Public Hall, New Mills, Derbyshire

A public Hall at New Mills Derbyshire is to be erected at a cost of £1,700 (£1,260 of which has already been subscribed) and the plans of Mr J Wild, architect, of Clegg Street Oldham have been selected out of numerous others. The building is to be commenced forthwith, and tenders are invited on or before 16th May. [The Architect 7 May 1870 page 228]

OPENING OF THE NEW TOWN HALL AT NEW MILLS – On Saturday afternoon last the new Town Hall at New Mills was opened by his grace the Duke of Devonshire. ….. The foundation-stone of the new building was laid by Sir E. W. Watkin, Knight, on the 11th of June, 1870, which was celebrated under most favourable circumstances. It was found that the site first selected (which had been generously given by Mr. W. H. Turner and Miss Cresswell) was not suitable, in consequence of the difficulty in finding a foundation. On a request from the committee, Mr. Turner and Miss Cresswell gave the present site, in addition to the former one, which serves as a noble frontage. Mr. John Wild, of Oldham, was appointed architect, and the mason’s work was entrusted to Mr. Charles Stafford, of New Mills. In the first instance it was proposed that the building should cost about £1,500, but the expense of changing the site, and other circumstances and improvements which were found necessary, caused a more useful building to be decided upon. The chief features of the building are a large reading-room, two committee or class-rooms, a library, a room for the savings bank, ante-room, and the hall-keeper’s house. Over all these is the large room or hall, sufficient to accommodate 600 people comfortably. The cost incurred in the erection and the estimate of the fittings is £2,282. [Ashton Weekly Reporter 16 September 1871 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 7 May 1870 (Contracts)
Reference    The Architect Volume III 7 May 1870 page 228