New Stamford Hall, Altrincham

To celebrate the coronation of King George VI, in 1937 Altrincham Urban District Council decided to enlarge the lecture hall attached to the Public Library on George Street, and John Cocker was appointed architect. He had earlier worked on extensions to the Library. There were several delays, including the creation of Altrincham Borough in 1938 and the start of the War in 1939, with the result that the official opening did not take place until 20 April 1940. The main contractor was James Bowers of Timperley. Cocker designed a new spacious hall with stage, a grand staircase, several reception rooms, and a new entrance. The new hall was named Stamford Hall. Together with the library building, it was demolished in 1991 to make way for the new George Street shopping complex. [Richard Fletcher]

Following a comprehensive extensions scheme costing £10,000, the Altrincham Corporation has now provided a spacious and beautiful assembly hall, to the designs of John Cocker, A.R.I.B.A., where functions may be held in dignified surroundings. The main approach to the new Stamford Hall is from Stamford New Road, within two minutes’ walk of Altrincham Railway Station, Kingsway Omnibus Station, thus being convenient of access from all surrounding districts, and adjacent to the principal shopping thoroughfares. Entrance to the building is through the Forecourt and Car Park, which, through the outbreak of war, has been developed in a temporary manner, but suitable access is provided to the Hall, together with ample facilities for the parking of vehicles. The building itself is of commanding appearance. Its elevations are simple and almost severe, relying for effect upon the texture and colour of the materials, and an extreme simplicity of line, and are carried out in Silverdale sand-faced bricks, enhanced by reconstructed stone, while a large cartouche, embodying the Corporation’s coat-of-arms, is a prominent feature of the main facade.

The new Stamford Hall has been planned to allow either the whole building to be used for one very large function, or for a number of events to take place simultaneously. The De Massey Room, Cheshire Room, and Exeter Room, can be hired independently, and provide a beautiful setting for smaller dinners, dances, receptions, meetings, conferences, or card parties. Each important doorway bears an illuminated sign, and no confusion need arise through separate companies passing through the main entrance, which has been provided with two sets of doors. Organisers of dances, ladies’ evenings, whist or bridge drives, dinners, banquets, concerts, plays, lectures, meetings, dancing displays, wedding receptions, tea parties, bazaars, sales of work, pageants, meetings of limited companies, trade conferences and similar events can now confidently engage the Stamford Hall. The special attention of hirers is directed to the Scale of Charges, printed in full on pages 14, 15 and 16. It has been framed to encourage local organisations, residents, and other persons promoting functions, of the types mentioned, to take full advantage of the exceptional facilities offered, while the introduction of a Summer Scale of Charges, allowing considerable reductions in the case of functions held between 1st May and 30th September each year, will prove beneficial to many promoters. A glance at the historical survey will show that the attention of the local authority has been long directed to the improvement of the Stamford Hall. Extension and improvement has now come about, delayed some six months by the outbreak of war. The Corporation has every reason to believe that use of the Hall will be considerable, and that the income which will be derived will more than reimburse the outlay. But, financial considerations apart, the inhabitants of Altrincham had a right to expect the Corporation to provide a fitting venue for the functions inseparable from civilised communal life. Those expectations are now granted; it remains for townspeople and others to take pleasure and pride in attending the many events which will be held in the New Stamford Hall.