Victoria Arch Peel Park Salford

The Victoria Arch was built as a result of a subscription fund launched to commemorate the visits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to Peel Park in 1851 when they had been greeted by 82,000 children signing the National Anthem, and again in 1857. The Arch stood at the principal entrance to the park from the Crescent and was designed in an unusual if not bizarre style. Even the Builder had some difficulty in attempting a classification: - Its style is called Byzantine: but that we do not feel compelled to assent to. It consists of a central and two side arches. The cresting is eccentric. With its onion domes and horseshoe arches, its only real precedent was the Brighton Pavilion. The arch was finally demolished in 1937.

PEEL PARK - The principal entrance to this park will soon be decorated by a gateway which is in process of erection as the working men’s commemoration of Her Majesty’s visits. The memorial will consist of a large central arch and two side arches. Octagonal towers of red brick with light stone at the corners, capped by minarets will flank the central arch. The style is Byzantine; and the work will cost about £500, of which £100 are yet wanting. The architect is a young man, Mr T G Barker, who is in the service of Mr E Walters, architect, of this city. At the west end of the wall facing the Crescent, the Ducie gates from Strangeways Hall have been erected. They were first opened on Wednesday night, on the occasion of the soiree at the park and will be used as an occasional entrance. [Manchester Guardian 13 June 1859 page 4]

MEMORIAL OF THE QUEEN'S SECOND VISIT TO SALFORD - After the second visit of her Majesty the Queen to Peel Park, which took place on the 1st of July 1857, it was considered desirable that some memorial should be erected, by which the auspicious event should be suitably commemorated. A movement was made by the members of the Odd-Fellows and Foresters' lodges in the matter, and a committee of working-men formed, to collect subscriptions from the inhabitants of the borough. This committee afterwards invited several architects to contribute designs for a memorial, and from September last to the present time about 30 designs and plans have been publicly exhibited at the Museum in Peel Park. The design selected was designed by Mr Thomas Groom barker, architect, Oldfield-road, Salford. The character of the adopted design may be described as a large central Byzantine, or rather Venetian arch, with subordinate side arch entrances. The central arch, springing from short detached columns, measures 23 feet to the crown and is 12 feet wide at the base. It is flanked by octagonal towers, crowned by cappings having a minaret shape, rising to a height of 50 feet from the ground. Over the arch is a considerable space, varied by bands of stone mouldings. The cresting is bold and deep, and forms a richly cut skyline. The mouldings of the arch are covered by a splayed billet. The construction of the memorial will harmony with Byzantine architecture, as all the quoins, columns, cresting, moulding and bases will a light coloured sandstone from Hollington, Staffordshire, whilst the panels will be filled in with deep-coloured red brick, of the best character. The design shows originality, and will possess, if well carried out, considerable elegance of form and richness in colour. It is guaranteed to be completed (exclusive of the gates) for the sum of £480. Mr. Barker is a young architect in the office of Mr. E. Walters, Cooper Street, Manchester, and has recently returned from a professional tour in Italy. The design was made and sent in last September, but it has received several improvements, which evidently spring from the experience derived by his recent tour. A model of the design is placed in Peel Park Museum for public inspection. [Manchester Courier 5 March 1859 page 9]

THE VICTORIA ARCH, PEEL PARK, SALFORD - On the occasion of the Queen’s second visit to Peel Park on the 1st of July 1857, it was considered desirable that some memorial should be erected, by which the event should be suitably commemorated.  A committee of working-men was formed, to collect subscriptions from the inhabitants of the borough etc. They afterwards invited several architects to contribute designs for a memorial. About 30 designs were sent in. The committee then solicited a site, and decided upon the character of the memorial. Five of the designs were selected, the cost of erection coming within the limit of the fund which the committee have hopes of ultimately realising, viz., £500; and from these they recommended for erection a memorial arch for the entrance to Pell Park, designed by Mr Thomas Groom barker, architect, Salford. This final selection being approved of and cordially accepted by the Park Committee, with an expression of their desire to render the Memorial Committee every facility and assistance in carrying out their object to a successful completion, it has been carried, as shown by the accompanying engraving.

