Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

TEXTILE HALL Photograph

Region ID

MR

Work ID

108

Manual Reference

MR/BUR09

Type

Other

Title

TEXTILE HALL

Architect

Hardman, David

Date of design

1891-94

Year of unveiling

1894

Unveiling details

8 September 1894

Road

Silver Street

Precise Location

Corner of Manchester Road and Silver Street

A to Z Ref

p.140 E2

OS Ref

SD802106

Postcode

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

II

Duty of Care

Bury Metropolitam Borough Council

Commissioned by

Textile Operatives Association of Bury

Notes

Two-storey building with front of dressed Yorkshire stone. Above the porch of the central doorway is a semi-circular carved panel of two female figures representing Spinning (her right hand resting on a spinning wheel) and Weaving (holding a shuttle, a power loom at her feet). On the upper storey between the two windows either side of the central porch are carved panels depicting the textile trades. The left-hand side panel represents carding, a male operative standing in front of a carding engine. The right-hand side panel depicts two female operatives doffing bobbins on a roving frame.

Bury's Textile Operatives' Hall was built by the cotton spinning, carding and weaving unions. There had been a recognition among the local unions that it would be advantageous for them to have their own building instead of meeting in rented rooms or in local public houses. This desire began to take a practical form when in August 1892 the three main unions established a joint building committee to examine the practicalities of erecting a building. It was decided to go ahead and land was obtained on the town's principal street, Silver Street. In January 1893 the plans prepared by the Bury architect, David Hardman, were accepted and work was soon under way. Care was taken to employ workers on union rates. The building which included meeting rooms as well as offices for trade union officials clearly marked the growing presence of the unions in the affairs of the town.' Evidence of this growing self- confidence was evident on the main facade where decoration in the form of sculptured panels was introduced. The panels were the work of the Manchester firm, Whittick and Royle. These depicted different processes in cotton industry, further announcing the building's presence at the beginning of one of the town's principal streets. The finished building cost £6,000. The Textile Operatives' Hall was opened by Lady Dilke in May 1894 in a ceremony which included a massive and colourful demonstration of trade unions through the town

circa

raw year

1894

Condition

Fair

At risk

No known risk

Inscriptions

Signatures

none visible

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Brick

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character: nothing recorded

Structural Condition: nothing recorded

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

None