Liberal Club, Wardle, near Rochdale

CONTRACTORS desirous of tendering for the whole or any part of the works required for the ERECTION of a LIBERAL CLUB at Wardle can examine the Drawings, Specifications Conditions and obtain quantities on application at my office. Sealed tenders endorsed "Tender for Liberal Club" to be delivered to the secretary Mr. Wesley Bamford, 223 Halifax Road Rochdale, on Friday 1 May 1885, not later than 4 p.m. The committee do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. JESSE HORSFALL, M.S.A. Architect 151 Drake Street, Rochdale and Bridge Street, Todmorden.  [Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter - Friday 24 April 1885 page 4]

WARDLE - Two memorial stones were laid on Saturday last in connection with a Liberal club at Wardle, near Rochdale. The ground floor contains reading-room, committee-room, bar, caretaker's-room, lavatory, bath. On the first floor will be a room 32ft. 6 in. by 25ft., which will accommodate two billiard tables, one smoke and cardroom, and a caretaker's bedroom. The walls will be of Yorkshire parpoints, with Halifax dressings. The estimated cost when completed will be £1,000; but the contract for the building, exclusive of heating, boundary wall, and furnishing, is let to Mr. W. R. Norris, Rochdale, for £636. The works are now being carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. Jesse Horsfall, M.S.A., Rochdale and Todmorden.  [Building News 19 June 1885 page 992]

LIBERALISM IN WARDLE - .... The building is designed in a simple type of domestic Gothic. The walls are to be of Yorkshire parpoints with Yorkshire stone dressings. The ground or principal floor will be seven steps above the level of the street and will contain reading room, 19 feet by 17 feet 6 inches, committee room 17 feet by 13 feet, bar (with hoist to upper floor), bar, lavatory, and caretaker’s living room. The first floor will be reached by a handsome staircase in pitch pine lighted by two windows which are to be glazed with tinted cathedral glass in lead lines. This floor will contain a room 32 feet 6 inches by 25 feet with an open pitch pine roof, which will accommodate two billiard tables and will be seated around and used for meetings, etc. smoke or games room 14 feet by 8 feet; and a caretaker’s bedroom. The basement provides heating apparatus, coal and wash cellars. The estimated cost of the building will be about £1,000 but the contract for building exclusive of heating, boundary walls and furniture, is let to Mr W. K Norris, Ramsey Street, Rochdale for £636. The architect is Mr Jesse Horsfall MSA Rochdale and Todmorden. We may mention that in the deeds it is specified that no intoxicants shall be sold or drunk on the premises. [Rochdale Observer - Saturday 20 June 1885 page 6] 

Reference    Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter - Friday 24 April 1885 page 4 - contracts
Reference    Building News 19 June 1885 page 992 - memorial stones
Reference    Rochdale Observer - Saturday 20 June 1885 page 6 –memorial stones