholars, the trustees have at considerable cost erected a new building in Long Millgate, which unites the two old school buildings, gaining thereby a better arrangement for the class-rooms and general supervision than has heretofore existed, as well as accommodation for about 500 additional scholars, The new building was occupied for the first time at the commencement of the present session. It is five storeys high, including the basement, covers an area of 700 square yards of land, and has a frontage of 40 yards to Long Millgate. The basement contains a dining hall, 57 feet long by 50 feet wide, and 12 feet high; lavatory for boys, heating apparatus, kitchen, and other offices. The ground floor contains the entrance hall, 18 feet wide, in which is a porter's room, and the principal staircase, of stone, 6 feet wide, connecting the several floors. The large hall, or hall of assembly is 86 feet 6 inches long by 50 feet wide, and 23 feet high, and is lighted by eleven windows. There are three doorways leading into the room from the entrance hall. The platform is at the end of the room opposite to the entrtunce, and has upon it an elabomte oak screen and seats for the masters. The hall has a floor area of 480 yards, and will seat 800 persons. The room is without columns, which will afford an uninterrupted view of its entire area from the platform. Over the entrance hall is a mezzanine storey, between the ground and first floors, containing storerooms, etc. The first floor contains six classrooms, three on each side, over the hall of and private rcøm for the high master over the entrance. The classrooms are 28 feet long by 21 feet 6 inches wide, and 14 feet high, and are for classes of 36 boys each. A central corridor, 6 feet 6 inches wide, communicates with each of the rooms. The second floor is similar in arrangement, but it contains only five classrooms, three on one side and two on the other. One of these classrooms is 43 feet long by 21 feet 6 inches wide. Each room is 14 feet high. The upper floor contains a classroom and drawing-room, 80 feet long by 40 feet wide, and is lighted from the roof. All the rooms and the entrance hull ars heated by hot-water pipes. The ventilation of the building has been well considered. The corridors have windows to open, and each room is connected with the ventilating shaft. The furnace flue from the heating apparatus is in the centre of the ventilating shaft, and will be provided with a pilot fire to ensure draught in summer.

The architectural character of the building is Gothic, adapted to modem requirements; all the windows, and other openings have moulded and splayed reveals, with stone dressings; and the walls are faced with the best stock bricks. The main body of the building, containing the large hall and classrooms over, is 64 feet in height, and is crowned by a battlemented parapet and octagonal pinnacle at the corner. The portion of the building containing the entrance hall and staircase projects beyond the main building, and is carried to a height of 77 feet forming a tower flanked by an octagonal flagstaff turret, 88 feet high. A circular staircase in this turret leads to the roof. In this part of the front is the entrance doorway 7 feet 6 inches wide, with deeply-recessed jambs, detached shafts with carved capitals, and richly-moulded arched head. Over the door is a stone oriel window of two storeys. The work has been carried out by Messrs Swindells and Little, contractors, under the superintendence of Messrs Barker and Ellis, architects. The heating of the building has been arranged by Messrs. Haden and Son. [Manchester Guardian 27 September 1870 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 27 September 1870 page 6
Reference    Building News 1870: II: 30 September 1870 page 249 - from Manchester Guardian
Reference    Manchester Faces & Places Vol 9 Page 87