Municipal Buildings, Ince, Wigan

MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS INCE - The new municipal buildings, which have been erected at Ince have just been opened. The building is of pressed brick an Ruabon red terra-cotta, and roof covered with blue slates. The main entrance, which is in Ince Green Lane, has circular pillars on each side, and carved frieze above. The building is two stories in height, besides basement with open area, and has the following accommodation: —In the basement - caretaker’s quarters, living-room, scullery. pantry, and two bedrooms, also stores, heating cell, hoist, etc. On the ground floor—entrance hall, separate offices for the following officials: - Clerk, assistant clerk, overseer, collector, secretary to Education Committee, and committee-room for the latter, school attendance officer, waiting-rooms, lavatory, etc., and large spare room to be used as required for any special public functions. Behind the main building is the large public hall, 67 feet long and 36 feet wide, with retiring-rooms on each side. The large hall is 25 feet to the ceiling, with open timber principals and ornamental plaster ceiling. Seating accommodation has been provided for about 500 people. At one end is the platform. On the first floor is the Council chamber, 36 feet long by 20 feet wide, and 16 feet 6 inches from floor to ceiling. There is also a committee-room, 28 feet long by 16 feet wide, chairman’s parlour, surveyor’s office, drawing office, plan-room, waiting-room, medical officer, nuisance inspector's office, two spare rooms, lavatories, etc. The staircase from the hall to the first floor is of stone, with wrought-iron balusters and polished oak handrail. The floors in corridors on each floor are in granolithic mosaic with ornamental title dadoes. The work has been carried out by Mr. A. Wigan, builder, Ince, with the exception of plumbing and decorating and plastering, the former being done by Messrs. Gaskell and Sons, Mill-gate (who have also done the heating apparatus throughout the building), and the latter by Messrs Livesey and Parkinson. All the work has been in accordance with plans and details made by and under the supervision of the architects, Messrs. Heaton, Ralph, and Heaton, Wigan. [Builder 9 July 1904 page 47]