Burnley Mechanics

The Burnley Mechanics is a theatre and former Mechanics' Institute in the market town of Burnley, Lancashire, England. It was built 1854–55 and converted to a theatre in 1979. Historic England has designated the theatre a Grade II* listed building.

Burnley Mechanics
Burnley Mechanics
Location within Burnley town centre
AddressManchester Road
Burnley
England
Coordinates53.7878°N 2.2445°W / 53.7878; -2.2445
TypeTheatre
Construction
Opened1855
ArchitectJames Green (1854–55)
William Waddington (1888)
Website
www.burnleymechanics.co.uk
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated19 November 1997
Reference no.1244905

History

The Mechanics' Institute was built 1854–55 to a design by Todmorden architect James Green. Sir Charles Towneley opened the institute in 1855.[1] It was a club for "reading and discussion by an 'earnest few'".[2] As the town grew, the institute increasingly became a social and cultural community centre.[1] Architect William Waddington enlarged the building in 1888.[3] Burnley Borough Council bought the building in 1959 and leased it to companies for a variety of leisure purposes.[1][4] In 1979, the interior was reconstructed as a theatre.[3][4]

Burnley Mechanics was designated a Grade II* listed building by Historic England on 29 September 1977.[3] The Grade II* designation—the second highest of the three grades—is for "particularly important buildings of more than special interest".[5] It is described by Hartwell and Pevsner as "one of Burnley's best buildings".[3] John Champness calls its façade "certainly the finest Classical façade in Burnley and among the very best of its date in the country".[6]

Architecture

Burnley Mechanics is built in the Palazzo style in sandstone ashlar.[3] Green's original construction is on a rectangular plan with five bays at the front; it is on two storeys.[4] The ground floor has Venetian-style windows with round, rusticated arches.[4] Waddington's extension at the rear of the building is on a slightly lower level.[4] Its design matches that of the rest of the building, but the newer windows have architraves with pilasters.[3]

On the second floor, there are central windows flanked by Corinthian columns and pilasters.[4] The entrances to the building have coupled Corinthian columns.[4]

See also

References
Footnotes
  1. "Burnley Mechanics — Outline", www.burnley.gov.uk, Burnley Borough Council, archived from the original on 27 September 2011, retrieved 13 June 2011
  2. Tylecote, pp. 112–113
  3. Historic England, "Burnley Mechanics (1244905)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 13 June 2011
  4. Hartwell & Pevsner, pp. 180–181
  5. "Listed Buildings", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage, archived from the original on 27 December 2012, retrieved 13 June 2011
  6. Champness, p. 134
Bibliography
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