Oddfellows Hall. Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne

ASHTON ODD FELLOWS’ HALL The committee appointed by the Ashton-under-Lyne District of the Order of Odd Fellows, after having examined the many designs placed before them, have decided to adopt the plan of Mr Lindley, Ashton-under-Lyne. The site of the building is in the centre of the town, and has a frontage of 13 yards and 4 inches to Stamford Street, and 30 yards along Booth Street to Fleet Stree. The ground storey will have lock-up shops, with spacious cellars and other conveniences, to face Stamford Street; and in the centre will be the principal entrance to the hall. There will also be another entrance in Booth Street, in order to afford more easy egress and ingress. A little further on in Booth street will be the Unity Hotel, a large inn. On the second floor will be a reading room and library, one window of which will face Stamford street and the other Booth Street. Baths will also be fitted up for the convenience of members and the accommodation of the public generally. On this storey will also be a refreshment room, from which there will be easy access to the hotel and the large room. The large room will go over the whole of the building, and will have a raised platform at the Fleet Street end and a commodious gallery at the Stamford street end. Beneath the platform will be three dressing rooms; and two large rooms will be provided, one for the hotel and one for the second floor. It is calculated that the large room will be more commodious than that of the Town Hall, on account of the spacious gallery; and that the whole erection will cost between £2,000 and £3,000. [Manchester Guardian 24 February 1855 page 10]

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE ODD FELLOWS’ HALL. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Odd Fellows’ Hall about to be erected in Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, took place on Saturday afternoon. ... It is estimated that the building will cost ,3,500. Besides the committee and other rooms for business purposes, liberal space is to be assigned for library, reading and conversation rooms, and the society will confer an important benefit on the town by erecting baths of the usual description, including a spacious plunge bath, which are to be available to the public at a small charge. [Manchester Guardian 3 September 1855 page 4]

MISCELLANEOUS CONCERT On Tuesday evening the Oddfellows Hall, Ashton-under-Lyne was opened with a grand concert. [Manchester Guardian 17 July 1856 page 4]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 24 February 1855 page 10
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 April 1855 Page 11 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 September 1855 page 4 - foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 July 1856 page 4 District News - opening