Textile Hall, Bury
Image by mrrobertwade (wadey)
Adult Care Connect and Direct, Textile Hall, Manchester Road, Bury BL9 0DG
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
Thanks to The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association
Bury Times 26th October 2021 By Chris Gee
COUNCIL bosses have now agreed plans to dispose of a former police HQ site, a park ranger base and office buildings to generate much-needed funds.
The council’s cabinet approved the disposal of the land and building assets, with income estimate from the sales, alongside others previously approved, thought to be around £8m.
They said the reasons to rid themselves of the assets were to generate capital sums to support other council projects and to help community groups take on the management of property.
Among the sites to be sold or transferred are the formerTextile Hall in Manchester Road, the old police headquarters site on Irwell Street, the ranger base and park lodge at Clarence Park, Walmersley Road and the huge 2,300 square foot Humphrey House office building on Angouleme Way.
