Iron-framed Warehouse, Tib Street, Manchester

A WAREHOUSE BUILT OF IRON - A novel feature in building construction, due in great measure to the present exceptionally low price of iron, has been introduced in the erection of a large warehouse in Manchester, which is at present being built for Messrs John Rylands and Reuben Spencer. from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. James H. Lynde, C. E. The building which when completed will cover an area of about 600 yards, consists of three fronts, six storeys high, the whole of which are constructed of cast iron. The main structure consists of vertical iron standards. 1 foot 9 inches wide and 1 foot 9 inches deep. The cornices and strings are 6 inches wide, and are carried on stretcher beams between the vertical standards, whilst the floors are carried by means of cast iron columns, between which and the vertical standards are cast iron girders, and the whole framework of the building is thus tied firmly together. The outside decorative features are in the Italian style, and the face of ornamental cast iron , is hung on to the framework and bolted, but in such a manner that in the case of the bolts decaying the ornamental castings would still remain in place. The advantages claimed for this system of building are, with the present price of iron, its cheapness, the great saving of wall space, and the large amount of light which is procured. This class of building is a new feature in Manchester, but Mr. Lynde has been commissioned to carry out other important work of a similar character. [Manchester Weekly Times 13 April 1878 page 6]

A novel feature in building construction, due in great measure to the present exceptionally low price of iron, has been introduced in the erection of a large warehouse in Manchester, which is at present being built for Messrs. John Rylands and Reuben Spencer, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. John H. Lynde, C.E. The building, when completed, will cover an area of about 600 yards, and consists of three fronts, six stories high, the whole of which are constructed of cast iron. The main structure consists of vertical iron standards 1ft. 9in. wide, and 1ft. 9in. deep, the cornices and string 6in. wide, and are carried on stretcher beams running between the vertical standards, whilst the floors are carried by means of cast-iron columns, between which and the vertical standards are cast-iron girders, and the whole framework of the building is thus tied firmly together. The outside decorative features are in the Italian style, and the face of ornamented cast iron is hung on to the framework and bolted, but in such a manner that in the case of the bolts decaying, the ornamented castings will still remain in place. [Building News 10 May 1878 page 485-486]

IRON FOR BUILDING PURPOSES - A correspondent of the “Engineer” recently referred to the large extent to which iron is now being introduced into the construction of modern buildings, and as an important illustration of this, and one which certainly presents some novel features he noticed a large warehouse now being erected in Manchester for Messrs John Rylands and Reuben Spencer by Mr John Henry Lynde, C.E., of the above city. The building, which when completed will cover about 600 yards, consists of three fronts, 6 stories high, the whole of which are constructed of cast iron. The main structure consists of vertical iron standards 1 foot 9 inches wide and 1 foot 9 inches deep, which on plan are in form of an inverted letter “w”. The cornices and strings are 6 inches wide, and are carried on stretcher beams running between the vertical standards, thus holding the whole framework firmly together. The floors are carried by means of cast-iron columns, between which and the vertical standards are cast-iron girders, which again tie the whole firmly together. The floor and joists are of wood, and with the exception of a back wall the building is constructed entirely of cast iron and timber. The outside decorative features are in the Italian style, and the face of ornamental cast iron is hung on to the framework and bolted, but is so arranged that should the bolts decay no accident can take place, as the ornamental castings will still remain in place. The advantages which are claimed for this system of building are with the present low price of iron — its cheapness; the saving of wall space, the window - frames in the above structure being within 6 inches of the face of the building; and also the great amount of light which is procured, which where masonry is employed would be impossible to the same extent. The iron work has been constructed and fixed by Messrs. William Milburn and Sons, of Staleybridge, and the remainder of the work is being executed by Messrs Robert Nield (sic) and Sons, of Manchester. This class of building is altogether a new feature in Manchester. — The Secretary of the Society of Engineers, speaking of the use of iron for building, in a letter to the Times," says that ten years since Messrs Heywood, of Derby, engineers and iron-founders, erected extensive stores and premises, the front of the building being of cast iron of a highly ornamental character. He adds: - " The only hindrance to the more general adoption of cast iron in this respect is the great outlay it would involve, unless several buildings of similar size and design were to be erected. In that case the same patterns would serve over and over again for the castings, In fact the greater the extent of production the smaller the first cost. In Messrs. Heywood’s case they produced their own castings, and had no other purse than their own to consult. I believe they were the first to introduce this class of structure, and I am not aware that it has been repeated.” [Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute 1878 page 273-275 - Iron for building purposes].

Reference    The Engineer 12 April 1878 page 267
Reference    Manchester Weekly Times 13 April 1878 page 6
Reference    Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute 1878 page 273-275 - Iron for building purposes
Reference    Building News 10 May 1878 page 485-486
Reference    Jonathan Clarke: Early Structural Steel in London Buildings page 92-93
Image        MCL