Temporary Arch for visit of Queen Victoria. Albert Square and Mount Street

Constructed for the Visit of H.M. Queen Victoria for the official opening of the Manchester Ship Canal on 21 May 1894.

The most important features in the decoration of the city will no doubt be the two arches which it is intended to erect in Albert Square. One will be at the Cross Street entrance and the other at Mount Street. The latter is likely to be the more striking of the two. The design has been prepared by Messrs Darbyshire and Smith, architects, and the artistic part of the work is to be carried out by Messrs Heighway and Son. It will be a triple arch, Gothic in design and painted to represent grey time-worn stone. Architecturally it will connect the Gothic of the Town Hall with that of the adjacent building of the Scottish Widows Fund. The central arch spanning the street will have an opening of 20 feet and from ground to apex will be 30 feet high. The flanking arches over the foot pavements will be much lower. The gable of the central arch will be crowned by a finial carrying a large ball with the city crest. From the finial festoons of flowers will stretch across to either side of the street. A great deal of heraldic work is to be put upon the structure. In the apex of the central arch the city arms will be emblazoned, and the rest of the gable will be diapered with Lancaster roses - the Queen enjoys among other titles that of Duchess of Lancaster. From one of the side arches will hang the jewelled cross of the Order of the Garter, and from the other the India Star. The arms of the Duchy, the arms of the Royal Borough of Salford, and other devices will also be introduced. [Manchester Guardian 12 May 1897 page 8]

Perhaps the finest piece of individual decoration the Queen will see today is the triumphal arch in Albert Square across Mount Street which is designed by Messrs Darbyshire and Smith, architects. The arch on each side is finished with the globe forming the city crest, and the arms of the city are in the apex of the gables. The portion of the gable beneath and surrounding the arch is covered with a diaper pattern consisting of the red rose of Lancaster. Over the arches for foot passengers are placed the Royal arms and the arms of the Duchy and the county borough of Salford, of which the Queen is the lady of the manor. Hanging from the garlands are the Imperial Crown in the centre of the arch. The star of St George and star of India are suspended over the minor arches for foot passengers. On either side of the gable coping are placed sitting figures of the Royal supporters, each holding a banneret representing the Union Jack. Over the side arches are panels containing the contradictions in gold letters "Reg" and "Imp." In the spandrels, composed of Lancaster roses, are circular cusped medallions containing the letters V. R. in gold. From the summit of the entire composition floats the Royal Standard, supported by four streamers of the Union Jack. The framework of the structure has been carried out by Mr John Bland and the painting by Messrs Heighway and Son, under the personal superintendence of the architects. [Manchester Guardian 21 May 1897 page 5]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 8 May 1897 page 7
Reference    Manchester Guardian 12 May 1897 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 May 1897 page 5