Salford Athenaeum and Temperance Hall Great George Street Salford
THE SALFORD MECHANICS INSTITUTION AND TEMPERANCE HALL A meeting of the committee for the erection of this building was held at the Town Hall, Salford, on Thursday evening. Messrs Travis and Mangnall, architects, submitted to the committee some plans for the alteration of a building in Great George Street, Chapel street, the property of Mr E R Langworthy, and at present occupied by Mr Robinson as a school, which has been selected by the committee as a suitable building for the proposed institution. The building is 60 feet in length by 30 feet in width and one storey high, with a cellar. In the basement it is proposed to form four classrooms. The ground floor will be occupied by a library, reading room, committee room and a moderately sized classroom. It is also proposed that another storey will be added to the building, to be used as a lecture room, extending the whole length and width and affording accommodation for about 400 persons. To this room it is intended to have a separate means of access, by a new staircase to be placed in a tower, which is to be erected for the purpose. The committee approved of the site selected, and of the plans for the adaptation of the building subject to any alterations thought necessary. [Manchester Guardian 29 May 1852 page 6] Meeting held at Salford Town Hall - when correspondence from E R Langworthy was read. Langworthy - Salford Mechanics Institution was to occupy a new building jointly with the Temperance Society
THE SALFORD MECHANICS INSTITUTION Established 1838. The NEW BUILDING To be erected in a central part of the borough will contain accommodation for the various objects of the institution, viz a Library of nearly 3,000 volumes; Evening Classes for instruction in knowledge both elementary and of a more advanced character; Female Classes under distinct superintendence; a spacious and well-supplied News Room; a Lecture Room, convenient for the meeting of societies and for other public purposes. The Salford Mechanics Institution has long been the only Institution of the kind in the borough of Salford, containing 70,000 inhabitants; and, as the building will be free from the liabilities or control of any particular party or society, the support of all the friends of education is earnestly invited . .... H B Peacock junior. Hon Sec. Salford 16 July 1852 [Manchester Guardian 17 July 1852 page 1]
SALFORD ATHENAEUM AND TEMPERANCE HALL - The committee appointed for the purpose of erecting a new Mechanics Institution and Temperance Hall in Salford, respectfully inform the Public that having made an offer to amalgamate with the committee of the present Salford Mechanics Institution, on fair and liberal terms, and such offer having been declined, they have determined with a view of preventing any mistake arising from it bearing the same name as an existing institution in the borough to call their proposed new institution “The Salford Athenaeum and Temperance Hall.” A prospectus with a complete list of the committee will be issued in a few days; and the committee hope, in a short time, to commence the erection of a New Building, which it is intended to be erected on land in Great George Street, Salford, handsomely given to them for that purpose by Mr Langworthy. ... Augustus Marshall Hon sec Town Hall Salford 30 July 1852 [Manchester Guardian 31 July 1852 page 1]
SALFORD ATHENAEUM AND TEMPERANCE HALL - TO BUILDERS - Persons desirous of submitting Tenders for the Whole or any of the Separate Works required in making the proposed Alterations to a certain building known as Mr Robinson’s School, and situate on the southerly side of Great George Street, Salford, may inspect the drawings and specifications thereof at the office of the architects, Messrs Travis and Mangnall, Norfolk Street, Manchester from 24th November to 16th December next, on which day the tenders must be sent to the undersigned, endorsed “Tender.” - Augustus Marshall, Hon Sec. Town Hall Salford. 19 November 1852.
