New Central Premises, Leigh (Arcitectural Competition)

LEIGH - The Leigh Co-operative Society about a month since invited designs from Mr. Fred Smith, architect, of Manchester, and from Mr J C Prestwich, architect, of Leigh, agreeing to give an honorarium to the unsuccessful competitor. The committee of management selected the design submitted by Mr. Prestwich, and it is intended to at once clear the site of the existing buildings, and proceed with the erection of the new premises, which comprise eight departmental shops, being for grocery, butchering (beef and pork), confectionery, boot and shoe shops, clog and repair shop, furnishing, tailoring, and millinery, drapery and dressmaking shop, the latter being a large apartment 125 feet long, 36 feet wide, and four stories high. In addition to the various shops, and on the first floor, are spacious reading-room, library, and educational committee-rooms; ladies' and gentlemen's hat and cloak-rooms in communication with an assembly hall seating 1,200 persons. Arranged en-suite with the large hall is a small hall, seating 400, intended for the smaller meetings of the society. A number of ante-rooms, dressing rooms, and a supper room are grouped round the two halls, available for use in connection with either hall. Workrooms will be provided for boot and shoe-makers, and tailors, milliners, and dressmakers. The several departments will be fitted with lifts worked by electric motors from a cable already laid, and the premises will be electric lighted throughout. The architect's estimated cost is £16,400. The architectural treatment is Flemish Renaissance, terracotta being largely used, with stone for the piers of the shopfronts and other points of support, as being better adapted to bear the super-incumbent weight.  [Building News 3 January 1896 page 46].

Reference           Building News 3 January 1896 page 46