The Clarendon Club, Mosley Street and St. Peter's Square

Originally two houses but these had become warehouses. Alterations by Speakman and Charlesworth to form club premises

THE CLARENDON CLUB - This is the title of a club which has just been opened in Mosley Street and which will constitute a very agreeable addition to the list of similar establishments in Manchester. The building in which the club is located is on the corner of Mosley Street and St Peter's Square, a site which combines many advantages, and is one of the best that could have been chosen for such a purpose. The promoters purchased the two houses near the corner of the square and the architects (Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth) have given a light and elegant appearance to the formerly dull and dingy front. The interior of the two houses (which have been thrown into one) has been re-constructed. The main entrance is in Mosley Street. The walls and ceiling of the vestibule are panelled in oak and ebony, with a frieze cornice of Minton's encaustic tiles. The library or reception room looks into St Peter's Square. It is a light and handsome apartment 38 feet by 18 feet six inches, well-proportioned and fitted up with rich and appropriate furniture. The newsroom, a smaller apartment, looks into Mosley Street. A broad and massive staircase leads to the principal dining room, on the first floor. The room, which is approached direct from the staircase, has frontages to both the street and the square. It is 38 feet in length by 28 feet in breadth, and the window at the angle is a conspicuous feature in it. The ceiling of this room is very elaborately decorated. All the appliances that are necessary for the comfort of the diners are close at hand. The smoking room, a cool, well-ventiated apartment, is on the same floor. On the top floor is the billiard-room, which occupies the same area as the principal dining room. The ceiling is remarkably lofty, and the light is also singularly good. The room contains two of Messrs Burroughes and Watt's best tables, which are in the charge of a player of some considerable local reputation. The kitchen is on the top floor, and is all that such an indispensable adjunct to a club ought to be.[Manchester Guardian 12 April 1869 page 4]

THE MANCHESTER CLARENDON CLUB. A new social club, under the title of the Manchester Clarendon Club, has just been opened the corner of Mosley-street and St. Peters-square; and, apart from its extremely suitable site, offers such advantages will make it, undoubtedly, one of the most popular clubs in Manchester. The building in question formerly consisted of two houses, and these have been re-faced slate-coloured bricks and otherwise ornamented in front, so as to give the building an exceedingly light and tasteful appearance. The main entrance to the building is from Mosley Street, and the walls and ceiling of the vestibule are panelled oak and ebony, with a frieze cornice formed of Minton encaustic tiles, and the floors and step are stone, inlaid with tiles. The approach to the staircase hall is through an archway supported by shafts of red marble, with enriched capitals in Caen stone; and the ceiling of the corridor is panelled and divided by arches supported on corbels. The library, or reception room, is the first room opening from the corridor, and is a handsome apartment 38 feet by 18 feet 6 inches, and is situated at the of the building facing St. Peters-square, The ceiling of the library panelled, and the room is fitted up in a most luxurious and comfortable style. The news room fronts Mosley-street, and on the other side of corridor are the waiting-rooms, lavatories, etc. The principal staircase Is formed of pitched pine, with oak handrails; the balustrade and the rails are massive, the former being formed of small shafts, with moulded caps and bases, having arches over them supporting the handrails. The staircase relieved by several lines of moulding, formed of ebony, and the whole is French polished. The principal dining room is situated on the first floor, and is approached direct from the main staircase. This room is 38 feet by 28 feet, having frontages to Mosley-street and St. Peters-square—the angular projecting window forming a conspicuous feature in it. The ceiling of the room divided into four main bays by moulded and enriched beams, supported at each end by corbels, and these bays are again subdivided. The room is partly lighted by means of stained-glass windows in the ceiling, which have an exceedingly fine effect. On the first floor are also the serving-room, the steward's room, private dining-rooms, smoking-room, bathrooms, etc. The smoke-room has been placed in an excellent position, and is well ventilated. The billiard-room is situated on the upper floor, and will prove certainly one of the greatest attractions in the club. The room is of great height, being 25ft. at its centre, and roofed with a lantern light, with bent sheets of stained glass, bearing the arms of the principal towns in the vicinty. The roof rakes upwards to the lantern, and is imported by ten carved wood corbels, resting on carved brackets. The room is heated by means of hot water pipes, placed behind the skirting, which is formed with bos gratings. Two excellent billiard tables are fitted in the room. The different arrangements for cooking are fitted up upon the most improved principles, and the promoters of the club have done their utmost to consider the comforts of the members. The number of members is limited to 300, and already upwards of 200 members have been elected. Mr. Charlesworth, of the firm of Speakman and Charlesworth, was the architect Mr. Joseph Thompson, the builder; the furniture was supplied by Mr. Doveston, of King-street; the marble work and tiling by Messrs. Patteson, Oxford-road and the cooking arrangements by Messrs. J. and W. Leigh, of Market-street. [Manchester Courier 13 April 1869 page 6]

The Clarendon Club, at the corner of Mosley‑street and St. Peter's Square, although not possessing many architectural qualifies externally, is, nevertheless, a very successful adaptation of an old building to the purposes of a modern club‑house. The entrance doorway in Mosley‑street is new and good in design, as also the corbelled‑out angle turret at the junction of the two streets; it is, however, in the interior of the building that we must look for evidence of the architects' skill in design and adaptation. The grand staircase is a perfect gem of genuine honest design, as is also the billiard room, with its open timber roof at the top of the building. There is a luxury and completeness about the interior of this building of a most club‑like and social character; and we regret to hear that as a social institution it is not successful. There are rumours afloat of good and distinguished men having been refused admission to membership; this is a mistake, and no club can hope to prosper on this principle. Our business, however, is with the building, and for the purposes of a club‑house it is very complete and successful. [The Critic 15 June 1872 Page 259]