Building Name

Procter Gymnasium Silver Street and Pryme Street Hulme

Date
1891 - 1892
Street
Pryme Street
District/Town
Hulme, Manchester
County/Country
GMCA, England
Work
New Build

THE PROCTER GYMNASIUM. The slums in Hulme which bore the finely ironical name of Paradise Court have been swept away, and on their site there is being erected an institution which will make the place a little more worthy of the name by which it has hitherto been called. It may be remembered that when the dwelling houses were demolished the ground on which they stood was handed over to the Committee for Securing Open Spaces for Recreation, an organisation composed of public-spirited citizens who had at heart the improvement of the conditions of life in some of the more congested quarters of Manchester. On the ground thus given them, and with the sum of £4,000, a gift of the trustees of the late Mr Daniel Proctor - who was up to the close of his life an active member of the Open Spaces Committee - the Committee determined to erect a gymnasium to be called after the generous donor of the money with which it has been built. The gymnasium, erected from the designs and under the superintendence of Messrs W and G Higginbottom, architects, of this city, is now on the eve of completion, and it is expected that early in the new year it will be thrown open for the use of those for whose benefit it is intended. It has been arranged that the open Spaces Committee shall in the first instance thoroughly organise the gymnasium and retain control of it for three years, during which they shall be responsible for the furnishings and working expenses, including the salaries of a competent instructor and other assistants. They make a special appeal for financial help to all those who are interested in the good work. On the expiration of the three years the gymnasium will be handed over to the Parks Committee of the Corporation. It will probably be the first institution of its kind under municipal management.  The accompanying sketch sufficiently illustrates the character of the design, which has been worked out in common brick, with Ruabon red terra-cotta facings. There are two entrances to the buildings from Silver Street, one for members and the other for the public. The accommodation for the members consists of a large room, lighted by a lantern light running along the entire length of the roof, and by windows looking into Pryme Street. All the gymnasium apparatus is to be fitted on the movable principle, so that when occasion requires the whole of the floor space can be made available for the purposes of musical drill and other exercises requiring large floor space. Across one end of this large room there is a gallery for the use of the public, and leading off this gallery there are large rooms for fencing and other exercises and a committee room. In addition to the gymnasium, the building also provides three large fives courts, slipper and shower baths, a reading room (which is to be supplied with suitable newspapers and periodicals), dressing rooms, lavatories, etc. The building is to be in all respects thoroughly well equipped, and is likely to be regarded as a model for future institutions of the same kind in Manchester and elsewhere. Messrs Wilson and Toft, of Gaythorn, are the contractors. The hot water appliances, of which the building is supplied throughout, have been furnished by Messrs J M Leigh and Son, Deansgate. [Manchester Guardian 23 November 1891 page 8]

OPENING OF THE PROCTER GYMNASIUM. The new gymnasium in Silver Street, Chester Road, was opened yesterday afternoon by Lord Egerton of Tatton. The building has been erected on land given by the Corporation of Manchester and the necessary funds have been provided by the trustees of the late Mr Daniel Procter. The land was formerly occupied by a large block of insanitary property known as Paradise Court. The architects of the building, which cost about £4,000, are Messrs W and G Higginbottom of this city. [Manchester Guardian 7 January 1892 page 8]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 November 1891 page 8 with sketch illustration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 January 1892 page 8 - opening
Reference    The Builder 1892: I: 87.
Reference    Manchester City News 27 February 1892 Page 5