Layout of Infirmary Grounds and Esplanade Piccadilly Manchester

Reference           Manchester Guardian 14 January 1854 page 7

In considering the height of the proposed bronze stature of Dalton to be placed within the Infirmary grounds, it was agreed by the Dalton committee to postpone a decision until such time as the plans of Sir Joseph Paxton for the laying out of the Infirmary grounds were received - this it was anticipated would probably be within a week or ten days.

SIR JOSEPH PAXTON’S PLANS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY GROUNDS

We noticed some time ago the fact that Sir Joseph Paxton, during short visit to this city, had been requested by the gentleman of the Infirmary board and others taking an interest in the laying-out of the grounds of the Infirmary, and especially of the esplanade in front of the building, which is to be graced by our public statues to prepare plans for such disposition of the grounds as would give the best possible effect to the statuary, the fountains etc. and make the esplanade an attractive promenade, in the very heart of the city. Sir Joseph has finished the plans, which are now in the mayor’s parlour, Town Hall, and we shall be glad to see the beautiful designs carried out in their full integrity. Besides the ground plan upon a large sheet, Sir Joseph has sent a beautifully executed watercolour drawing in perspective, showing the Infirmary building with its new dome and cupola; the warehouses in Parker Street, the upper end of Mosley Street and Market Street and the whole range of the ground in front of the edifice, next Piccadilly with its low parapets and pedestals, its statues and fountains, -  and beyond the shrubberies, fountains, parterres, greensward etc of the infirmary grounds proper - all presenting a picture more like a scene of fairy land than anything that we have been accustomed  to regard as at all practicable in our humid climate and still too fuliginous atmosphere. As to the disposition of the flagged esplanade in front of the Infirmary, which is the matter of chief public interest, Sir Joseph has made a variation between his plan and his elevation. In the former he places the Wellington statue in the centre with pedestals for two smaller statues flanking it at a little distance. In the elevation he represents the centre space as fitly occupied by a fine equestrian statue of Queen Victoria in bronze, the two lateral pedestals being surmounted each by a bronze lion, and then he places the Wellington statue towards the Portland street end of the esplanade in the corresponding site to that occupied by the Peel statue at the Mosley street end the ground then separating listen to monument this flanking lions the Wellington monument on the one hand and that from the Peel statue on the other, Sir Joseph places two oblong basins for fountains  each fountain to contain a central and two lateral jets.  …

As to the enclosure and separation of the flagged space, it is bounded next to the Infirmary by stone parapet or wall not too high, the line of which is broken by square pedestals, each of which may hereafter be surmounted by a statute. There are 24 of these small pedestals in the whole of the wall and its returns, without counting three smaller pedestals at each end forming gate posts for the two entrances to the Infirmary. As to the statues which they may hereafter receive, Sir Joseph states that very excellent copies from the most celebrated come to the statues executed in marble can now be had in Italy for not more than £120 each and we understand a series of these have been ordered for the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. This parapet wall returns at each end of the grounds, terminating in a larger parapet, which is to be surmounted by a bronze or stone lion. The effect of these return walls, is to enclose the space along the whole of one side and both ends, and to leave the whole of its front open to Piccadilly, from the flagged footway of which it is only separated by a low parapet, only a few inches above the level of the footpath, and here and there in the line of this parapet, a circular stone pedestal, supporting an iron lamp pillar and lamp. The entrances at each end to the Infirmary grounds proper are to be by gates, a little altered in their direction, and flanked by two similar pedestal lamp pillars on each side Of these along the front line, next Piccadilly, there are eight in the whole length; so that the effect is to leave the flagged esplanade within perfectly open the pedestrians at any point in front from Mosley Street to Portland Street. As to the Infirmary grounds behind the esplanade, so far as we can glean from the plans and elevations, the quadrangular edifice itself is to be skirted buy a border of greensward and beyond this by a broad gravelled drive. In the centre opposite the colonnade of each wing is a circular basin to receive the waters from a high jet d’eau. A gravelled walk encircles this fountain and others lead from it in various directions so as to enclose equal spaces of greensward. Two of these, semi-circular are laid out as parterres for the gay-coloured flowers of various annuals; care being taken to produce due effect by contrasts and harmonies of colour. Here and there is a small patch of shrubbery, while from the lodge gate next Mosley Street round by Parker Street Portland Street to the end of the esplanade next Piccadilly, the whole of the grounds within the iron palisades will be encircled with a belt of hardy trees or shrubs, so as to shelter and seclude the walks from the neighbouring “busy haunts of men.” We hope the public may have an opportunity of seeing the plan and elevation, for no mere verbal description can convey the effect which only a single glance at the delineations suffices to realise. The elevation or perspective drawing is mounted a handsome gilt frame, glazed, and signed “Joseph Paxton.” The plan also bears Sir Joseph’s signature with the date 16th of January 1854. We repeat the hope that, with as little alteration or modification as may be necessary, these plans will find favour with the authorities and be practically carried out into effect.

Reference           Manchester Guardian 14 January 1854 page 7