Albert Chambers, 16 Albert Square, Manchester
Albert Chambers, situated in Albert Square, next to the Memorial Hall, is a stone fronted building of somewhat original design. The small balcony breaks up the facade in a pleasing manner, and some of the window heads have a trefoil cusped outline of a Venetian Gothic character. The embattled cornice is rather eccentric in treatment, but not unpleasant in effect.[The Critic 15 June 1872 Page 259]
Of the four buildings that form the south side of Albert Square, three - the Memorial Hall, Bridgewater Buildings (Carlton House), and St Andrew’s Chambers - are well documented. The fourth, Albert Chambers, although listed Grade II, has been erroneously included with the adjoining Bridgewater Chambers for many years, and even the current listing text still remains highly questionable.
In this instance an accurate date for practical completion can be provided by the contemporary press. According to George Wadsworth and Son, the letting agents for the building, Albert Chambers was scheduled for completion on 1st August 1867. Over the following months a series of classified advertisements appeared in the Manchester Guardian offering office space for lease, further confirming this date. This would accord with the lack of any records for this building in Manchester Building Control archives, as it was not until 1868 that it became compulsory to submit drawings for all new buildings in Manchester (information from David Hilton). Additionally, photographic evidence confirms that Albert Chambers was certainly complete by 1869, the second new building on this side of the square after the Memorial Hall.
Albert Chambers was always a speculative office development and not purpose-built for Manchester Corporation Gas Department as is sometimes suggested. It is, however, true that the basement, ground floor, and first floor were leased by the Gas Department as a short- term expedient until such time as their offices in the new Town Hall were ready for occupation. At a council meeting of April 1868 at which the detailed planning of the Town Hall was still under discussion, it was noted that the Gas Department had taken this action and reports indicate that they remained in Albert Chambers until December 1875 when works were sufficiently advanced to allow them to take possession of their new offices in the Town Hall. At this time their offices in Albert Chambers were immediately vacated and offered for lease.
There appears no real evidence that Clegg and Knowles were responsible for the design. When Cecil Stewart prepared the first comprehensive list of Manchester buildings and their architects, this attribution was provided by the City Architect. However, as already noted, details of the building do not appear in the Council archive, and earlier listings confuse it with Bridgewater Buildings. That Speakman and Charlesworth were in fact the architects for the building can be argued on both documentary and stylistic grounds.
TO BE LET - The Newly-erected and Magnificent PREMISES, called Albert Chambers, in Albert Square, will be completed about the 1st August. Applications for tenancy, either in suites or as a whole may be made to George Wadsworth and Son, 96 Cross Street. [Manchester Guardian 8 July 1867 page 1]
Reference The Critic 15 June 1872 Page 259
Reference Manchester Guardian 8 July 1867 page 1 - To be Let
Reference Manchester Guardian 13 July 1867 page 1 - To be Let (repeat)
Reference Manchester Guardian 16 September 1867 page 1 - To be Let
Reference Manchester Guardian 21 September 1867 page 2 - To be Let
Reference Manchester Guardian 23 September 1867 page 4 - To be Let – repeat
Reference Victorian Society of Manchester Newsletter Autumn 2012
LISTING TEXT - Formerly erroneously included with No.18 (q.v.). Offices. 1873, by Clegg and Knowles, for Manchester Corporation Gasworks; altered. Sandstone ashlar, slate roof. Rectangular plan. Venetian style. Basement and 4 storeys, a 5‑window facade horizontally divided between 1st and 2nd floors, the lower portion treated as a regular 5‑bay arcade of round‑headed arches with pilasters which have carved caps, and the upper portion with windows grouped 1:4:1 in panels, a Lombard frieze to each panel and another over the whole, with a moulded cornice and embattled parapet. The doorway in the 5th bay has lion‑mask brackets to the lintel, a semi-circular fanlight, a 2‑centred arched extrados and a carved tympanum including mask, lion and unicorn. All the windows are sashed without glazing bars, those at ground floor segmental‑headed, those at 1st floor round‑headed with foliated sills, imposts and hood-moulds; above this level, the 3‑bay centre has an unusual prominent sill on brackets and most of the windows have rounded trefoil heads except those in the centre of the 2nd floor which are square‑headed and have shafts with foliated caps. Interior not inspected. History: formerly occupied by Manchester School of Music.