Widnes Free Public Library and Technical School
We understand that Messrs. Woodhouse & Willoughby, of Manchester, have been awarded the first premium in the Widnes Free Public Library and Technical School competition, the second premium going to Messrs. Briggs & Wolstenholme, of Blackburn, and the third to Mr. C. O. Ellison, F.R.I.B.A., of Liverpool. Mr. Hartley, of Liverpool, was the assessor. [British Architect 14 October 1892 page 274]
TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND FREE LIBRARY, WIDNES - The foundation-stone of the new Technical School and Free Library for Widnes, which is being erected on a site adjoining Victoria square, was laid recently by Mr. T. Sutton Timmis, J.P. The building is being erected by Mr. T. Dilworth, contractor, Wavertree, from the designs and under the superintendence of Messrs. Woodhouse & Willoughby, architects, Manchester. The various rooms of the Public Library will be grouped round the lending library. The news-room will be a one-story building, with open limbered roof, and the boys' room is placed next to the librarian's. The building will have two main entrances, each facing Victoria-road, one for the Public Library, the other for the Technical Schools, the latter having a keeper's house and committee-room adjacent. A separate side entrance and exit will also appear on the west elevation for the readiness of access and despatch to the frequenters of the lending library. The chemical laboratory will stand on the back of the site, and farthest away from Victoria-road. The laboratory will be entered through double doors, will have open and timbered roof, and will be filled with five working tables (double) to accommodate forty students. In conjunction with the laboratory are provided a balance-room, store and reagent room, and bottle-room, together with the lecture-room for demonstrations, etc., fitted with raised gallery, demonstrator’s table, etc. With regard to the material used, all exposed internal joinery will be executed in selected pitch-pine, stained and varnished. All corridors, passages, and reading-rooms to be paved with pitch-pine blocks, while the entrance-hall will be laid with ceramic mosaic. The elevations throughout are designed to be faced with Ruabon bricks, with all dressings in red terra-cotta, from Henry Dennis, Ruabon. The estimated cost of the structure is about £10,000. [Builder 21 July 1894 page 45]
TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY, WIDNES - The site chosen for this building is a most favourable one, being level, well drained, and abutting on to the main road, and having elevations to three good streets. The design was selected in open competition, on the advice of Mr. Henry Hartley, FRIBA, of Liverpool, the assessor called in by the Committee.
The building is divided into two sections, a public free library in the one, and a science, art, and technical school in the other. The following accommodation is provided: The public library is central, having perfect supervision of the adjacent rooms, also in itself having ample storage room for books and papers; due provision is made for future extensions, and ready access to every room. The news-room has been given a prominent position, and will be a one-storey building with open timbered roof, thus obtaining ample light and air space without detracting from the appearance of the facade to Victoria-road, which is the principal street in Widnes. The boys’ room, being planned next to the librarian's room, is under his personal supervision, as well as under that of the assistant in the lending department. The lending library is lighted by both top and side-lights. A book-store will be arranged in gallery form, with a storeroom for old periodicals and newspapers. In the technical and art schools every teaching-room throughout is lighted from left hand side and back; the different classes are grouped into departments, the chemical department and handicraft class-room isolated from the rest of the school.
The building will have two main entrances from the ground floor, with vestibules to each, both facing Victoria-road, one for the public library, the other for the technical schools; the latter has a keeper’s house and committee-room adjacent. A separate side entrance and exit will also appear on the west elevation for readiness of access and despatch to the frequenters of the lending library. The chemical laboratory will stand on the back of the site, and furthest away from Victoria-road. The laboratory will be entered through double doors, will have open timbered roofs, and will be spacious and lofty. It will be fitted with five workable tables (double) to accommodate forty students. The fittings generally will be of pitch-pine, with teak tops to the tables. In conjunction with the laboratory are provided a balance-room, store and re-agent room, and bottle-rooms, together with the lecture room for demonstrations, etc., fitted with raised gallery, demonstrators’ table, etc. The whole of the warming and ventilating will be carried out by the Sturtevant Engineering Company, London, whose system was finally adopted by the committee alter an exhaustive examination of many other mechanical systems at present in use. By this arrangement the whole of the building, or any portion as desired, can always be flooded with pure warm air in the winter, and pure cold air in the summer; the same system of ventilating and heating will apply to corridors, staircases, and entrances; the system is arranged to completely change the whole of the air in the building three or more times within the hour, and maintain an even temperature throughout - 60 to 65 degrees. With regard to the material used, all exposed internal joinery will be executed in pitch-pine, stained and varnished; corridors, passages, and reading-rooms of pitch-pine blocks; while the entrance hall will be paved with ceramic mosaic of simple design. The elevations are designed to be faced with machine-made Ruabon bricks, with all the dressings in red terra-cotta, which are being supplied by Mr. Henry Dennis, Ruabon; the enriched parts and ornament generally being specially modelled from cartoons approved by the architects. The erection of the whole of the work has been entrusted to the hands of Mr. Isaac Dilworth, contractor, of Wavertree, Liverpool, from the designs and under the supervision of Messrs Woodhouse & Willoughby, of Manchester. It is estimated that the structure will take about eighteen months to erect, at the total cost about £12,000, including equipment. [Builder 27 October 1894 page 294]
