Whitworth Institute, Dock Road, Fleetwood

OPENING OF THE WHITWORTH INSTITUTE, FLEETWOOD. The "Whitworth Institute," in Fleetwood, which has been erected at the sole cost of Mr. Benjamin Whitworth, cotton broker, etc., of Manchester was opened on Tuesday evening. The building forms a prominent feature in Dock- street. It is erected with brick and stone in an adaptation of the Gothic style. The entrance is situated in the middle of the building, through a deeply-recessed doorway having an elaborately-carved spandrel. After passing through the folding-doors of the vestibule, the hall gives access to the library and coffee-room, which are lighted by large windows with pointed arches and cusps, the rooms being each 31 ft. 6in. by l6ft.6in., and 15 feet high to the ceiling. Contiguous to the coffee-room, and with a connecting doorway, is the curator’s residence, and also conveniences for supplying coffee to the frequenters of this room. Passing along the hail, we reach a stone staircase 5ft. 6in. wide, leading to the lecture hall, which is a noble room 42ft. 6in. long and 37ft. 9in. wide, having a convenient retiring-room, etc. and gallery, the latter having an independent entrance from the landing of the staircase. The lecture hall is lighted by ten arcaded windows, coupled by means of stone shafts, having carved caps after the natural type. Ten windows have a stone balcony, with wrought-iron railings, etc., which give an agreeable finish to the building outside. The roof of the lecture hall, which has part of its constructive timbers exposed, is 37ft. 3in. high in the centre, and 23 feet to the eaves and has inserted ten small gablets, which contribute much to the embellishing of the roof both internally and externally. The architects for the institute are Messrs Speakman and Charlesworth of Manchester; the builder is Mr. Drummond, of Fleetwood. The carving has been executed by Mr. Bonehill, of Manchester. The land on which the institute is erected was the property of Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, Bart. Everything necessary for a Working Men's Club has been supplied at Mr. Whitworth's solo expense. There will only be a nominal charge for membership, and any one residing it the town will have all the privileges that are to be procured in a. mechanics' institution, together with others which have not yet been found in such places.  The cost of the building and furniture will be about £3,000. On Tuesday evening the institute was formally opened with a tea party.[Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser, 19 December 1863 page 2]

Reference           Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser, 19 December 1863 page 2