Building Name

Public Hall and Mechanics’ Institution, Stretford

Date
1854
District/Town
Stretford
County/Country
GMCA, England
Architect
Work
New Build

OPENING OF A PUBLIC HALL AND MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION AT STRETFORD A new building, called the “Public Hall and Mechanics’ Institution,” has just been opened at the populous and rapidly-expanding village of Stretford. The hall is situate on the north-west or right side of the high road from Manchester. It seems substantially built, in the Italian style, with a handsome stone entrance and stock brick front. Its name, with the date 1854 is inscribed on the pediment. The building is 20 yards long by 12 yards wide, and two storeys in height. In front there are five windows - one on each side of the door and three above. On each side of the entrance hall, on the ground floor, there is a small committee room. Behind these is the lecture hall which is 43 feet by 23 feet and 21 feet in height. At the upper end is a platform. Over the committee rooms and the entrance hall and attained by means of a staircase from the latter is a sort of gallery, which it is intended to use as a library and reading-room. It is 33 feet long by 14 feet wide; and it is divided from the lecture room by a sliding partition, by drawing down which the room may be used as an orchestra, or a gallery to the lecture hall as occasion may require. This is lighted from the three upper front windows. The lecture room is lighted from eight windows - four on each side. Arrangements have been made for ventilating the building which at night is well-lighted by gas. Behind the lecture hall there is a small room intended for the use of the Stretford Brass band, and another containing the apparatus necessary for tea-making etc. There are no fixed seats in the lecture hall, but moveable benches there and in the library-gallery will afford accommodation for between 300 and 400 persons. The architect is Mr Charles Lee of Clarence Street, in this city, and the builders are Messrs McClean of the Stretford New Road. The building was first thrown pen to the public on Sunday afternoon when a sermon was preached. The building, we are informed, has cost about £1,000. [Manchester Guardian 11 October 1854 page 7]

Reference           Manchester Guardian 11 October 1854 page 7