The new Technical School and Free Library, built by the Corporation of Widnes, were opened on Friday by the Earl of Derby. The building, which has cost £11,000, is in keeping with the town hall and other adjacent structures. The elevations are faced with Ruabon bricks, with dressings in terracotta. There are two main entrances, one to the library and another to the technical school, both in the principal facade. The whole of the work has been carried out by Mr. I. Dilworth, Liverpool, from the designs of Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, Manchester. [Building News 7 August 1896 page 209]
WlDNES TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND FREE LIBRARY - THE new technical school and free library at Widnes was formally opened by the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, G.C.B., on the 30th inst. The site chosen for this building is a most favourable one, being level, well drained, and abutting on to Victoria Road, and having elevations to three principal streets. The building is divided into two sections, a public free library in the one, and a technical, science and art school in the other. The public library, with ample storage room for books and papers, is centrally planned, having perfect supervision of, and free access to every adjacent room. The news-room has a prominent position and is a one storey building with open timbered roof, thus providing ample light and air space. The boys' room, being placed next to the librarian's, is under his direct supervision. The lending library is lighted both from the top and sides. The technical school comprises chemical laboratory with balance, store and re-agent rooms; chemical lecture-room with preparation-room; handicraft-room and various classrooms, all of which are on the ground floor, as is also a large committee-room; the chemical department and handicraft classroom being isolated from the rest of the school. On the first floor are elementary art-room, painting-room, modelling-room, classrooms and keeper's quarters. Ample lavatory accommodation for both sexes is provided on each floor. The building has two main entrances, one to the library and another to the technical school, both appearing on the principal facade fronting Victoria Road; a separate side entrance is provided for the lending library. The' elevations are faced with machine-made Ruabon bricks, with all the dressings in terra cotta supplied by Mr. Henry Dennis, of Ruabon. The enriched parts and ornament generally being specially modelled from cartoons, approved by the architects, by Mr. J. J. Millsom, of City Road, Manchester. The wood-block floors throughout have been carefully laid by Mr. Roger Lowe, of Farnworth, and Mr. Williams, of Manchester, has provided the tiling and mosaic work. The stained-glass windows have been executed by Messrs. Sutherland, of Manchester. The whole of the warming and ventilating has been carried out by the Sturtevant Engineering Co., London, by whose system the entire building or any portion as desired, can be always flooded with warm fresh air in the winter, and cool fresh air in the summer. The whole of the work has been successfully carried out by Mr. Isaac Dilworth, contractor, of Wavertree, Liverpool, from the designs of Messrs. Woodhouse & Willoughby, F.R.I.B.A., of Manchester (who have made the designing and equipment of school structures a special study), their designs having been selected in open competition by Mr. H. Hartley, F.R.I.B.A., the assessor appointed by the committee. [British Architect 31 July 1896 page 88]
WIDNES - The Technical School and Free Library at Widnes was formally opened by the Earl of Derby on July 30th. The site abuts on to Victoria Road and has frontages to three principal streets. The building is divided into two sections, a Public Free Library in the one and a Technical Science and Art School in the other. The Public Library is centrally planned, having perfect supervision of, and free access to every adjacent room. The news-room has a prominent position and is a one-story building with open timbered roof. The Boys’ Room is placed next to that of the Librarian. The Lending Library is lighted both from the top and sides. The Technical School comprises Chemical Laboratory with Balance, Store and other Rooms; Chemical Lecture Room, with Preparation Room; Handicraft Room and various classrooms, all of which are on the ground floor, as is also a large committee room; the Chemical Department and Handicraft classroom being isolated from the rest of the school. On the first floor are Elementary Art Room, Painting Room, Modelling Room, classrooms, and keeper’s quarters. Ample lavatory accommodation for both sexes is provided on each floor. The whole of the warming and ventilating has been carried outby the Sturtevant Engineering Company, London. The building has two main entrances, one to the library and another to the Technical School, both appearing on the principal facade fronting Victoria Road: a separate side entrance is provided for the Lending Library. The elevations are faced with machine-made Ruabon bricks, with all the dressings in terra cotta, supplied by Mr. Henry Dennis, of Ruabon, the enriched parts being specially modelled from cartoons approved by the Architects by Mr. J. J. Millsom, of City Road, Manchester. The wood block floors throughout have been laid by Mr. Roger Lowe. of Farnworth, and Mr. Williams. of Manchester, has provided the tiling and mosaic work. The stained-glass windows have been executed by Messrs. Sutherland, of Manchester. The whole of the work has been carried out by Mr Isaac Dilworth, contractor, of Wavertree, Liverpool, from the designs of Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, of Manchester. which were selected in open competition by Mr. H. Hartley, of Liverpool, the assessor appointed by the committee. [Builders Journal August 1896 page with illustration]
Reference British Architect 14 October 1892 page 274
Reference Manchester Guardian 11 March 1893 (Contracts)
Reference Builder 21 July 1894 page 45
Reference Builder 27 October 1894 page 294
Reference Builder 8 August 1896 page124
Reference Building News 7 August 1896 page 209
Reference British Architect 31 July 1896 page 88
Reference Builders Journal August 5 August 1896 page 411 and illustration
