Manchester Corn Exchange

The second phase of reconstuction of the Corn Exchange. See also Ball and Elce for first phase works. Potts was responsible for the second phase of the Corn exchange rebuilding including most of the visible external treatment. Corn Exchange built of Stoke Hall (Derbyshire) gritstone (Natural Stone Specialist Aug 2000)

THE NEW  EXCHANGE  - The approaching completion of the new Corn, Grocery, and Produce Exchange, which is being built upon the area bounded by Hanging Ditch, Cathedral street, and Fennel-street, is a reminder of the marvellous growth of the produce trades in recent years in Manchester—a fact to which the directors of the Ship Canal Company drew attention in their recent statement on the work of the canal. These extensive buildings will no doubt  play an important part in the development of that portion of Manchester which lies between the Cathedral and Shudehill. The Exchange, its great central hall, its outer circle of shops and warehouses, and its hundreds of business offices, will be one of the largest public building; in city. The situation is excellent. The Exchange is triangular in shape, and possesses frontages in three streets in the heart of a busy trading centre, and in a vicinity, too, where important street improvements are about to be carried out. The erection of the Exchange, may be described as a step in the gradual transformation of one of the most interesting bits of old Manchester. Hanging Ditch and its continuation, Cateaton Street, were, we are told, of old time occupied by the fosse which connected the Irk with the Irwell, and converted the site of the old Baron's Hall into an island. The area bounded by the Irwell, Irk, and the fosse must have been considerable. The name of Hanging Ditch, of course, is connected with the bridge under which the waters of the fosse ran. Even at the beginning of the last century this must have been a very interesting and not an unpleasing district. Mr. Leigh, in the appendix to "Proctor’s Memorials of Bygone Manchester," says "The old streets — Market Street, Smithy Door, Old Mealgate, Fennel-street. Hanging Ditch, Withy Grove, the north end of Deansgate—were all narrow and crowded; lined on each side with old black-and-white sixteenth and seventeenth century houses; irregular, overhanging, gabled, pargetted, and picturesque; presenting every variety of contour, and carrying the thoughts back to period when all the circumstances of social and political life were as different from the present as the antique dwelling on which the observer gazed. "I remember," he adds. " when much of Fennel street, of Long Millgate, and of the lower part of Deansgate were lined with houses of wood and plaster in all the glory of pargetting and diapering that ingenuity and fancy could suggest. The greater houses were usually constructed with a centre and two bays, gabled. The centre was the dining-ball, and this was sometimes open to the roof. The sitting-rooms were in one of the gables or bays, and the kitchen and offices in another." Of these things, scarcely a trace remains. Gone are the " pargetting" and the " diapering”; and as for the gabled, overhanging houses, they have been abandoned in favour of cheerful houses in the suburbs. In their place are streets. crowded with traffic, masses of warehouses and other business premises with the new Exchange as a centre and a rallying point for the busy traders who have settled in the neighbourhood of the ancient Hall.

