Stretford Local Board Offices, Architectural Competition

The Stretford Local Board Offices competition was decided on Friday last, the designs " Local Government," " Multumin Parvo," and " Ai " being placed first, second, and third in order of merit. The authors are Mr John Gibbons, Crumpsall, Manchester; Mr C. C. McLeod, Manchester; and Messrs. Bellamy and Hardy, Lincoln, respectively. Our informant, whose opinion we consider reliable, says that the designs, taken as a whole, are inferior, and that the design placed first is " fair," the second is " poor," and the third " worse." As we stated some weeks ago, no professional referee was employed. [British Architect 12 February 1886 page 157]

STRETFORD.--At the meeting of the local board of Stretford, near Manchester, held on Thursday, the 4th inst., it was reported that Mr. John Gibbons, to whom had been awarded the first premium for his design for new offices, was an assistant in the City Surveyor's Office, Manchester, and that Mr. C. M`Leod, who obtained the second premium was an assistant in the office of Mr. W. T. Gunson, so that neither of them would be able to carry out their designs. A protracted discussion took place as to the best course to be taken under these circumstances; it was moved and seconded that Mr. Gibbons's design be adopted as the design for the offices, subject to such modifications as experience and examination may in future suggest. To this an amendment was moved that the design marked " Lux et Aer " be adopted; but this was rejected by six votes to two. A second amendment was then moved, recommending that Messrs. Barker and Ellis, Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewood, and Mr. W. T. Gunson be asked to send in fresh designs, but met with no seconder, and the original motion was passed. It was then moved that Messrs. Mangnall and Littlewood be instructed to carry out Mr. Gibbons's design, subject to such modifications as may be found desirable, and, after hearing Mr. Gibbons, this was eventually adopted. [Building News 12 March 1866 page 439]

This scheme appears to have been abandoned. By November 1886 the works had been taken over by C C Macleod. See separate entry.