South Wing, St Bede’s Catholic College, Alexandra Road, Whalley Range

ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE – Yesterday the four memorial stones of the new south wing in connection with the St Bede’s College, Alexandra Park, were laid in the presence of a numerous company  … There were four founders Mr L O’Neil who had given £6,000, the Duke of Norfolk (£1,000) Sir Humphrey de Trafford (£1,000) and Mr Daniel Murphy of California (£1,000)) … The hall of the Aquarium had cost £7,000 and the south wing would cost £12,000. The new wing is from designs by Messrs A Dunn and E Hansom, architects, Newcastle-upon- Tyne. [Manchester Guardian 17 May 1878 page 7]

MANCHESTER - The memorial stones of St. Bede's Roman Catholic College were laid a fortnight since. The building, formerly known as the Manchester Aquarium (qv), having with the surrounding grounds, been purchased by the Bishop of Salford, the problem to be solved was to incorporate the building with the new parts necessary for carrying on the work of such a college. The plan consists of one long block of building, broken by pavilions at either end. In plan the whole is that of the letter T inverted. In treating the exterior, the architects have adopted the style of the Italian Renaissance, the general outline being very much that of the Florentine palaces. Red brick and terra cotta are the materials used in the construction. The terra cotta is being manufactured by Messrs. Doulton and Watts, of Lambeth, and the general contract carried out by Mr. William Healey, of Salford. Messrs. Dunn and Hansom, of Newcastle, are the architects. [Building News 31 May 1878 page 560]

ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE - The memorial stones of St. Bede’s Roman Catholic College, Alexandra-road, Manchester, were laid on the 16th inst. The college, which was recently founded by Dr. Vaughan, the R.C. Bishop of Salford, is designed to provide for the sous of gentlemen such an education as is calculated to fit them for success in professional and commercial life. The new buildings for the college, of which the south wing is now being built, are designed by Messrs. Archibald Dunn and Edward J. Hansom, architects, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The building, formerly known as the Manchester Aquarium, having, with the surrounding grounds, been purchased by Dr. Vaughan, the problem to be solved was to incorporate the building with the new parts necessary for carrying on the work of such a college. The plan consists of one long block of building, broken by pavilions at either end, running parallel to the Alexandra Road, and facing the Alexandra Park, slightly in advance of the present front of the Aquarium (which it will ma.sk) and making the old building the central hall. In plan the whole resembles the letter T inverted. The central hall will he kept as the exhibition room and museum, also for meetings, &c. In the centre of the college, and immediately in front of this hall, is the entrance and grand staircase leading to the first floor. On either side extends the new front, which will contain the study-room (65 ft. by 23 ft.); playrooms, 43|ft. by 29 ft. j libraries and class-rooms, 25 ft. by 23 ft., &c. In treating the exterior, the architects have adopted the style of the Italian Renaissance. Red brick and terra-cotta are the materials used in the construction, the details of the windows, cornices, etc., being carefully studied and ornamented with modelled enrichments, which, being repeated in terra-cotta, do not entail great expense, and in fact cost much less than a plain building having stone dressings would do. The terra-cotta is being manufactured by Messrs. Doulton & Watts, of Lambeth, and the general contractor is Mr. William Healey, of Salford. [Builder 25 May 1878 page 546]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 May 1878 page 7
Reference    Builder 25 May 1878 page 546
Reference    Building News 31 May 1878 page 560