This particular district has long been given up to merchants engaged in the corn and other produce trades. The old Corn Exchange in Hanging Ditch, which has just been pulled down to make way for the final portion of the new structure, was erected in 1835. Before that time merchants had been accustomed to congregate in Hanging Ditch and other streets in the vicinity, there to transact business as best they might in the open-air. The need for a permanent building had been felt for many years, but it was not until 1834 that the movement for the provision of an exchange was set on foot. The Exchange of 1835 is generally believed to have been the first institution of its kind in Manchester. There would appear, however, to be some little doubt whether this is actually the case. In a map, dated 1830, a neighbouring site in Hanging Ditch is clearly marked "Old Corn Exchange," but it is a peculiar circumstance that no further trace of this mythical exchange—" old " even in 1830 - has yet been discovered. The project for the erection of the Exchange in 1834 was taken up vigorously. A meeting was held on June 5 in Greenwood Street, and a committee was appointed to take steps to carry out the undertaking. A week later the following advertisement was issued—" Land wanted. A site is wanted in the neighbourhood of Hanging Ditch for the erection of a corn exchange. Space required about twenty yards by thirty. Any person having such property to dispose of (either built upon or not), may send written proposals for the same." These modest plans for an exchange “about twenty yards by thirty” in extent are in curious contrast with modern requirements. for new Exchange and its surrounding buildings occupy an area of some 5,400 square yards. In response to the advertisement two plots of land in Hanging Ditch and Greenwood Street respectively were offered to the Committee, and the former, which included a portion of the site of the Old White Horse Inn, was eventually purchased. The work of building the Exchange was at once proceeded with under the superintendence of the Committee, of whom Mr Richard Collins was the chairman. The total amount expended upon land and buildings was about £8,500.  The Exchange soon became too small for the increasingly large numbers of traders who wished to become subscribers, and within a short time, it, was decided to appoint a permanent. Secretary, Mr. James Bennett, who had acted as secretary pro. tem. to the Committee, was selected to fill this office. At this period the “chairs” upon the Exchange were allotted by ballot, the subscription being £8 8s. per year. Later, an additional £2 2s. was charged for a table upon which samples might, be displayed. In 1853. in consequence of applications from merchants engaged in the grocery and produce trades, it was decided to admit, these to the hall on Tuesdays for the exhibition of their samples, and the transaction of general business. The corn market was held then, as now, on Thursday. The new-comers were allowed the use of the Exchange at first for £2 2s, per year, or double that sum if a special stand was required. It was soon found, however, to increase these amounts considerably. From that time forward the grocery market continued to grow in favour, until Manchester has become the recognised centre for the trade, with a weekly market which is, perhaps, the most important of its kind in the country. In consequence of the continued increase in the number of subscribers, the Exchange was repeatedly enlarged in 1856, in 1881, and again in 1891 when the size of the building was doubled. This last alteration was practically the beginning of the work of rebuilding the premises. The directors resolved to acquire further land, and to extend their borders on each lido to Hanging Ditch. Cathedral Street, and Fennel street. With the exception of a small plot at comer formed by the junction of Fennel-street and Hanging Ditch, all the property this triangular area was, in course of time, taken over. In the very centre of the block there were hidden away four small cottages which were approached by a passage, partly underground, from Cathedral-Street. These undesirable tenements were, of course, demolished and “Hope and Anchor Court," in which they were situated disappeared for ever from the map of Manchester. During the ten years in which the work of rebuilding has been carried on there been no serious interruption to the business of the Exchange, and the two weekly markets have been held with unremitting regularity. Of the three frontages. that in Fennel Street was first undertaken. It was completed in 1893. The buildings in Cathedral Street next commenced, and after three years' work were finished in 1899. Then the construction of the great glass roof was proceeded with, and this has been in position for some months past. The workmen are now engaged upon the frontage in Hanging Ditch. and it is expected this will be completed before the end of next year. The Ditch. by the bye, has been considerably widened, the Corporation having purchased a strip of land for that purpose from the directors of the Exchange. It is interesting to note that when the first Exchange was about to be erected in 1853 a small portion of land in the same thoroughfare was sold by the directors to the Commissioners of Police for a similar purpose. The price paid by the Corporation is just ten times as great as that paid by the Commissioners sixty-five years ago.

