Assembly Hall (William) Hulme Grammar School

At the annual speech day of the Hulme Grammar School the headmaster announced that £4,700 had been allotted to the school for extension of the building by the Hulme Charity. The Governors were currently considering a design by W Cecil Hardisty for a suitable assembly hall and for the addition of a gymnasium, laboratories, and classrooms. However, this scheme would cost £3,000 to £4,000 more and he appealed for donations. [Manchester Guardian 31 July 1908 page 5]

THE HULME GRAMMAR SCHOOL EXTENSION - The drawing shows the proposed extension to the buildings of the Hulme Grammar School, Alexandra Park, Manchester. The existing building is shown on the extreme left; the one storey part of the new building will give a main entrance and a secretary’s office on the ground floor and in the basement, storerooms and a room for drying clothes. The hall which adjoins it will, when complete, be 90 feet in length by 40 feet wide, divided longitudinally into six bays by oak roof trusses of the “hammer-beam” type of construction. The walls will be panelled in oak to a height of 8 feet and faced with Ruabon brick above. The floor will be laid with oak blocks. Externally the new building will be in red Ruabon brickwork and terra cotta, and will harmonise in general architectural treatment with the existing school. The cost of the whole building, exclusive of furnishings, will be about £7,500. Towards this the Governors have in hand out of the funds of the Hulme Trust about £4,700 and this has been augmented by a gift of £500, so that the additional sum required to complete the building is £2,300. The Governors hold that the provision of a suitable assembly hall is urgent, and they have decided to proceed with the main entrance and four of the six bays of the hall, at a cost exceeding their present resources by about £400. It is earnestly hoped that the generosity of friends of the school will enable them to complete the building without delay. The plans have been prepared by Mr Cecil Hardisty, architect, of Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 3 August 1909 page 3]

The new buildings in extension of the Hulme Grammar School, Manchester, including a large assembly-hall with hammer beam roof, were declared open on Thursday in last week by the Dean of Manchester (Bishop Welldon). The architect is Mr W Cecil Hardisty, of Queen's Chambers, Manchester, and the cost has been about £6,000. [Building News 19 May 1911 page 696]

See also Jones and Dalrymple 1926 extensions.

Reference        Manchester Guardian 31 July 1908 page 5 – proposed extension
Reference        Builder 10 April 1909 Page 447 - proposed building works
Reference        Builder 14 August 1909 Page 193 and notes
Reference        Building News 30 July 1909 Page 191 - Hardisty preparing plans
Reference        Manchester Guardian 3 August 1909 page 3 with illustration
Reference        Manchester Guardian 12 May 1911 page 3 – opening by Dean of Manchester
Reverence       Building News 19 May 1911 page 696 - opening