St. Alban’s Nursing Institution & Boy’s School, Rochdale,

 This large block of buildings is being erected in the parish of St. Alban's, Rochdale, and the principal front faces Drake-street. The entire expense is borne by an influential gentleman, a banker in the town. The north and north-western sides (not shown in the drawing) comprise the nursing institution, with sisters', nurses', visitors' rooms, oratory, and the needful accommodation. The front to Drake-street is the Church Institute, in which there is a large reading-room. or hall, having an open roof and wide bay window to Drake-street; the sides are panelled, and on one side is a large open fire-place for coal; the characteristic feature of the chimney-piece represents the staple of the town. Opening into the reading-room is a bar for refreshments, and adjoining are lavatories, cloak-room, etc., with external offices. On the opposite side of the entrance is the smoking-room. of large size and well ventilated, also having a bay window; this room communicates with the kitchen at the back by a hatch; over is a gallery opening into the hall, which will be used for music, etc., on festive occasions. There are separate rooms for the custodian, Between the institute and nursing sisters' buildings there are large school and classrooms for between four hundred and five hundred children. Each portion of the building is entirely divided off with yard and offices at the rear, having a cart entrance under an arched passage in St. Alban's-street. The works are being carried out by Messrs. Mills, of Manchester, under the architect, Mr. Joseph Clarke, FSA., of Stratford-place, London, and at a cost of over £12,000 on the buildings. The materials are all of stone, excepting some division walls. The facing is from Warland Quarries, and all the ashlar work of Summit stone, some of the internal masonry being Bath stone. The roofs are open and stained, and there is a certain amount of decoration about the buildings. The carving chimney-pieces are by Mr Bonehill, of Manchester, the Watcombe Terra Cotta Company also supplying some of their beautiful material, and Messrs Cooper and Godwin the external and floor tiles. The heating is being done by Messrs. Bacon and Co. The building, being in a commanding position, will add to the improvements going on in this thriving and wealthy town; and though not in any way aiming to outdo the fine Town Hall recently erected, it will perhaps stand next as one of the public buildings of the Borough. The same munificent gentleman also mainly erected St Alban's Church and Vicarage, under Mr Clarke as architect. And it may be noted the fresco decorations covering the whole of the walls of the chancel, and executed some years since on common plaster by Mr. Albert Moore, which were indurated by the silicate process, have stood the test of the weather and the smoky atmosphere of this large manufacturing town without any decay or loss of tone or freshness. [Building News 6 March 1874 page 256]