Free Library and Technical Schools, St Helens (Architectural Competition)

In the competition Woodhouse and Willoughby were placed first by the assessor. After requests to reduce costs, the Committee eventually decided to proceed with the second placed entry by Briggs and Wolstenholme of Blackburn.

THE NEW FREE LIBRARY AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AT ST HELENS – The committee appointed to carry out the erection of the new technical schools and free library at St Helens have given their awards on the plans for the new buildings submitted by the competing architects. The first prize of £100 is given to Messrs Woodhouse and Willoughby of King Street Manchester. The schools and library, which are to cost £20,000 are being presented to the town by Colonel Gamble. [Manchester Guardian 14 October 1893 page 9]

The St. Helen's Free Library and Technical Schools Competition has been determined as follows: —1st premium of £100 to Messrs. Woodhouse & Willoughby, Manchester; and premium of £50 to Messrs. Briggs & Wolstenholme, Blackburn; and 3rd premium of £25 to Mr. G. Ledger, London. This makes the sixth competition for technical schools won by Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, the five previous ones being at Blackburn (£27,000), Rochdale (£9,800), Heywood (£7,000), Widnes (£10,750), and Winsford (£4,500). Or in other words, 5 per cent, on £58,300. [British Architect 20 October 1893 page 269]

ST HELENS -The committee appointed to carry out the erection of the new Free Library and Technical Schools, which Col. Gamble is presenting to St. Helen’s at a cost of £20,000, considered on Friday the report of the assessor (Mr Hartley, FRIBA, Liverpool) on the 40 competitive designs which had been sent in. The committee accepted Mr. Hartley’s report. and awarded the prizes as follows: Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, King-street, Manchester, first prize. £100; Messrs. Briggs and Wolstenholme, Blackburn, second prize, £50; Mr. G. Sedger, London, third prize, £25. Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby were also the »successful competitors for designs for Blackburn technical schools, £27,000; Rochdale, £9,800; Heywood, £7,000; Widnes Technical School and Free Library, £10,750; and Winsford, £4,500. But although the committee have awarded this firm the first prize, it is understood that they have not finally adopted the plans in their entirety. The premiated designs will be on view until Wednesday in next week in the town hall of St. Helen’s. The design placed first shows a structure in the English Renaissance style freely treated. The building will be faced with machine- made Ruabon red bricks on three elevations - Hardshaw, Corporation, and Bickerstaife streets - with dressings in terracotta, either tan or red. The main library entrance is shown almost at the corner of Corporation and Hardshaw streets, emphasised by a small tower. In the basement of the building are located gas-engine and ventilation and heating rooms, engineering and metallurgical laboratories, and manual training and building and plumbing departments. On the ground floor will be lending library, reference library, and reading-room, with shelving for 50,000 volumes: large general reading-room for newspapers and magazines, ladies’ and boys' reading-room, and librarian's office. The first floor will have lecture-room for physics, preparation-room, physical laboratory accommodation, mechanical and geometrical drawing-room, two art-rooms, modelling-room, and six classrooms. The second floor will include organiser’s office, with waiting-room, chemical lecture-room, chemical laboratory for 60 pupils, cookery kitchen, laundry, etс. The building will be illuminated by electricity from the town hall. [Building News 20 October 1893 page 506]

TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ST HELENS - In the competition Woodhouse and Willoughby were placed first by the assessor. After requests to reduce costs, the Committee eventually decided to proceed with the second placed entry by Briggs and Wolstenholme of Blackburn. Report on general conditions relating to architectural competitions. [British Architect 19 January 1894. Page 39]

The Manchester Society of Architects have condemned the action of the promoters of the St. Helens Free Library and Technical School Competition in the following resolution passed at a meeting held on the 23rd inst.:—" That the Council, having perused the copies of the correspondence which has taken place between Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby and the authorities of the St. Helens Technical School, regret that contrary to the assessor's award, the committee should have decided to allow the authors of the second premiated design to carry out the work in preference to the authors of the first, a decision which they consider to be opposed to the true spirit of competitions." As we have already previously said, Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby have practically no remedy, seeing the express stipulation of the committee that they would not be bound to adopt any particular design, whether premiated or not. All the same we are distinctly of opinion that this setting aside of the assessor's award is subversive of the true spirit and intentions of architectural competition. [British Architect 26 January 1894 page 55]

Reference        Manchester Guardian 14 October 1893 page 9
Reference        British Architect 20 October 1893 page 269
Reference        Building News 20 October 1893 page 506
Reference        Builder 21 October 1893 page 304
Reference        Builder 28 October 1893 page 319
Reference        British Architect 19 January 1894. Page 39
Reference        British Architect 26 January 1894 page 55