Manchester Royal Exchange

MANCHESTER ROYAL EXCHANGE, THE AMENDED DESIGN. It will be remembered that in the competition for this work the design submitted by Messrs Bradshaw, Gass, and Hope was placed first by the assessor, Mr J. S. Gibson. Our review of the competition appeared in our issue of 23 January 1914, and, as we stated then, after the usual permission to photograph was given, and our illustrations were ready for publication, we were forbidden by telegram and letter to issue them. We subsequently learned that modifications of the design were in progress, and we are now able to give a view showing the principal entrance and what will be the Exchange Street front of the completed extension. The general architectural character of the present building is to be maintained as far as consistent with the largely increased size of the structure. The Exchange is to provide space for members, on one level, of something like 7,000 square yards, in one great hall, with a south bay corresponding to the present Exchange, which forms the north bay of the completed building. The two bays are connected by an open arched arcade the full height of the hall. The principal entrance is to be on the Exchange-street, St. Ann's square front, and there are to be a central entrance from Cross-street, and entrances at each of the corners of the building. Adjoining the principal entrance and on each side of it is to be a loggia on the Exchange level to replace the portico “flags” on which the members now congregate. Shops are to be placed on all frontages, and also in the arcade, which will take the place of Bank Street. A new restaurant, with a billiard room, is to be arranged on the ground floor. A large hall, entered from Cross-street, Market-street, and the arcade, will give space for a futures market, or it can be used as an exhibition hall. Already the old buildings are cleared from the site, and the foundations contract nearly completed. The extension is to he carried out and completed in sections. Completion is expected within about two and a half years; but it is the intention to open parts of the new Exchange room as soon as completed.

MANCHESTER ROYAL EXCHANGE EXTENSIONS - On Saturday last the King officially re-opened this great commercial building. In 1913 an open competition was held, when thirty-six sets of drawings were submitted including five or six plans; by specially invited architects; but Mr Edwin Cooper  was the only one of the seven asked to compete who obtained a premium and he won the second place. Mr J S Gibson acted as assessor. Messrs Bradshaw Gass and Hope, of Bolton were elected architects on his award. Some material alterations had to be made, and no illustrations of the selected design were permitted at the time, although photographs had been allowed to be made by us for publication. The original Exchange premises, which have been extended, were erected about fifty years ago, Messrs Mills and Murgatroyd, of Manchester, being the architects. The competition plans were reviewed in our pages on January, 23, 1914, and we illustrated the chosen design (as amended and now built) in our issue for January 15, 1915. To-day we reproduce two photographs, showing the Exchange as finished. The exterior illustrates the main façade fronting St Ann’s Square and Exchange Street. The interior gives an excellent idea of the “Great Market Floor,” or Exchange Hall, the outstanding feature of this vast structure; which occupies the island site, having an area of 2,222 square yards, as shown by the principal plan herewith.  The hall is surmounted by two large and four smaller glazed domes, giving light to the interior, the large domes being 62 feet in diameter and rising to the pinnacles of the lanterns, 130 feet above the street level.  Around the Great Hall are ranged some 250 offices, connected by corridors and full lift service, and offices connected with the Exchange. Separate offices of cable companies and postal services occupy positions on this main floor. In addition to the Large Hall, other rooms are devoted to the use of members, and include large reading-room, cloakrooms, and lavatory accommodation, and' a telephone department containing an installation of 53 lines. In addition to the Exchange and offices, there are thirty-eight business premises on the street frontages occupied by a variety of trades" and including branch Post Office, and within the building are housed such important organisations as the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Testing House, the Trade Marks Department of the Board of Trade, the offices of the Wall-Paper Manufacturers Ltd, the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners, the British Cotton-Growing Association, the Manchester Corporation Commercial Library. 

The architectural treatment of both the exterior and the interior of the Exchange, presented a problem of great difficulty, owing to the necessity for the retention and embodiment in the new building of certain features and portions of the older structure, while also ensuring a building homogenous in design and complete in its entity. The Exchange completely covers the island site bounded by Market Street, Cross Street, Bank Street, St Ann's Square, and Exchange Street. The ground floor has shops on all fronts. .Advantage has been taken of the irregularities of the building line to give the frontages of the St. Anne's Square and Cross Street a slight curve throughout their length, thus softening and improving the lines of the cornice and giving greater continuity to the whole design. In the centre of the main fronts are placed the two principal entrances to the Exchange Hall (the raison d'etre of the whole building). The more important of these - that on the St. Ann's Square side- is given fitting prominence, being approached through an archway of fine proportions, within which rises a flight of steps passing through a semi-circular stone vestibule treated in the Doric order. In addition to the two main entrances, four subsidiary ones are provided, with staircases and passenger lifts to give access to all parts of the building. The original clock tower at the corner of Market Street and Exchange Street, so long a feature of the old Exchange, and a landmark in the city, has been retained, and at the St. Ann's Square and Bank Street end the building is balanced by a low-set slated dome. The Great Hall of the Exchange occupies the entire extent of the site on the first floor, its chief dimensions being - length, 310 feet; and width, 215 feet. Across the Hall, between the principal entrances, there is formed a colonnade with three arches supported on clustered columns, forming a fine architectural feature: The column treatment of the old Hall is retained and reproduced in the extension, but the remaining details have been re-designed to bring them into proportion and harmony with the scale of the greatly increased interior. Externally, the buildings are faced with Darley Dale stone on all frontages, the roof slopes covered with' Westmorland green slates, and the domes formed in patent glazing with lead-clothed steel bars and reinforced glass. The new work throughout is entirely of fireproof construction, constructional steel and reinforced concrete being used for the framework and floor formation. Fibrous plaster is largely used in the interior finishings. The floor of the Exchange itself is covered with maple blocks enclosed in a wide margin of walnut. The work was commenced in 1914 and has proceeded continuously since that date through the many difficulties. The whole of the works have been carried out in accordance with the plans and under the supervision of Messrs Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, F/FRIBA, the architects. The first Exchange was erected in the Market Place in 1729 and pulled down in 1790. The second ExChange was built on the site of the present one and opened in 1809, the membership then being 1,543. This second Exchange was extended in 1841, when the membership was 2,543, and again in 1849. The third Exchange, built, between 1867 and 1874, is the building which has been embodied in the present structure, and thus so considerably extended. The general contractors were Messrs William Thornton and Sons of Liverpool. The Trussed Concrete Steel Co Ltd. were responsible for the design of the reinforced concrete framework and the floors. The reinforced concrete work is by Stuarts Granolithic Co., Ltd. The electric lifts are by Messrs Smith, Major, and Stevens, of Northampton and Queen's Road, Battersea.  [Building News 14 October 1921 page 239]