The Manchester Exchange Extension

EXTENSION OF THE MANCHESTER EXCHANGE – We saw yesterday a beautiful model, in plaster of Paris, of the Manchester Exchange as it will be when the building is extended to Bank Street, made from drawings by Mr Alexander Mills, the architect, by an artist in London. This model is about 2 feet five inches in length and 15 inches broad, is on the scale of one-fourth of an inch to a foot, or about 1:96th (sic) part of the full size of the building. The only material change from the original plan is in the adding a dome to the semi-circular end, and removing to that end the two turrets originally placed at the other end. This model is to be placed in the Exchange room for inspection, and gives a much better idea of the building as a whole than any drawing or letterpress description can do. [Manchester Guardian 27 September 1845 page 7.

THE NEW PLANS FOR THE MANCHESTER EXCHANGE EXTENSION – At a meeting yesterday of the Exchange proprietors, plans, elevations and sections, from designs by Mr Alexander Mills, architect, were laid before the proprietors, and the new scheme was approved by the meeting. The plan, which has been altered, extends the building to Bank Street, but with a cordon of shops on each side (that is to Exchange street and next Ducie Place), and the present plan, without varying the external dimensions of the building, proposes not to have these shops on each side, but merely to have twelve shops around the semi-circular end of the present building, next to Market Street. These shops would occupy the space between the street and the columns supporting the semi-circular dome; and the rest of the Exchange would remain as it exists. The great improvement in the present over the former plan, is the enlarged width of the square room, from the present master’s bar to the intended portico in Exchange Street, caused by making the room all the width of the building between Exchange Street and Ducie Place. The present room, exclusive of all lobbies, etc., has an area of 790 square yards; the first proposed extension, with shops on both sides, would have given it an area of 1,233 square yards; and the proposed addition, abandoning the shops at the sides, and having twelve at the circular end, will give a total area (exclusive of lobbies and bar) of 1,420 square yards, of which 100 yards is under the portico. The extreme length of the present room, from north to south, is 116 feet; that of the new room will be 170 feet. The length of the present news-room from Ducie Place to Exchange Street, will become the width of the room as extended, and this room will then be nearly a square, approaching 100 feet in length, and 93 feet 6 inches in width. A double colonnade will separate this room into three spacious compartments or avenues, the two sides 31 feet each, the centre avenue 31 feet 6 inches in width. The side compartments will be lighted by windows towards Exchange Street and Ducie Place, and the centre compartment will be lighted by a dome 50 feet high, which, extending over one half of the narrow and dark part of the room, used as the stock exchange, will raise the ceiling in that part from 17 feet 6 inches to 40 feet in height, and make it as light as any other part of the room. The dome light, with this addition to its length, will be about 115 feet long and 30 feet wide; and these improvements in lighting involve also improvements in altitude. The height of the semi-circular part next to Market Street, between the wall and the pillows, is only 17 feet 6 inches; that of the present eye of the dome only 38 feet; that of the Stock Exchange part of the room 17 feet 6 inches; and that of the present news-room 22 feet. The dome to the news-room will be 50 feet high; and over half the Stock Exchange 40 feet high. In general terms, the proposed extension will give for the new part of the room an area of nearly 100 feet square, besides all that remains of the present semi-circle, when lined with shops, and the present Stock Exchange; and the superficial area of the whole standing room for subscribers will be nearly doubled, and the cubical contents of the covered space will be trebled, in itself a strong guarantee of improved ventilation and lower temperature. [Manchester Guardian 28 January 1846 page 4].

THE MANCHESTER EXCHANGE EXTENSION - The new building in extension of the Manchester Exchange is now progressing so rapidly towards completion, that a short notice of it may be acceptable. Some delay recently occurred, chiefly owing to the inability of the committee to pull down the staircase leading from Ducie Place to the two subscription libraries; but that having been at length terminated, by the opening of the staircase on the Exchange-street side of the building, the works have since proceeded with great rapidity; and it is expected that in about a fortnight the whole edifice will be roofed over. Within, too, progress made of late has been considerable. The large central dome, and the octagonal lanterns, by which the centre avenue will be lighted, are approaching to completion, and more than one-half of the ceiling of the room is already plastered. A large room and ante-room, on the first floor on the Exchange-street side, which communicate by folding doors, being together one hundred feet in length, are nearly completed, and are already let for the occasion of pupils' ball, about Christmas; for which purpose, or for a tea party, soiree, or other meeting, they are admirably calculated.

