Assembly and Concert Room, Talbot Road Blackpool

BLACKPOOL ASSEMBLY AND CONCERT ROOMS COMPANY - A general meeting of the shareholders of this company was held on Saturday last, at which it was resolved that a plot of land with the house thereon in Talbot-square, Blackpool, in front of the pier entrances, should be purchased for erecting thereon a handsome pile of buildings for the purpose of an assembly and concert room, with ante-rooms, billiard, reading, refreshment, and photographic rooms in the upper part, and an arcade of number of shops on the ground floor, and cellaring below, the cost of the building not to exceed £8,000. Subject to these terms, it was proposed to employ Messrs. Speakman and Charlesworth as architects, the professional charges to be 5 per cent and railway fares. It is expected to derive 10 per cent interest on the outlay. [Manchester Courier 22 December 1866 page 9]

BLACKPOOL NEW ASSEMBLY AND CONCERT ROOMS – The new Assembly and Concert Rooms at Blackpool, erected by a limited liability company composed principally of Manchester gentlemen, has just been opened. The building, which is very handsome, and will form one of the features of that fashionable watering place, occupies an excellent site at the junction of Talbot Road and Clifton Street. It stands upon a raised terrace of triangular form, the apex of the triangle fronting the sea, being crowned with an octagonal tower, which produces a good effect, and takes away from the block the unsightly wedge-shaped appearance which it otherwise would have presented. At the base of the triangle is a spacious arcade in which shops are situated, and from which visitors enter the Assembly Room by the principal staircase. There is from the arcade, also, a private entrance to the stage. The principal room (omitting the orchestra) is 74 feet long by 38 feet wide and has galleries on two sides and at the lower end. The ceiling is lofty and panelled; and is furnished with three large domes from which sunlights are suspended. The stage (in the construction of which provision has been made for scenery, so as to afford facilities for theatrical performances) is very commodious; it has its separate entrance, as before described, and convenient retiring rooms and a large green room. From the terrace in Talbot Road is a staircase to be used principally as a means of access to the reading room, which is 36 feet in diameter, and so arranged that it may be used as occasion requires, as a drawing or reception room. It has two sets of communicating doors; and a balcony in front (the front forming the extreme apex of the triangle), which will be found an agreeable lounge; and in immediate contiguity are billiard-rooms, photographic rooms and other conveniences. From the last-mentioned staircase access is also gained to the galleries of the Assembly Room, and the body of the hall. On the Clifton Street side is a broad staircase leading to the basement under one part of the building where is situated a large refreshment room (which has long been a great want in Blackpool), with kitchens and other accommodation calculated to meet the wants of excursionists. The ground floor of the building is occupied by shops, 17 in number, most of which are now tenanted; the face the terraces and arcade, which are likely to form one of the chief promenades in the town. The entire cost of the building is about £9,000. The architects were Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth, of this city, and Mr Drummond, of Fleetwood, was the contractor. [Manchester Guardian 15 July 1868 page 6]

BLACKPOOL - The new Assembly and Concert Rooms at Blackpool, erected by a limited liability company composed principally of Manchester gentlemen, have just been opened. The building occupies a site at the junction of Talbot-road and Clifton-street. It stands upon a raised terrace of triangular form, the apex of the triangle, fronting the sea, being crowned with an octagonal tower. At the base of the triangle is a spacious arcade, in which shops are situated, and from which visitors enter the Assembly Room by the principal staircase. The principal room (omitting the orchestra) is 74 feet long by 38 feet wide, and has galleries on two sides and at the lower end. The ceiling is lofty and panelled; and is furnished with three large domes, from which sun-lights are suspended. The stage (in the construction of which provision has been made for scenery, so as to afford facilities for theatrical performances) is commodious. From the terrace in Talbot Road is a staircase, to be used principally as a means of access to the reading-room, which is 36 ft. in diameter. In immediate contiguity are billiard-rooms, photographic-rooms, etc. From the last-mentioned staircase access is also gained to the galleries of the Assembly Room, and the body of the hall. The entire cost of the building is about £9,000.  [Builder 25 July 18681 page 557]

Reference    Manchester Courier 22 December 1866 page 9
Reference    Manchester Guardian 15 July 1868 page 6
Reference    Builder 25 July 1868 page 557