Workshops and Institute for the Blind Deansgate Manchester

WORKSHOPS AND INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND - On Saturday afternoon Mr William Armitage chairman of the Board of Management of Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Old Trafford, laid the memorial stone of the new Workshops and Institute for the Blind now in course of erection in Deansgate, Manchester. The building, now some 15 feet above street level, will, when complete, contain sub-basement, basement ground and four other floors. The sub-basement will contain a basket store, tanks for steeping the willows used in basket making, and the boiler house. The basement is intended to be used as a workshop for the heavier class of goods. Upon the ground floor will be situated the office for the secretary etc. and, with these exceptions, the whole of the ground floor will be utilised as a retail shop. Upon the first floor will be the boardroom and a large room suitable for the meetings and service of the blind. The next two floors will be used as workshops, and the topmost floor for storage. Ample provision is made for ventilation, and the whole building will be heated by steam. The materials used in construction of the building are stone and buff and red terra cotta. The plans have been designed by Messrs Heathcote and Rawle, architects, Princess Street Manchester; and Messrs Wilson Toft and Huntley, City Road, are the contractors. The total cost of the building and fittings will be about £11,000. [Manchester Guardian 12 November 1888 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 12 November 1888 page 6
Reference    Manchester Faces and Places with photograph - CHECK