Droylsden Educational Institution, Market Street and Ashton New Road, Droylsden

DROYLSDEN - On the 20th and 22nd ult. the Droylsden Institute was inaugurated. The design for the edifice was furnished by Mr. Alfred Waterhouse, of Manchester, who has also superintended the erection, and the contractors were Messrs. Thomas Bates and Co. of Droylsden. The building is a rectangular structure in the Gothic style, two stories in height, and faced with red bricks, relieved with stone dressings and white brick bands, and standing on a basement of stone. The roof is acute in pitch, covered with alternate slips of blue and green slates, and perforated on the south with five dormer windows, and crowned with an octagonal ventilating turret, in the centre of the apex or ridge. On the ground floor of the south or principal front is the library, to be used as a committee-room as well, and there is also a classroom for female members, lighted by a triplet window. On the opposite side is a news rooms, 28 feet by 18 feet, fitted up with tables of pitch-pine, and beyond are two classrooms, provided with desks. The whole of the upper story forms a hall, 60 feet by 28 feet, and 31 feet 6 inches high, suitable for lectures, concerts, and public assemblies, with a permanent graduated platform at one end, to which a staircase from the library affords private access. It has an open-timbered roof of high pitch, sustained by five stained deal principals. The room is lighted by seven three-light windows on the south and east sides, by the dormer windows above, and by a rose window in each of the gables. The total cost of the building, with furniture, will he about £1,200 of which about £620 have been secured. [Builder 18 December 1858 page 857]

DEROYLSDEN NEW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION – On Saturday the new building of the Droylsden Education institution was inaugurated with much enthusiasm by the inhabitants.  The new building, which is of two storeys, is situated at the junction of Market-street and the Ashton New Road. It is built in the Gothic style. from a design by Mr. Alfred Waterhouse, architect, Cross-street, Manchester; the contractors being Messrs. Thomas Bates and Co. The building is faced with red bricks, relieved with stone dressings, and white brick bands. On the ground floor there are four classrooms (one of also serves as a library and committee room) and a reading room. The whole of the upper storey—with the exception of a small anteroom—is occupied by a large room. 60 feet by 23 feet. with a permanent platform at one end. It has an open timbered roof of five stained deal principals. On one side, and at one end, are several three-light windows; and above the side windows is a range of dormer windows. At each end, corresponding in height with the dormers, is a rose light window. The entrance to this room is from Market-street; and that to the classrooms from the Ashton New Road. The foundation stone was laid on 5 June last by Mr Richard Christy. [Manchester Guardian 22 November 1858 page 3]

Reference    Builder 18 December 1858 page 857
Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 November 1858 page 3