Oldham School of Science and Art (I), Union Street, Oldham

OLDHAM - A new science and art school was opened, and formally presented to Oldham by its founder, Mr. J. Platt, on the 18th ult. It is built, in the Gothic style, of brick, relieved with stone dressings. The building is 80 ft. long, and 45 ft. wide. The doorway, which is of stone, has a column at each side, with moulded base and carved capitals, supporting a double recessed moulded and carved arch, the tympanum of which is lettered in stone with the name of the building. Along the front and between each arch are stone medallions, representing architecture, engineering, music, painting, sculpture, and other subjects indicative of the character of the Institution. There is a vestibule of circular form, laid with Minton’s ornamental tiles. On the left of the vestibule is the music-room, which is 42 ft. by 20 ft. and 20 ft. high. The roof principals spring from moulded stone corbels, with curved braces, and a moulded wood cornice runs the length of the room at the spring of the roof. A room in the centre of the building, and also approached through the vestibule, is to be used as a mechanical drawing-room. It is 35 ft. long by 283 ft. wide, and is lighted from the roof by inclined sheets extending the whole length on each side of the roof. The roof principals spring from large stone corbels, carved and foliated, having curved braces, with tracery spandrels. On the right, proceeding from the vestibule, is the antique room, which is 42 ft. long, and 20 ft. wide. Ventilation is obtained in the large rooms of the building by ornamental perforated boards, extending the length of the ceiling and communicating with outer ventilators. The basement of the structure comprises a gymnasium, 42 feet long by 20 feet wide, and 14 feet high, Messrs Woodhouse and Potts, Oldham, are the architects. [Building News 3 February 1865 page 90-91]

Reference     Building News 3 February 1865 page 90-91

See also Science and Art School (II) 1880.