Public Offices, Caretaker’s House and Stabling ,Thornfield Road, Heaton Moor

URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICES, HEATON NORRIS, LANCASHIRE - The new offices of the Heaton Norris District Council are situate at the corner of Thornfield-road and Green-lane. The new offices are of stone construction, having Yorkshire parpoint facings with Alderley stone dressings, the roof being covered with Tilberthwaite green slates. This main front has a predominating projecting central portion flanked by two wings. Approached by a short flight of steps flanked with sweeping balustrades on either side is the principal entrance. This leads to a vestibule decorated in faience, tiles, and mosaics. A few steps from the vestibule give access to the ground-floor corridor, the main staircase to the first floor being central, and immediately facing the principal entrance. Entered from the main corridor on the ground floor are the administrative offices. Those of the collector and surveyor are on either side of the principal entrance. Communicating respectively with these, as well as directly from the corridor, are the clerk’s general and the surveyor’s general offices. The clerk's private office opens off the corridor and communicates also with the clerk’s general. Also on the ground floor in the rear of the building are provided an overseer’s and sanitary inspector’s offices, as well as additional rooms available a3 spare offices, waiting-rooms, etc. At the end of the two passages on either side of the principal stairs a telephone-room and ante to the back entrance are respectively provided. The first floor is reached by means of stairs (8 feet wide) of oak and pitch pine. On the first floor is a corridor (8 feet wide), and directly approached from this is the Council Chamber occupying the entire central part of the front of the building. It is a room nearly 40 feet long by 20 feet wide and 16 feet in height. Opening off the Council Chamber, as well as directly from the corridor, are the Council retiring-room and committee-room. The former occupies the entire left wing of the building from front to back. This room is divisible into two, when desirable, by a patent folding screen. Its dimensions are: — Length, 41 feet; width, 21 feet; and height, 13 feet There are also two waiting-rooms, a stationery store, lavatories, etc., on this level. The basement is approached under the main stairs on the ground floor; this is devoted to heating and other purposes. The architects are Messrs. Woodhouse & Willoughby, who won the first premium in the limited competition held some five years ago, amongst nine competitors. The general contractors were Messrs. A. R. Bullivant & Sons, of Manchester and Moston. Mr. Samuel Mellor was clerk of works, 'the following tradesmen have been engaged on the work, apart from the general contractors, viz.: Heating and ventilation, Mr. E. Hatton, Manchester; mosaic flooring, Messrs. Patteson, Manchester; art metal work, Mr. A. Standring, Manchester; sanitary fittings, Messrs. Shanks, Manchester; ironmongery, locks, etc., Messrs. Marley Bros., Birmingham ; wood block floors, Mr. E. P. Garth, Manchester ; grates and mantles, Messrs. C. W. Williams & Co., Manchester ; stained glass windows, Mr. S. H. Leyland, Weaste; gas fittings, Messrs. Baxendale, Manchester ; patent folding partitions, Messrs. Peace and Norquoy, Manchester ; fireproof door to strong room, Messrs. John Port & Co., Ancoats, Manchester; carving, Mr J. J. Millson, Manchester The silver-gilt presentation key has been supplied by Messrs. Marley Bros., Birmingham. A brass tablet has been erected in commemoration of the opening of the offices. It is about 3 feet long and 2 feet in width. The tablet consists entirely of brass mounted on highly polished black marble, the work of Messrs. Thomas Webb & Co., Stockport. [Builder 12 April 1902 page 377]

Reference    Builder 29 January 1898 Page 109 -architectural competition result
Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 August 1900 page 1
Reference    MCN? 5 April 1902
Reference    Building News 11 April 1902 Page 517 – opening
Reference    Builder 12 April 1902 page 377 - opening