Public Buildings Oldham Road Newton Heath Manchester

In 1888 the Newton Heath Local Board arranged an architectural competition for public buildings comprising public baths, science and art schools a free library and extensions to their offices on a site adjacent to their existing offices and theatre on Oldham Road. About twenty firms of architects submitted designs, the first premium being awarded to Lawrence Booth'

The principal external feature of Mr Booth’s design is a fine clock tower of great height to be placed at the corner of Oldham Road and Wellock Street. This in its proportions and architectural treatment is suggestive of a Venetian campanile, and is, on the ground floor level, intended to be the principal entrance to the Public Hall, which is on the same level. This room, is 80 feet by 40 feet internally and 28 feet in height, and has another convenient approach from Wellock Street. The utmost facility for ingress and egress is thus provided, and the necessity for staircases is obviated. There are also the usual retiring rooms and other conveniences. The public baths are situate in Wellock Street, and are, in their general arrangements, almost identical with the Salford Corporation Baths ant Pendleton, which were designed by the same architect and erected on a somewhat similar site. They comprise a first-class and a second-class swimming bath, the former of which is designed for the use of ladies whenever desired. There are six first-class and twelve second-class slipper baths for men; and three first-class and three second-class baths for ladies. The baths are all on the ground floor, and are lighted directly from the roof. The ticket office is placed between the two pavilions containing the swimming baths; the laundry, store-room, etc, are behind; and there is a residence for the caretaker on the first and second floors. This group of buildings complete an elevation 267 feet in length to Wellock Street, the length of the Oldham Road frontage being 151 feet The corresponding area of land on the opposite or Manchester side of the plot, and fronting on to an intended street, will be occupied by the free library on the ground floor and the science and art Schools on the first floor.  The library contains a public reading-room, boys’ reading-room, library proper, librarian’s room and the usual accessories. The science and art schools have separate rooms for teaching theoretical science subjects, as mechanical and engineering drawing, machine construction, etc; practical science subjects, as chemistry (with laboratory accommodation) and art drawing and design. The extension of the present offices includes some additional accommodation for the Surveyor and the Clerk to the Board, and the provision of additional strong rooms, etc.  The designer has had to tax his ingenuity in endeavouring to follow the suggestion that the new buildings should harmonise with the present offices. The latter have little pretension to be treated as a prominent feature of such a pile as that in contemplation, but beyond taking down the present clock turret and making certain structural alterations with a view to Aelevating@ them into more fit companionship, he has proposed to leave them in outward appearance, very much as they are. The several works will be executed with all convenient dispatch, and a formal application has already been made to the Department of Science and Art for a grant in aid of that section of the undertaking. [Manchester Guardian 14 November 1888 page 6]

NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR NEWTON HEATH. After much preliminary consideration the Local Board of Newton Heath have taken an important step towards providing their district with a series public buildings of a useful character, to erected as accessories to their present offices and on the same site laud. These comprise a public assembly-room with the necessary adjuncts, public baths, science and art schools, free library, and some extensions of the present offices. With view to obtaining the best possible soheme for their purposes, they applied by public advertisement to all architects, without restriction, to submit designs under motto for their consideration. A schedule of particulars setting forth their requirements was prepared by their surveyor, Mr. J. Wilkinson, C.E., for the guidance of the competitors, and premiums amounting in the aggregate to £100 were offered for the best four designs, with the intention that the authors of the four selected designs should second competition, so as to further illustrate their schemes and enable the committee to decide on their relative merits. Numerous architects applied for particulars, and about twenty firms submitted designs. These were referred to their surveyor, in his professional and official capacity, to report upon for the information the board. The committee adopted the report of their surveyor, in which the four designs were designated by motto, and also his suggestions that no further competition was necessary to arrive at a final decision. It was therefore arranged that his further report under seal, in which the designs were placed the order of merit, should be deposited with the chairman, and that the four premiated competitors should be invited to acquiesce in a decision to be taken on the plans as they stood and without further elaboration. To this proposal the four selected competitors all gave their assent; and when the surveyor's sealed report was opened it was found that the author of Gordon," the premiated design (£50), was Mr. Lawrence Booth, of this city and he was appointed architect to carry out the adopted plans and designs. The second prize (£20) was awarded to “Plan,” which was found to by Mr. John Johnson, of 9, Queen Victoria-street, Mansion House, London. Mr. Johnson, it may be remarked, was the architect for the New Islington Baths and Public Halls, built by the Manchester Corporation, and he is generally regarded as a specialist in such matters. Tho third and fourth prizes were divided between Messrs. Maxwell and Tuke ("Sir Isaac") and Messrs. M'Leod and Earnshaw ("Public Buildings"), all of Manchester. The principal external feature of Mr. Booth's design is a fine clock tower of great height, to be placed at the corner of Oldham-road and Wellocks-street. This in its proportions and architectural treatment is very suggestive of Venetian campanile, and is, on the ground-floor level, intended to be the principal entrance to the Publio Hall, which is also on the ground-floor level. This room is 80ft. by 40ft. internally, and 23ft. height, and has another convenient approach thereto from Wellocks-street. The utmost facility for ingress and egress is thus provided, and the necessity for staircases is obviated. There are also the usual retiring rooms, and other conveniences. The public baths are situate Wellocks Street, and are in their general arrangements almost identical with the Salford Corporation Baths at Pendleton, which were designed by the same architect and erected on a very similar site of land. They comprise a first-class and a second-class swimming bath, the former of which is designed for the use of ladies whenever desired. There are six first-class and 12 second-class slipper baths for men, and three first and three second class for ladies. The baths are all on the ground floor, and lighted directly from the roof. The ticket office is placed between the two pavilions containing the swimming baths; the laundry, storeroom, etc, are behind; and there is a residence for the caretaker on the first and second floors. This group of buildings completes an elevation 267 feet in length to Wellocks Street, the length of the Oldham-road frontage being 151 feet. The corresponding area of land on the opposite or Manchester side of the plot, and fronting to an intended street, will be occupied by the free library on the ground floor, and the science and art schools on the first floor. The library will contain public reading-room, boys' reading-room, library proper, librarians-room, and the usual accessories. The science and art schools have separate rooms for teaching : (a) Theoretical science subjects—as mechanical and engineering drawing, machine construction, etc. (b) Practical subjects, as chemistry (with laboratory accommodation); (o) art drawing and design. The extension of the present offices includes some additional accommodation for the surveyor and the clerk of the board, and the provision of additional strong rooms, etc. The designer has had to tax his ingenuity endeavouring to follow the suggestions that the new buildings should harmonise with the present offices. The latter have little pretension to be treated as prominent feature of such a pile as that in contemplation, but beyond taking down the present clock turret and making certain structural alterations, with a view to "elevating" them into more fit companionship, has proposed to leave them in outward appearance very much as they are. The several works are intended to be executed with all convenient despatch, and a formal application has already been made to the Department of Science and Art for grant aid of that section of tire undertaking. [Manchester Courier 14 November 1888 page 6]

The monthly meeting of the Newton Heath Local Board was held yesterday at the offices, Oldham-road, Newton Heath.—The General Purposes Committee recommended the Board to accept the plans of Mr. Lawrence Booth, architect, Faulkner-street, Manchester, for the erection of pile of public buildings for the district, which are to comprise public baths, free library and reading room, school for science and art, and public hall, and to award Mr. Booth the first premium of £50; a premium of £20 to be given for designs sent in by Mr. J. Johnson, Victoria-street, Mansion House, London; and £15 each to Mossrs. Maxwell and Tuke, Princess-street, Manchester, and Messrs. M'Leod and Earnshaw, St. James's-square, Manchester [Manchester Courier 30 November 1888 page 3]

LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH, NEWTON HEATH - To Builders, Engineers and Others - The local Board of Health for the District of Newton Heath is prepared to receive tenders for the Builder’s Work requires in the erection of Public Baths, Assembly Room, Free Library, Science and Art Schools and other additions and alterations to the Town Hall, Oldham Road, Newton Heath, and also other tenders for the Engineering Work required in the warming of the proposed buildings and the supply and fitting up of slipper baths, drying store, steam pipes, etc. Plans and specifications may be inspected and schedules of quantities and forms of tender obtained by personal application only at the office of the architect, Mr Lawrence Booth, 28 Faulkner Street, Manchester from Thursday February 14 to Wednesday February 20 inclusive, on which last-named day sealed tenders must be delivered to the undersigned not later than three o’clock pm. The Local Board does not pledge itself to accept the lowest or any tender. John Neild, Clerk to the Board, Town hall, Newton Heath, 8 February 1889. [Manchester Guardian 9 February 1889 page 4]

THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR NEWTON HEATH – The building scheme may be divided under three heads, having the retention and enlargement of the present offices or Town Hall, as another and central feature. On the left of the present frontage a building three storeys in height will be provided, with accommodation for the reading and borrowing members of a free library on the ground floor level. On the first floor there will be a large elementary room, a lecture room and a master’s room for science, and on the top floor there will be similar accommodation for art classes. The plans for these have been approved by the Science and Art Department, and it is expected that about £400 will be received from them as grant in aid. On the right of the Oldham Road frontage will be placed the public hall, or assembly room, having its entrances from Wellock Street. At the corner a high clock tower will be erected. It is intended to remove the clockwork from the present tower, and re-fix it in the new tower with enlarged and illuminated dials. In connection with the assembly room there will be a suite of four ante-rooms, lavatories, and other conveniences. All the doors will open outwardly as well as inwardly. The public baths have a frontage 191 feet in length towards Wellocks Street. In the centre will be the ticket office, with entrances right and left to the first and second class baths, and over these a residence for the superintendent will be provided. Immediately behind them will be a store-room, laundry and drying stove on ground floor level, with boiler house, engine house and meter rooms underneath. The second-class plunge bath will be 75 feet in length and the first-class 45 feet The latter will be arranged so that it can be made available to ladies whenever required. There will be six first-class and twelve second-class slipper baths for men, and three first-class, and three second-class for women. The necessary dressing-rooms, footbaths etc, will be provided, and the internal finishings and fittings will be a replica of the Pendleton Baths, designed by the same architect for the Salford Corporation, and those erected by him for the Corporation of Oldham. Mr James Holt of Cheetham is the contractor for the building work; and Messrs Elliot Olney and Company have been entrusted with the engineering work. The architect is Mr Lawrence Booth, of this city. [Manchester Guardian 21 May 1889 page 4]

OPENING OF PUBLIC BATHS AT NEWTON HEATH - The new Corporation baths at Newton Heath were opened last night by the Mayor of Manchester. The baths are part of a block of buildings begun by the late Local Board and are now being finished by the Corporation of the city. The block includes a Town Hall, a public library and schools for science and art. The buildings are of brick, with terra-cotta and stone facings, ornamented by a graceful clock tower, and have an extremely handsome appearance. Only the furnishing of the various rooms remains to be done. The portion of the block devoted to the baths has a  frontage to Wellock Street of 189 feet There are two swimming ponds, one 75 feet long and 24 feet wide, and the other 45 feet long and 24 feet wide. A number of slipper baths are also provided. The architect of the buildings is Mr Lawrence Booth. ....Cost £6,600.  [Manchester Guardian 23 April 1891 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 14 November 1888 page 6 – competition
Reference    Manchester Courier 14 November 1888 page 6 – competition
Reference    Manchester Courier 30 November 1888 page 3 – appointment of Booth
Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 February 1889 page 4 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Courier 9 February 1889 page 8 – contracts as MG
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 May 1889 page 4 with illustration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 April 1891 page 6 - opening of baths
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 September 1891 page 6 - opening of library