Wesleyan Chapel and Schools Openshaw

OPENSHAW - On Saturday afternoon, the foundation stone of a new Wesleyan chapel and school, at Openshaw, near Manchester, was laid by Mr. William Burd. The edifice consists of a chapel, 56 feet in length and 45 feet in width, calculated to accommodate 610 persons; and at the rear a school, 54 feet in length and 25 feet in width, with class-rooms, two vestries, and a chapel keeper's house. The chapel proper will be in the Anglo-Italian style, and in its general form resembles the ancient basilicae, having side aisles with low-pitched roofs, and a central clerestory slightly elevated above them. This clerestory, pierced with semi-circular headed windows in triplets, will rest on a continuous bressummer, relieved with large semi-circular arches, and supported on light columns of cast iron. The principal front, as well as the sides, will be faced with “seconds” red brick, relieved sparingly with bands and dressings of fire-brick and Hollington stone. There will be three entrances in front. Over the main entrance will be a large wheel window. The interior will be plainly furnished. The works are being carried out by Messrs. Warburton Brothers, builders, of Harpurhey, under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs. Hayley and Son, of Manchester. The cost, exclusive of lighting and warming, but inclusive of boundary wall, &c., will, be about £2,600. The architects had originally designed a smaller chapel only (in the Gothic style), to occupy the site of the Wesleyan chapel, in the Ashton-road, and the works were just about to be commenced, when, by a donation of £1,000 from Mr. John Ashbury, the committee were unexpectedly enabled to abandon their limited scheme, and to venture on the erection of the spacious chapel, school, and outbuildings now described. [Building News 29 May 1863 page 419]

NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AND SCHOOL, OPENSHAW - On Saturday afternoon, the foundation stone of a new Wesleyan chapel and school, at Openshaw, near Manchester, was laid by Mr. William Burd. The edifice is to occupy a plot of land, abutting upon a side street, off Grey Mare Lane, in the Ashton Road, and will, consequently, have the advantage of a front and side approach. It consists of a chapel, 56 feet in length and 45 feet in width, calculated to accommodate 610 persons; and at the rear a spacious and well-lighted school, 54 feet in length and 25 feet in width, with class-rooms, two vestries, and a chapel keeper's house. The latter buildings are designed to harmonise with the chapel, though in a less expensive style of architecture. The chapel proper will be in the Anglo-Italian style, and in its general form resembles the ancient basilicae, having side aisles with low-pitched roofs, and a central clerestory slightly elevated above them. This clerestory, pierced with semi-circular headed windows in triplets, will rest on a continuous bressummer, relieved with large semi-circular arches, and supported on light columns of cast iron. The principal front, as well as the sides, will be faced with “seconds” red brick, relieved sparingly with bands and dressings of fire-brick and Hollington stone. There will be three entrances in front. The two side ones occupied by ample stone staircases (without “winders”) will lead to the galleries, extending along three sides of the chapel; while the central entrance, sheltered by an open piazza, is to serve as a general approach to both the galleries and the body of the chapel. These entrances have folding doors, conveniently arranged for the exclusion of draughts. Over the main entrance will be a large wheel window, which, with the windows of the aisles and clerestory already mentioned, will afford well diffused light and ventilation to all parts of the chapel. The interior will be neatly but plainly furnished and fitted up with commodious pews. The works are being carried out by Messrs. Warburton Brothers, builders, of Harpurhey, under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs. Hayley and Son, of Manchester. The cost, exclusive of lighting and warming, but inclusive of boundary wall, &c., will, be about £2,600. The architects had originally designed a smaller chapel only (in the Gothic style), to occupy the site of the diminutive and insufficient Wesleyan chapel, in the Ashton-road, and the works were just about to be commenced, when, by a donation of £1,000 from Mr. John Ashbury, the committee were unexpectedly enabled to abandon their limited scheme, and to venture on the erection of the spacious chapel, school, and outbuildings now described. [Manchester Guardian 25 May 1863 page 2]

MANCHESTER—The first stone of a new Wesleyan chapel has been laid at Openshaw. At the rear of the chapel a school will be erected. The chapel is to be built in the Anglo-Italian style, and will seat 610 persons. The works are being carried out by Messrs. Warburton, Brothers, builders, of Harpurhey, under the superintendence of Messrs, Hayley and Son, of Manchester, architects. The cost, exclusive of lighting and warming, but inclusive of boundary wall, etc., will be about £2,600. The architects, remarks the local Courier, had originally designed a smaller chapel only (in the Gothic style), to occupy the site of the diminutive and insufficient Wesleyan chapel in Ashton-road; and the works were just about to be commenced when, by a donation of £1,000. from Mr. John Ashbury, the committee were unexpectedly enabled to abandon their limited scheme, and to venture on the erection of the chapel, school, and out buildings now described.  [Builder 6 June 1863 page 412-413]

OPENSHAW (LANCASHIRE) A new Wesleyan Methodist chapel has been opened for divine worship in Openshaw. The edifice occupies a plot of land abutting upon a side street off Grey mare-lane in the Ashton-road, and has the advantage of a front and side approach. It consists of a chapel 56 feet in length, and 45 feet in width, calculated to accommodate 610 persons; and at the rear, a school 54 feet in length and 25 feet in width, with class-rooms, two vestries and a chapel-keeper’s house. The chapel proper is designed in the Anglo-Italian style. The works have been carried out by Messrs Warburton Brothers, builders, of Harpurhey, under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs Hayley and Son, of Manchester. The cost, exclusive of lighting and warming, but inclusive of boundary wall etc. is about £2,600. [Builder 25 June 1864 Page 479]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 May 1863 page 2
Reference    Building News 29 May 1863 page 419 -abridged from MG
Reference    Builder 6 June 1863 page 412-413
Reference    Builder 25 June 1864 Page 479
Reference    Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal, Vol. 28, July 1865, p. 219