Bury Technical Schools Broad Street Bury

Opened                15 September 1894

BURY, LANCASHIRE -The technical school which has been built by the Bury Corporation between Broad-street and Moss-lane was opened by Earl Derby on Saturday. The building occupies an area of 1,830 square yards, and adjoins the proposed art gallery and library. The treatment is Classic, with Renaissance ornamentation, and the main facade is of dressed Cullingworth stone, the side fronts being of red pressed bricks from Accrington, with stone strings and dressings, and the roofs are covered with Westmorland slates. Over the windows in. the  principal facade are four stone panels of large dimensions, filled with sculpture in bold relief, representing various manufactures, the arts and sciences, history, painting, geography, shipbuilding, and different industries. In the centre of the building at the rear is a campanile shaft 100 feet in height. In the basement are the physical laboratory, science lecture theatre, dye stuffs and plumbing classrooms, and the gas-engine and dynamo rooms. On the ground floor are the chemical lecture theatre, the largest room in the building, cookery lecture theatre and kitchen, mechanics' and carpenters' instruction room and textile instruction room, women's lecture hail, and committee-room. On the first floor are the art classrooms, 74 feet by 24 feet, and three other classrooms, and over these are another art classroom, 46 feet by 23 feet, and a modelling room. On the main staircase is a Lancashire window of thirty large lights filled with coats-of-arms and badges of families connected with the county. Mr J. Cartwright, C.E., the borough engineer, has designed and planned the buildings, etc. The various works have been let under separate contracts. The bulk of the work has been executed by Bury contractors, Appended is a list of the chief contractors: Brickwork, Mr Cammack Dennis, Bury; stonework, Mr F. Nuttall, Whitefield;  joinery and carpentry, the Bury Sawmill Company, Bury; plumber's work, Mr R. Caton, Bury; plasterer's work, Mr J. Ramsden, Bury. The other contractors are: Concretor, Mr. R. L.  Lowe, Farnworth; electric lighting, Heywood Brothers, Manchester; gas-engine, E Andrews and Company, Stockport ; wood block floors, the Wood Block Floor Company, London; fire- places, urinals, lavatories, and faience work, Doulton and Company, London; ventilators,  J. H. Piclrup and Company, Bury; mosaic Minton and Company, London; pavement lights, Hyatt and Company, London; mica flap ventilators, Hayward and Company, London; stained and painted glass,  Seward and Company, Lancaster; iron girders and roof, Webb and Son, Bury; desks and seats, John Heywood, Manchester; ornamental staircase, the Coalbrookdale Company; carving and sculpture, Mr J. B, Whittick and Mr J. J. Millson, Manchester. The excavations, &c., have been done by the corporation's own workmen. , Mr George E. Smirk was the clerk bf works. Exclusive of cost of land and furnishing, the outlay has been £16,000. [Building News 21 September 1894 page 412]

THE BURY MUNICIPAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL – On Saturday afternoon the new Technical school built by the Bury Corporation was formally opened by Lord Derby. It is in the centre of the town, on a plot of land between Broad Street and Moss Lane. It is about eighteen months since the work was commenced, and the corner stone was laid in June of last year by Lord Derby’s eldest son, Lord Stanley MP. The school itself covers some 1800 square yards, but when the contemplated art gallery and libraries are added the ground covered will exceed 3,000 square yards. The front of the school in Broad Street is very handsome. It has been built entirely of stone brought from the Culingworth quarries. On the Moss Lane front is the main gable of the chemical laboratory, and this also is in stone. The main buildings are of brick, faced with Accrington red pressed brick and relieved with ashlar dressings. The rooms on the ground floor include a reference library and reading room for the students, a cookery lecture theatre with a kitchen attached, mechanics' and carpenters' instruction room, textile instruction room, a room for lectures on domestic economy, sewing, etc; science master’s room and a chemical theatre. In the basement are the physical laboratory, science lecture theatre, dye stuffs and plumbing classrooms, and several other rooms not yet set apart for any special purpose.  On the first floor are four rooms for the use of art students and above these is a large art classroom. The chemical laboratory is practically a separate building. It is well equipped and provides accommodation for 48 students. The lighting throughout is by electricity. The buildings have been designed by the borough engineer, Mr J Cartwright. [Manchester Guardian 17 September 1894 page 8]

Reference    Building News 30 June 1893 Page 890
Reference    Manchester Guardian 26 June 1893 page 8 - foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 September 1894 page 8 – opening
Reference    Building News 21 September 1894 page 412
Reference    British Architect 21 September 1894 Page 213