SALFORD ATHENAEUM AND TEMPERANCE HALL - The corner stone of the building for this newly founded institution was laid on Monday morning by Mr E R Langworthy. ... The site selected is on the right hand side of Great George street, Chapel street, Salford; and the land, with some buildings upon it, was given to the committee by Mr Langworthy, who has also contributed largely towards the funds, and has been throughout most energetic in promoting the object. The building, which is to be altered so as to afford accommodation for the new institution, was formerly occupied by Mr Robinson as a school. It is 60 feet in length by 30 feet in width and one storey high, with a cellar. In the basement there will be four classrooms. The ground floor will be occupied by a library, reading room, committee room and a moderately sized classroom. Another storey will be added to the building, and will be entirely occupied by a lecture room affording accommodation for about 400 persons. This is the room which will be at the disposal of the temperance society four nights a week. To it there will be a separate means of access, which will be placed in a tower over the entrance in George Street, which is to be erected for the purpose. Externally the building will be of a plain but substantial character in the Italian style of architecture. The external walls wll be principally of brickwork. There will be stone dressings to the doorway, and both the main building and the tower will be surmounted by a boldly projecting cornice. ... The cost of the building was estimated at ,1,200. The plate on the foundation stone bore the inscription -
This first stone of the Salford Athenaeum and Temperance Hall, erected by subscription, was laid by Edward Riley Langworthy, Esq, president of the committee, this 7th day of February 1853. William Harvey, alderman, vice-president; David Chadwick, treasurer; Augustus Marshall, hon sec. Travis and Mangnall, architects. [Manchester Guardian 9 February 1853 page 2]
In July 1851, a meeting was held to consider upon measures to raise a building in Salford, as a Mechanics’ Institution. A committee was formed of several gentlemen who felt anxious to carry this into operation, and several members of the existing Mechanics Institution. After a short period of united action, some differences of opinion arose in the committee, which lead to its dissolution in July 1852, and at this date a fresh committee was formed, several directors of the existing committee retiring. The new committee continued their labours, and meeting with kind and liberal support in their applications to the public, and having promises for ,600, determined to proceed with the commencement of the building. The tenders amounted to ,1,041, and on 7 February 1853 the corner stone of the building was laid, and the building fairly commenced. Subsequently it was resolved to have the building warmed and ventilated on the best principles, being considered essential to the convenience of the classes, schools, etc; this addition cost between ,200 and ,300 extra. The separation between the directors of the existing institution and the building committee was felt by all parties connected with the building to be a subject of sincere regret. Negotiations were carried on by mutual friends and both parties became convinced that each had in view the same object, that of extending the means of education, and that their purpose would be best attained by mutual co-operation. On 14th July, the amalgamation of the committees was concluded, and their united exertions have been since made towards the same end, in a spirit of cordiality and union. The designation of the institution was, in the first instance, the Salford Athenaeum, but upon the fusion of the building committee with the directors of the existing Institution, a change was made to the Mechanics’ Institution. [Manchester Guardian 16 November 1853 page 6]
SALFORD—The comer stone of the Salford Athenaeum and Temperance Hall was laid on Monday in last week, in the presence of a large number of spectators. The building is about to be erected on a site presented by Mr. E. R Langworthy (in addition to a donation of £100), and is situate at the Chapel Street end of Great George Street, near St. Philip’s Church. It contains a large lecture-room, a library, reading and news rooms, and school-rooms for adult and juvenile classes. The institution will cost £1,200/. exclusive of a library, towards which sum subscriptions to the amount of £600 have already been promised. The architects of the building are Messrs. Travers and Mangnall, [Builder 19 February 1853 page 118]
On the evening of Monday November 1853, the Mechanics Institution was opened by a tea party and musical soiree in the lecture hall. During the proceedings, E R Langworthy, president of the institution, made a statement setting down to the rise and progress of the building:
Travis and Mangnall donated their professional charges to the value of £80 to the building fund [MG Jan 1855]
Reference Manchester Guardian 29 May 1852 page 6
Reference Manchester Guardian 7 July 1852 page 7 - meeting SA & TH
Reference Manchester Guardian 7 July 1852 page 1 - classified ad SMI
Reference Manchester Guardian 17 July 1852 page 1- classified ad repeat
Reference Manchester Guardian 31 July 1852 page 1- SA&TH
Reference Manchester Guardian 20 November 1852 page 3 - contracts
Reference Manchester Guardian 27 November 1852 page 3 - contracts
Reference Manchester Guardian 11 December 1852 page 11 – contracts
Reference Manchester Guardian 9 February 1853 page 2 - foundation stone
Reference Builder 19 February 1853 page 118]
Reference Manchester Guardian 16 November 1853 page 6 - opening soiree
Reference Manchester Guardian 17 January 1855 page 5 - fees