The Memorial Hall in Albert Square, Manchester, England, was constructed in 1863–1866 by Thomas Worthington. It was built to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the 1662 Act of Uniformity. One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic revival in the city, the hall is a Grade II* listed building.
| Memorial Hall | |
|---|---|
 Memorial Hall, Albert Square | |
  Shown in Greater Manchester | |
| General information | |
| Type | Meeting room |
| Architectural style | Venetian Gothic Revival |
| Location | Manchester, England |
| Address | 1 and 3 Southmill Street Albert Square Manchester M2 5DB |
| Construction started | 1864 |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Worthington |
| Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Memorial Hall |
| Designated | 14 February 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1254637 |
History
editThe hall was built to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the 1662 Act of Uniformity, when the secession of some 2,000 Anglican clergy led to the birth of Nonconformism.[1] Surplus funds from the Albert Memorial were used to pay for the building.[2] The architect was Thomas Worthington, who had a large and successful practice in Manchester.[1]
The hall provided a meeting place in the late 19th century for a host of Victorian societies, such as the Photographic, Statistical, Horticultural, Elocutionists and Positivists Societies. Other groups which used the building included the Home Missionary Board, Sir Charles Hallé's choir and the Manchester Unitarian Sunday School Union. The ground floor and basement were let to provide an income for the maintenance of the hall.[3]
After a period of disuse and dereliction in the early 21st century, the hall was renovated c. 2012 and now houses a bar, restaurant and hotel.[4]
Architecture
editThe Memorial Hall is one of the best examples in Manchester of the Venetian Gothic revival style, inspired by such buildings as the Ca' d'Oro, with fine stone tracery on all windows and a palatial exterior. Worthington designed the building after his second tour of Italy in 1858.[1] The detailing is fine and "the subtlety of the polychromy (was) achieved by careful choice of materials".[3] The hall is a Grade II* listed building as of 14 February 1972.[5]
See also
edit
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M2
- Congregational Memorial Hall — the Memorial Hall in London
Notes
edit- ^ a b c Hartwell, Hyde & Pevsner 2004, p. 305.
- ^ "Albert Square Conservation Area". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ a b Hartwell 2001, p. 142.
- ^ "Memorial Hall, Manchester". Thomasons Structural Engineers. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ Historic England. "Memorial Hall, City Centre, Manchester (Grade II*) (1254637)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
References
edit- Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2004). Lancashire: Manchester and the South East. The Buildings of England. New Haven, CT; London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-10583-5.
- Hartwell, Clare (2001). Manchester. Pevsner Architectural Guides. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-071131-7.