Natural History Society Museum, Peter Street Manchester

NEW PUBLIC BUILDING – The Natural History Society is about to erect a new building on the vacant land in Peter Street, for the reception of its museum. It will present a not much decorated but noble front, and in the centre of the building will be a hall nearly as large as that in the Royal Institution. The plan, which has been made by Mr Shorland, seems excellently adapted for the exhibition of the Society’s now ample museum. [Manchester Times Saturday 31 August 1833 page 2]

THE NEW MUSEUM OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY -  Our readers may recollect that in November or December, 1833. the trustees of the Natural History Society of this town, having purchased a plot of ground on St. Peter's Field, fronting Peter street, commenced thereon the erection of a building for the reception of the society's valuable collection of objects of natural history. This building, which is now finished, with the exception of an external coating of cement, and which was opened for the reception of visitors on Monday last, has a frontage of 108 feet, by about 35 feet in depth. It is about 50 feet high, and from the centre rises a large square lantern which is eighteen feet above the principal roof. The building presents to Peter-street a neat, plain front in the Ionic style. The entrance is by a flight of steps between four three-quarter columns flanked by two antæ or pilasters, which together support a pediment, above which rises the lantern. The wings are divided by ante of the same order. Ascending the steps and entering the hall by folding doors, the visitor finds himself directly under the square lantern which lights the galleries and indeed the hall itself.  On each side is a door opening into spacious apartments, 31 feet 6 inches by 28 feet 8 inches, the extent of the wings; that to the right being intended for the reception of the society's collections of minerals and fossils; and that to the left for specimens in icthyology, conchology, etc. Ascending by a flight stone steps from the hall, on one side of which stands the elephant, and on the other the cameleopard, zebra, etc., the visitor enters the lower gallery, or quadrangle. each side of which is about 36 feet in length and 7 feet 6 inches wide, and at present occupied with cases ranged against the wall and on the parapet, comprising the feline and other quadrupeds, some birds, serpents, lizards, crocodiles, etc. From this gallery corridors lead into a room on each side, 28 feet 8 inches by 21 feet 6 inches. The corridor in the right wing contains the cases of composition specimens of the various East and West Indian fruits, etc, and the room beyond is occupied by a miscellaneous collection, consisting of cases of birds, the heads and skeletons of various animals, the mummy and case, the dresses, warlike and domestic implements of various savage nations, models of altars, temples, etc. The corridor in the left wing contains several cases of apes, monkeys, etc, and others filled with Insects of the order coleoptera. The room beyond is devoted to entomological specimens, including the most beautiful of the moths and butterflies. It is also enriched with several glasses containing fine specimens of the principal varieties of the humming-bird and other small birds of splendid plumage. By a staircase in this wing ascent had to the second floor or storey, which is precisely similar to that just described. The dimensions of its gallery and rooms, and which with the exception of the room in the right wing, used as a council-room, is appropriated to the display of the society's very large and choice collection in ornithology, comprising the majority of known British birds, and many of the rarest foreign species. The whole building is warmed by hot water, conveyed in iron pipes through every room, the galleries, corridors, and hall, the pipes being replenished once a fortnight with about a pint of water. The cellars of the building are occupied as a dwelling by the sub-curator and porter of the establishment. The society possesses some ground behind the present building which will enable it to continue to extend the wings backward, leaving n sort of court behind the centre of the edifice.—We understand that the cost of the building, exclusive of land, will not much, if at all, exceed £4000. We believe that during the week the number of visitors to the museum has been very considerable; and we trust that, now there is so eligible a depository for specimens in the various departments of natural history, we shall hear of considerable accessions to the museum, from the Liberality of our townsmen, and of others connected with the district. [Manchester Guardian 23 May 1835 page 3]

Reference    Manchester Times Saturday 31 August 1833 page 2
Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 May 1835 page 3

See also proposed alterations about 1850

Not by Richard Lane!