Memorial Hall, Manchester
Encyclopedia
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
, when the secession of some 2,000 ministers led to the birth of Nonconformism
. It is a Grade II* listed building as of 14 February 1972.
The style is Venetian Gothic
, 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. The detailing is fine and "the subtlety of the polychromy [was] achieved by careful choice of materials".
The hall provided a meeting place in the late nineteenth 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.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, was constructed in 1863–1866 by Thomas Worthington
Thomas Worthington (architect)
Thomas Worthington was a 19th-century English architect, particularly associated with public buildings in and around Manchester.-Early life:...
. It was built to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the 1662 Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter...
, when the secession of some 2,000 ministers led to the birth of Nonconformism
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
. It is a Grade II* listed building as of 14 February 1972.
The style is Venetian Gothic
Venetian Gothic architecture
Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab influences from Moorish Spain and early...
, inspired by such buildings as the Ca' d'Oro
Ca' d'Oro
Ca' d'Oro is a palace on the Grand Canal in Venice, northern Italy. One of the older palazzi, it has always been known as Ca' d'Oro due to the gilt and polychrome external decorations which once adorned its walls.The Palazzo was built between 1428 and 1430 for the Contarini family, who provided...
, with fine stone tracery on all windows and a palatial exterior. Worthington designed the building after his second tour of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1858. The detailing is fine and "the subtlety of the polychromy [was] achieved by careful choice of materials".
The hall provided a meeting place in the late nineteenth 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.