Manchester Cathedral: North Porch and Muniment Room

Another and most important stage of the restoration works at the Manchester Cathedral is about to be entered upon, viz., the erection of the new north porch and muniment-room. The cathedral authorities are enabled to undertake this work at once owing to the generosity of Mr. Thos. Craven, J. P., son of the late Alderman Craven, of the Manchester City Council, in offering to provide the necessary funds, £4,000 to £5,000. According to Mr. Crowther's design, the muniment-room will form part and parcel of the north porch, and here will be lodged the Manchester parish registers, which are reputed to be amongst the most perfect and well-preserved parish registers in the kingdom.  [British Architect 17 February 1888 page 115]

The north porch and muniment-room of Manchester Cathedral, erected, from the plans of Mr J. S. Crowther, to the memory of the late Mr James Craven by his children, at a cost of £3,300, is now completed, and the ancient registers, which are of priceless value, are about to be removed thither from the Ely Chapel. [Building News 6 September 1889 page 337]

MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL—The north porch and muniment-room erected by the family of the late Mr. Alderman Craven were formally presented to the churchwardens and sidesmen of the cathedral on the 12th inst. When the scheme for the completion of the restoration of the cathedral and parish church was projected in 1872 the addition of a north porch to the fabric was considered to be essential not only to the completeness of the building, but also as a means of providing a muniment -room for the safe custody of the registers, and for an office in which the registers might be consulted. The porch and muniment-room, which have now been completed as a memorial, have been built by Messrs. Joshua William Graham and Son from the design of Mr. J. S. Crowther, architect. During the excavations for the new foundations, abundant remains of the former porch were found, ami marks on the masonry of the outer north aisle, on which it abutted, showed that the ancient structure was two stories in height, of which the ground floor was vaulted. The new work consists of two bays, of which the outer one is entered by a large open archway, forming the porch proper, and the inner bay or vestibule is inclosed by moulded and traceried oak folding doors, opposite to which are the glazed folding swing doors by which the cathedral is immediately entered. Both of these bays are groined in stone, of which the vaulting ribs have carved bosses at their intersections, and all of different design. The springers of the groining are supported by moulded corbels having angels carved thereon, holding shields charged with various symbols. A moulded and tracened door leads from the inner vestibule to the registry office, which has a fireplace and dog -grate of ancient character, and an oak ceiling with moulded beams, having bosses of varied design at their intersections. A lavatory and cloak closet adjoin, and are entered from the registry office. The muniment-room forms the upper story of the porch, and its walls, floor, and celling are entirely constructed with solid stone, so that it is absolutely fireproof. It is 22 feet 6m. long and 12 feet 3in. wide, and is lighted by two windows at its northern end only, which are fitted with wrought-iron shutters. One side of the room is furnished with bookshelves constructed with lattice work of wrought iron. The muniment-room is approached by a winding stone staircase, and its only entrance is fitted up with a wrought-iron fireproof door. Externally the porch has been designed to harmonise strictly with the architecture of the north aisle, with which it is connected, and which is a restoration of Warden Huntington's work. The ground floor of the porch is separated from the upper story by a moulded string course enriched with paterae, and containing an inscription of thirty-eight words, which extends quite round the porch. The internal angle formed by the junction of the walls of the porch with the north aisle contains the winding staircase, giving access to the muniment-room, which is surrounded by a lofty octagonal pinnacle, richly crocketed and which forms a striking feature in the view of the cathedral from the north-west. The stone of which the porch is built is from two quarries, the one at Darley Dale, and the other near Carlisle. [Building News 20 September 1889 page 407]

Reference    British Architect 17 February 1888 page 115
Reference    Building News 6 September 1889 page 337
Reference    Building News 20 September 1889 page 407