In style it is called Byzantine: but that we do not feel compelled to assent to. It consists of a central and two side arches. The central arch, springing from short detached columns with capital composed from the sycamore and maple, measures 24 feet to the crown; has a radius of 6 feet 1½ inch, and a clear width at base of 11 feet. It is flanked by octagonal towers, crowned by cappings giving them a minaret aspect, and rising to a height of 53 feet 6 inches from the ground. Over the arch is considerable space, varied by bands of stone mouldings. The cresting is eccentric. Al the quoins, arches, columns, crestings, mouldings and bases are of a light coloured sandstone from Hollington, Staffordshire, whilst the panels are filled in with a deep-coloured red brick. The length of the frontage at base is 59 feet; height of arch at side is 12 feet 9¼ inches; and the width 5 feet 4 inches. The openings are closed with iron gates, but these are not shown in this view. The statue seen in the distance is one of the late Sir Robert Peel. [Builder 3 December 1859 page 793]

SALFORD - Beyond the Crescent in Salford the authorities have lately erected a large triumphal gateway as a foot and carriage entrance to Peel Park. An inscription on its inner front serves to commemorate the second visit of Her Majesty to the park. The gateway is designed of red brick and stone; but its style of architecture would almost require an engraved illustration to adequately describe it: it is not easily referable to any well-known ancient style; and in that respect it may be termed a nondescript, not altogether wanting in merit. It might be designated Moorish-Elizabethan; and when we have so designated it, it will be understood that, to be appreciated by the critic it should be seen. [Building News 7 June 1861 page 473]

THE VICTORIA ARCH, PEEL PARK, SALFORD – The arch at the principal entrance to Peel Park, Salford, which was in effect completed some time since, has now become formally the property of the Corporation of the borough. The arch was erected from a design by Mr T G Barker, architect, of Salford, which was chosen in a competition where all laboured gratuitously. The design is Byzantine, and the arch is mainly of bricks. The total cost of the work, which was done by Mr Hollins, being £451? 14s 7d. Mr Alderman Langworthy presented a handsome pair of gates, at a cost exceeding £300; so that the Committee were enabled to hand over the structure thoroughly completed. [Manchester Guardian 25 July 1860 page 2]

AN ARCH IN A SALFORD PARK - Following a report by the Salford Parks superintendent (Mr A. Edwards) that the structure is now somewhat unsafe owing to age and the vibration caused by passing traffic, Salford Art Galleries, Libraries. and Parks Committee last night decided to recommend to the city council that the Victoria Arch, the main entrance to Peel Park, be demolished. The arch, which is built of brick and stonework and has two large stone domes superimposed on it, copied from designs of Indian architecture. was erected to commemorate the second visit to Peel Park of Queen Victoria in July, 1857, during her appearance in Manchester to attend the exhibition of Art Treasures of the United Kingdom at Old Trafford, which was opened by Prince Albert. the Prince Consort. After their visit a few members of the National Independent Order of Oddfellows started a movement which resulted in' a Salford workmen's committee being formed to raise funds for the erection of the memorial arch. The committee raised almost £600, which represents the cost of the structure, apart from the ornamental gates, which cost about £300 and were the gift of the late Alderman Langworthy. The Indian style of architecture was decided upon to symbolise the Queen as Empress of India, and the arch was opened in 1860. It was at first thought feasible to remove the arch and re-erect it elsewhere, but the cost of this added to that of necessary restoration was deemed prohibitive. [Manchester Guardian 9 December 1936 page 14 with illustration]

PULLING DOWN THE VICTORIA ARCH – The work of making the frontage of Peel Park adjoining the Crescent, Salford, an open space was taken a step forward yesterday when workmen started to demolish the Victoria Arch. The work is expected to be completed by tomorrow. The arch was erected by public subscription in 1860 to commemorate the visit to Salford of Queen Victoria three years previously. Recently it has become unsafe. [Manchester Guardian 23 July 1937 page 3]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 13 June 1859 page 4
Reference    Manchester Courier 5 March 1859 page 9
Reference    Builder 3 December 1859 page 793 with illustration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 July 1860 page 2
Reference    Peel Park - Manchester Faces & Places
Reference    Stewart: Stones of Manchester
Reference    Claire Latimer: Parks for the People Manchester City Art Galleries 1987
Reference    E O'Brien: Eminent Salfordians: Volume 1. Langworthy & Brotherton Salford Local History Society 1982