The general plan of the exterior of the new Exchange is a building of four to six storeys, with an average depth of 40 feet back from the street, the Exchange itself occupying the triangle thus formed. The site presented considerable difficulties, for it was necessary to preserve the light to the lower storeys of the street buildings at the back and at the same time to secure a simple and symmetrical roof over the Exchange. It was found that these two demands could only be satisfied by adopting a form of roof which had its main lines parallel with the three streets.  Any regular geometrical form was out of the question. The result is an irregular triangle supporting a circular dome; thus, an imposing and satisfactory interior has been secured. The main roof is carried on an arcade parallel with the walls at a distance of about 18 feet, and this space is covered by a coved roof brought down so far and in such a way that the first-floor offices have ample direct light. The arcade supporting the roof is of columns 24 feet high and arches rising to 36 feet. At a height if 44feet is a cornice or balcony, projecting 4 feet with massive consoles underneath. This balcony, while crowning the arcade effectively and forming a bold seat for the springing of the dome, is of great value constructively, as it is of concrete and helps considerably in counter-acting the thrust of the roof. From this point springs a cove, the three sides meeting in a triangle 66 feet above the floor, and upon this rests the central dome, which is 30 feet in diameter. The constructional parts are of steel. The upper reaches of the cove are glazed, and the lower ones, as well as the stanchions and arcades, are clothed with wood and ornamental plaster for decoration. Altogether the interior is not only imposing in its dimensions. but is also interesting as an engineering feat. The great roof was constructed over the old roofs, and finished before disturbing them, so that business should not be interrupted. The work has thus bristled with difficulties, and possibly it may have seemed tedious in its progress. The change from the innumerable pillars, unequal lighting, dark corners, and odd complications of the old roof may, however, be said to justify the new policy. The building surrounding the central hall is of various heights, from four storeys and basement, in Fennel-street to six storeys, basement, and sub-basement (or eight in ail) in Cathedral-street. The whole of the frontage is faced with dressed Yorkshire stone, and the design, though varying necessarily in levels and other requirements, has been so studied as to give an appearance of unity throughout. The front to Hanging Ditch will, no doubt, prove to be among the finest in the city. The basements and sub-basements of the building will be almost entirely taken up with the produce trades, and some of the ground floor premises are also being let as warehouses for these trades. When completed the whole building will contain 350 warehouses, shops. and offices, besides an hotel of 40 rooms. The character of the general scheme has been maintained inside the building as well as outside. The corridors and staircases are airy and well finished in tiles and mosaic, and the floors are fireproof. For artificial lighting, electricity has been employed, and system of heating by means of steam has been provided. The architects for new buildings are Messrs Potts Son, and Hennings, and the general contractors are Messrs Robert Neill and Sons. [Manchester Guardian 14 February 1902 page 3].

CORN EXCHANGE, MANCHESTER - The new Corn, Grocery, and Produce Exchange, which is being built upon the area bounded by Hanging ditch, Cathedral-street, and Fennel-street, is approaching completion. The general plan of the exterior of the new exchange is a building of four to six stories, with an average depth of 40 feet back from the street, the exchange itself occupying the inner triangle thus formed. The site presented considerable difficulties, for it was necessary to preserve the light to the lower stories of the street buildings at the back, and at the same time to secure a simple and symmetrical roof over the exchange. It was found that these two demands could only be satisfied by adopting a form of roof which had its main lines parallel with the three streets. Any regular geometrical form was out of the question. The result is an irregular triangle supporting a circular dome. The main roof is carried on an arcade, parallel with the walls at a distance of about 18 feet, and this space is covered by a coved roof, brought down so far and in such a way that the first-floor offices have ample direct light. The arcade supporting the roof is of columns 24 feet high and arches rising to a height of 36 feet At a height of 44 feet is a cornice or balcony, projecting 4 feet, with massive consoles underneath From this point springs a cove, the three sides meeting in a triangle (66 feet from the floor), and upon this rests the central dome, which is 30 feet in diameter. The constructional parts are of steel. The building surrounding the central hall is of various heights, from four stories and a basement in Fennel street to six stories, basement, and sub-basement (or eight in all) in Cathedral-street. The whole of the frontage is faced with dressed Yorkshire stone. The basements and sub basements of the building will be almost entirely taken up with the produce trades, and some of the ground-floor premises are also being let as warehouses for these trades. When completed, the whole building will contain 350 warehouses, shops, and offices, besides an hotel of forty rooms. The character of the general scheme has been maintained inside the building as well as outside. The corridors and staircases are airy and well finished in tiles and mosaic, and all the floors are fireproof. For artificial lighting electricity has been employed, and a system of heating by means of steam has been provided. The architects for the new buildings are Messrs. Potts, Son, & Hennings, and the general contractors are Messrs. Robert Neill & Sons. — Manchester Guardian. [Builder 22 February 1902 page 191]

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 28 March 1896 Page 4 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 14 February 1902 page 3
Reference    Building News 28 February 1902 Page 303
Reference    Builder 22 February 1902 page 191