Albert Hall and Ashton Institute, Peter Street, Manchester

 MANCHESTER WESLEYAN MISSION THE PETER-STREET HALL - The Rev. S. F. Collier has forwarded some particulars of the projected new hall and institute of the Manchester and Salford Wesleyan Mission. The site is in Peter-street opposite the Free Trade Hall, where services have been held successfully for eighteen years. The large hall will be 86 feet by 78 feet, and will have about 2,500 patent tip-up chairs. Each person will have a full view of the preacher, and there will be ample entrances and exits. The social part of the scheme will have accommodation in a series of rooms. In the basement is a large area, 86 feet by 44 feet, to be used as club rooms for both sexes, divided into convenient rooms for the purpose and having kitchen adjoining, and with lavatory accommodation for both sexes. On the ground floor is a similar area, with classroom, sister's room, and room for staff. The front portion of the site facing Peter-street on this floor is being occupied by shops. The upper floors are occupied by the hall before mentioned, which has galleries on three sides and a large platform an orchestra. On these floors, surrounding the hall, are various rooms to be used as classrooms, minister's room choir-room, etc., eleven in number. There is suitable arrangement for all kinds of social and evangelistic work. There will be four entrances, with four staircases giving access to the hall and other parts. [Manchester Guardian 31 May 1907 page 11] 

THE PETER-STREET HALL - The ceremony of laying twelve memorial stones of the new Wesleyan Methodist Mission buildings in Peter Street, Manchester, was performed yesterday. It was attended by a great crowd of warm supporters of the cause which the buildings represented, but owing to heavy rain it had to be conducted with exceptional haste. Stones were laid by Mr. E. Tootal Broadhurst, Mrs. Henry Holloway. Mrs. Joseph Rank, Miss Scott (daughter of Mr. C. H. Scott), Mr Alderman Agar, Mrs. Crofts, Mr. Alderman Royle (for Mrs. Royle), Mr. John Hammond, and Mr. John F. Haworth. Mrs Collier laid a stone on behalf of the Free Trade Hall congregation, and her husband. the Rev. S. F. Collier, superintendent of the Manchester and Salford Mission, did a like service for other branches of the Mission. Mr. Alderman Royle presided over the ceremony. The hall will have sitting accommodation for more than two thousand people. There will be room for overflow meetings. At present there is a "society" membership of about a thousand. [Manchester Guardian 25 March 1909 page 3] 

WESLEYAN MISSION HALL BUILDINGS, PETER STREET, MANCHESTER. - This design was accepted for execution as the result of a limited competition. The two front entrances are 18 feet wide, and give access, through crush lobbies, to the main staircases of the hall, and to the various ground floor rooms, which include a large lecture hall to seat 500, a smaller hall, and several large classrooms. The main hall occupies the first and second floors, and will seat 2,100 persons. The whole of the rooms in the basement are given up to social work, and include large workrooms for girls and for boys, reading room, kitchens, and large classrooms, to meet the needs of the various agencies of the mission. The general contractors are Messrs J. Gerrard and Sons, of Swinton. The total cost will be about £28,000. The architects are Messrs W. J. Morley and Sons, of Bradford and London. [Building News 5 February 1909 Page 210]

For some time past Manchester people have seen approaching completion a handsome building in Peter-street, not far from its junction with Deansgate, which has been called the Albert Hall and Aston Institute. It belongs to the Manchester and Salford Mission; which has its headquarters at the Central Hall, whose activities are directed by the Rev. S F Collier. The building stands upon a site which has been bought through the generosity of the late Mr. Edward Aston, the donor of £25,000. It is hoped in these premises to provide a home for the congregation and church worshipping up to the present time on Sunday evening in the Free Trade Hall, and to utilise the building as a city institution, helpful to all the churches and to Christian workers and social reformers. The premises comprise a large hall and 28 rooms of different size. On the ground floor are the lecture hall, seating 500 people; a library and reading room, three large classrooms, a staff room, and two smaller rooms used in connection with the working of the choirs, Visitation Society, Benevolent Society, and other departments of work. In the Institute there is a large recreation-room, divided by wood screens into two large rooms, and five other rooms for clubs for young women and youths. The building has been designed by Messrs. W. J. Morley and Sons: The entire cost of the scheme, site, and superstructure is estimated at £55,000. Towards this amount had up to yesterday been received, in cash and promises, the sum of £45.000. The formal opening of the door was made by Mrs. Aston. [Manchester Guardian 16 September 1910 page 4]

The lower two floors were converted to Brannigans, a large and, for a period of time, popular bar and nightclub during the 1990s. Brannigans closed in 2011, and the recently refurbished building reopened in 2014 as an events venue, restaurant and bar. According to their website , “the grand and ornate chapel has been restored into a stunning purpose built music hall and is set to become one of the most atmospheric music and events venues in the UK.”

Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 February 1907 Page 5 (Contracts for demolition and excavation
Reference    Manchester Guardian 31 May 1907 page 11
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 March 1909 page 3 – memorial stones
Reference    Building News 26 March 1909 Page 487 – memorial stones
Reference    Manchester Guardian 16 September 1910 Page 4 (opening ceremony)
Reference    Building News 5 February 1909 Page 210
Reference     Manchester City News 27 April 1909 Page 6
Reference    Builder 3 April 1909 Page 418
Reference    Manchester City News 17 September 1910 page 5 – opening
Reference    Manchester City News 3 September 1910 – photograph of interior