Pavilion, Chat Moss
NEW BUILDING FOR MANCHESTER VOLUNTEERS - A new building has just been erected for the use of the 3rd Manchester Rifle Volunteers at the shooting range of the regiment in the place of an old cottage which was gradually sinking into the moss. The range is about eight miles from Manchester near Worsley Hall, the seat of the Earl of Ellesmere on the line of the railway to Liverpool, and upon a portion of Chat Moss which is noted as having presented one of the earliest and most formidable difficulties in railway engineering, and which long before was celebrated by Drayton in his AFairie Land.@ On the building site the moss was found to be 22 feet deep, necessitating the use of piles, and upon these the pavilion has been erected in the 15th century style of timbered houses of which so many good examples are found in this and the adjoining county of Chester, familiar to everyone as a favourite subject for the artist=s pencil. The style has the further advantage of making the superstructure much lighter than a building constructed wholly of brick would have been. It is planned in four distinct compartments forming quarters for officers, non-commissioned officers, members and a cottage with store rooms and other conveniences for the range-keeper, all having connection with the bar. The officers= mess room has an open roof exposing the woodwork, and these with other woodwork are stained and varnished. In the upper portion of the tower is a prospect and smoking room, and from which the officer in charge of the range has a perfect view over the ground. It is surmounted by a staff on which the flag denoting firings is hoisted. On the verge board of the central gable is boldly carved the motto adopted by the volunteer corps of Great Britain of “Defence not defiance.” The building was designed and superintended by an officer of the regiment, Ensign Redford ARIBA. The Architect 28 August 1869 page 106]
Reference The Architect 28 August 1869 page 106
Reference Illustrated London News 30 October 1869