The Peel Institution, Accrington

PEEL INSTITUTION, ACCRINGTON, LANCASHIRE - The building represented by the engraving, and erected from the designs and under the superintendence of James Green, of Portsmouth House, Todmorden, are to embrace accommodation for the Accrington Mechanics' Institute, consisting, on the ground story, of entrance hall, 24 feet square; Vestibule staircase, 25 feet wide; reading-room, 32 feet by 25 feet; committee and classrooms, and a small lecture-room, 45 feet by 26 feet. On this story will also be provided a public news-room, 48 feet by 18 feet, and suitable accommodation for the post office. A dwelling-house, and large cooking and Refreshment rooms are provided at the back of the principal staircase, over which are the resident's apartments, and a subscription billiard-room.  The principal story will be devoted entirely to a large public hall or assembly-room, 105 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 29 feet high, exclusive of retiring-room, and ladies and gentlemen's ante-rooms, with gallery over the same for orchestral purposes. The walls of the room will be decorated with panelled pilasters, enriched with fruit and flowers, in high relief. A bold modillion cornice and enriched frieze runs round the entire room, from which springs a coved and panelled ceiling with large central panel enriched with perforated decorations, flowers, etc. The building throughout will be heated with hot air and provision made in all rooms for ventilation. The style adopted throughout, as seen from the engraving, is Italian, and will have a bold central arcade or carriage drive, with portico over. The whole is to be built of excellent freestone, procured in the neighbourhood, and the principal fronts will be finely polished. The works were let in November last and are now in active progress. The sum of £1000 has been subscribed by the inhabitants of Accrington to raise a monument to the late Sir Robert Peel, and this amount has been handed over to the shareholders of the proposed building to be devoted to the Mechanics' Institute, which will, by this means, be provided with ample and convenient apartments, and for which a nominal rent will be paid. The entire cost of buildings, exclusive of land, will be £7,500.  [The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal 1855 page 181]

ACCRINGTON - The Peel Institution, erected to the memory of the late Sir Robert Peel, was lately inaugurated. The building is in the Modern Italian style, the principal front having a projecting arcade, under cover of which carriages can put down or take up for the principal entrance. The arcade has recessed and moulded semi-circular arches with rusticated quoins and voussoirs; the central archway having a head of Minerva on the key-stone. The arcade forms the base of a portico of ten Corinthian columns, surmounted by medallion cornice and pediment. The wings are lighted by windows on the ground storey, having rusticated arches and quoins, and on the second story by moulded windows having carved trusses and segmental cornices, the whole being surmounted by a cornice and balustrade. The ground story is approached by an entrance-hall, 24 feet square, from which is the principal staircase to the second story. It also comprises rooms for the accommodation of the Mechanics' Institution, consisting of reading-room, 32 feet by 25 feet, classrooms, etc.; a meeting-room, 45 feet by 26 feet, and other rooms intended to be used as the town’s offices, etc. The second or principal storey is devoted entirely to a public hall or assembly-room 120 feet long, 45 feet wide by 30 feet, high; having ante and retiring rooms with gallery over. The internal decorations of the assembly room comprise panelled wall pilasters, filled in with festoons and wreaths of fruit and flowers, from which spring brackets for side gas-lights: a medallion cornice and frieze runs round the entire room, from which springs a coved and panelled ceiling. The room is lighted by three bronzed chandeliers, supplied by Massinger, of Birmingham, and is ventilated through the ceiling and roof. The building is heated by Haden’s system of hot air and water combined. The entire cost to carry out, but the cost of the improvements of the building, exclusive of land, will be, when already effected has considerably exceeded the completed, about £9,000. The architect was Mr J. Green, of Todmorden; assisted by Mr. Thomas Birtwistle, of Blackburn, clerk of the works. The contractors for the masons' works were Messrs Smith and Watson, of Burnley; Mr. James Hindle, of Accrington, for the joiners' work; Mr Hodgson, of Oswaldtwistle, for the plasterers' work; Messrs J. Holden, for the slaters' work; Mr Carter, of Accrington, for plumbing and glazing; and Mr. Threlfall, of Accrington, for painting. [Builder 26 February 1859 page 157]

THE PEEL INSTITUTION, ACCRINGTON - This building, erected to the memory of the late Sir Robert Peel, is in the Modern Italian style, the principal front having a bold projecting arcade, under cover of which carriages can put down or take up for the principal entrance. The arcade has deeply recessed and moulded semi-circular arches with rusticated quoins and voussoirs, the central archway having a head of Minerva on the keystone. The arcade forms the base of a portico of ten Corinthian columns, surmounted by medallion cornice and pediment. Tho wings are lighted by windows on the ground story, having rusticated arches and quoins, and on the second story by handsome moulded windows, having carved trusses and segmental cornices, the whole being surmounted by a bold cornice and balustrade. The ground story is approached by a spacious entrance-ball, 24 ft. square, from which is the principal staircase to the second story. It also comprises rooms for the accommodation of the Mechanics' institution, consisting of reading-room, 32 by 25 feet, and classrooms; a meeting-room, 45 feet by 26 feet; and other rooms, intended to be used as town offices. The second or principal story is devoted entirely to a large public hall or assembly-room, 120 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 30 feet high, having ante and retiring rooms, with gallery over. The interior decorations of the assembly-room comprise panelled pilasters, filled in with festoons and wreaths of fruits and flowers, from which spring brackets for side gaslights; a medallion cornice and frieze run round the entire room, from which springs a coved and panelled ceiling, having the central panel enriched with perforated flowers. The room is lighted by three handsome bronzed chandeliers and is ventilated through the ceiling and roof. The building is heated by Haden’s system of hot air and water combined. The cost of the building, exclusive of land, is about £9,000. The architect was Mr. J. Green, of Todmorden, assisted by Mr. Thomas Birtwistle, of Blackburn, clerk of the works. Our Engraving is from a sketch by Mr. John Bury, of Church. [Illustrated London News 30 June 1860 page 639]

Works let November 1854 and opened on Christmas Eve, 1858. It became the Town Hall in 1878.

Reference    The Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal 1855 page 181 (with an Engraving, plate XIX)
Reference    Builder 26 February 1859 page 157
Reference    Illustrated London News 30 June 1860 page 639 with engraving