The exterior of the building is now so far advanced, that fair idea may be formed of its general appearance, with the exception perhaps of the portico of the Bank Street Front, the effect of which cannot be appreciated until It shall be surmounted by its bold and characteristic pediment. The order adopted by the architect, Mr. A. W. Mills, in his design for this exterior, is the Grecian Doric; the example selected is the temple of Minerva at the Parthenon; and the proportions of the portico have been principally arranged from that model. It will be the largest portico of eight columns of this order in Great Britain; that of the institution, Edinburgh (the only other example that occurs to us), being of much smaller dimensions. The portico is what is termed octastyle, or eight-columned. The columns are of 4 feet 4 inches diameter, and 28 feet high from the top of the base to the architrave which they support. The entire width or breadth of Ibis portico is 72 feet; height, from the pavement to the apex of the pediment (which, we have said. is yet to be built), will be 52 feet. The portico is joined to the main edifice by two circular ends – that form being insisted on by the town’s authorities, for the convenience of the public. These circular corners (each of which has two columns to harmonise with the portico) are not carried to the top, but will be terminated by quarter domes in masonry. The ascent from the Street to portico is by five steps; and there are five doors in this front of the building. The centre three lead into the vestibule by which the Exchange room is approached; the other two are for the stairs on either side to the rooms above, and on the side next Exchange-street, leading down to the basement storey, in which, we understand. a spacious refectory or dining room, with kitchens, is to be established; for which the Exchange committee have already had applications. On viewing the side elevations, it will be seen that the same order is maintained in the main features of the building—the entablature, pilasters, and details. As its application to the purposes of an exchange and news-room is novel, the spaces between the pilasters, which are formed into windows, are original; there being no authorities or precedents for them in Greek architecture, which did not admit of windows. The total height of the edifice is nearly 55 feet. The new work of the extension is 170 feet in length, down Exchange Street; and 79 feet in width, overall, from that street to Ducie Place.

The question the semi-circular front next Market-street, is or is not to be lined with shops, is not yet decided; but we believe that the committee have come to the determination that that front shall be altered. Supposing shops are to be constructed, the area of the room will then be 1,440 square yards; but If there should be no shops, then its dimensions will be 1,628 square yards. Including the portico and vestibule next Bank Street, which on market days will doubtless be crowded with subscribers, the total area available to the subscribers will be not less than 1,737 square yards — a superficial extent not possessed by any other exchange in United Kingdom. The room will be 185 feet in length and 92 feet breadth, across its widest part. Irrespective of the old semi-circular part, the new room will be divided longitudinally by two light colonnades into three: the order adopted for these columns is Ionic, from the example of the temple of Erechtheus at Athens. The centre avenue is lighted by the handsome central dome and the two octagonal lanterns, one at each end; the two side avenues derive light from the large and lofty three-light windows, in Exchange Street and Ducie Place. The interior height from the floor to the top of the centre dome is 69 feet; that of the side avenues, which have elegant panelled ceiling, is 23 feet. Great attention has been paid by the architect to secure, not only for the Exchange room, but for all the other rooms and offices within the building, ample and complete ventilation. This is effected by innumerable apertures in the ceilings, domes and lanterns, to carry off the heated air by means of shafts, to the top of the building; while fresh air is to be introduced through ornamental apertures in the columns etc. Double floors, and other air-chambers are provided, by means of which, and the stoves in the basement storey, it is expected that the building will be well warmed and ventilated. The whole of the masonry and brickwork appears to be exceedingly substantial, and compactly put together, reflecting great credit on the builders, Messrs Bowden and Edwards. Nearly all the basement storey is let, the centre avenue to Messrs Findlater and Mackle, wine and spirit merchants; and the side avenue, next Ducie Place, to Messrs Allsopp and Sons, for ale stores. Should the weather be at all favourable, and the works proceed at the same rate as they are now doing, there is every reason to expect that the Exchange Room may be opened to the subscribers in the course of next March. [Manchester Guardian 4 November 1848 page 8]

MANCHESTER EXCHANGE EXTENSION — On Friday evening last, the whole of the different workmen employed on the Manchester Exchange extension, numbering about 200, supped together at the Concert Inn, Oxford-street, on the occasion of having completed the roofing of the building, the supper being provided by the Exchange Extension Committee, and their several employers. The men sat down at about seven o’clock, Mr. A. W. Mills, architect, presiding, and Mr. Bowden (of the firm of Messrs. Bowden, Edwards and Forster), being vice-president—On Saturday, about one o'clock, the usual conclusion to such entertainments was given, by assembling the whole of the workmen employed on the building, and giving the "rearing shout," or cheer for the kindness of the Manchester Exchange committee, and their employers, in providing the treat they had received. [Manchester Guardian 29  November 1848 page 5]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 27 September 1845 page 7
Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 January 1846 page 6 – meeting of proprietors
Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 January 1846 page 4 - description
Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 November 1848 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 November 1848 page 5