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Mechanics' Institute, Manchester

December 15, 2023

The Mechanics' Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester, is notable as the building in which three significant British institutions were founded: the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). In the 1960s it was occupied by the Manchester College of Commerce. It has been a Grade II* listed building since 11 May 1972.[1]

Mechanics' Institute, Princess Street, Manchester
Plaque commemorating the first meeting of the Trades Union Congress at the Mechanics' Institute in 1868

History edit

 
Plaque commemorating the first meeting of the Co-operative Insurance Company at the Mechanics' Institute in 1867

Early years edit

The institute, which was one of many, was established in Manchester on 7 April 1824 at the Bridgewater Arms hotel. Its purpose was to provide facilities for working men to learn the principles of science through part-time study. The original prospectus of the institute stated

The Manchester Mechanics' Institution is formed for the purpose of enabling Mechanics and Artisans, of whatever trade they may be, to become acquainted with such branches of science as are of practical application in the exercise of that trade; that they may possess a more thorough knowledge of their business, acquire a greater degree of skill in the practice of it, and be qualified to make improvements and even new inventions in the Arts which they respectively profess. It is not intended to teach the trade of the Machine-maker, the Dyer, the Carpenter, the Mason, or any other particular business, but there is no art which does not depend, more or less, on scientific principles, and to teach what these are, and to point out their practical application, will form the chief object of this Institution.[2]

The most notable of the founders were William Fairbairn, Richard Roberts, George William Wood, George Philips, Joseph Brotherton and Benjamin Heywood. The last of these chaired the first meeting, became the leading patron and is often considered to be the founder. Many of these men shared similar interests, such as being Unitarians and members of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, aside from a desire to improve the commercial, industrial and technological life of Manchester. In this regard, Brotherton stood out as a deviation from the norm, for example in politics and religion.[3] Others among the founders were James Murray, Thomas Hopkins, J. C. Dyer and Phillip Novelli, all of whom were later significant figures in the Anti-Corn Law League.[4]

In 1825 the first building in England expressly designed for use as a mechanics' institute was erected for its use in Cooper Street, off Princess Street, in Manchester.[5] This was demolished in the early 1970s.[citation needed]

Although the original purpose of the institute was maintained, it was increasingly the case that emphasis was placed also on the wider social aspects of the organisation. Heywood's initial optimism regarding the moral upliftment of a significant number of working men through technical education was tempered by the realisation that tiredness and even employment status impeded its achievement. From around 1830, the scope of education was widened to include more elementary aspects, there were proposals to set up reading groups in surrounding areas that would be supplied with books from the institute's library, and also moves to encourage involvement in sports and in general social events. Mostly led from the top, although occasionally the result of explicit demands from its membership, the changes included the creation of a room for reading newspapers, a change in the type of lectures, which became less rigidly based on scientific topics, as also did the library stock, and events such as concerts, exhibitions and excursions played a more important role. Facilities for educating women and children were also introduced but, for example, a request to begin classes in history was rejected because of fears that it would lead to debates about politics.[6]

This institute organised the first City exhibition in 1837 and this led to a large number of similar exhibitions in English industrial towns and cities.[7] By the 1840s, the exhibitions included thousands of casts, busts and masks relating to the fashionable subject of phrenology and were attracting over 100,000 visitors. The Manchester Phrenological Society used its facilities.[8]

Relocation edit

The institute moved to the current building in 1855. The building was designed by J. E. Gregan in an Italian palazzo style and was Gregan's last work.[9] It consists of three tall storeys with a basement and blind attic storey and is constructed of brick with stone dressings. "It set a standard for the scale of the commercial warehouses which were to follow, but the nobility and purity of the design sets it apart from its neighbours."[citation needed]

The inaugural meeting of the Trades Union Congress was held in the building, 2–6 June 1868. In 1882 it was decided to establish a technical school, the Technical School and Mechanics' Institution; it opened in September 1882.[5] This was the beginning of the institution later known as UMIST.

Present day edit

As of 2002 the building contained archives from the National Labour History Museum,[10] which were subsequently relocated with that museum.

Alumni edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "103, Princess Street - Manchester - Manchester - England". Britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. 11 May 1972. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  2. ^ Tylecote, Mabel Phythian (1957). The Mechanics' Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851. Manchester University Press. p. 131.
  3. ^ Tylecote, Mabel Phythian (1957). The Mechanics' Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851. Manchester University Press. pp. 129–130.
  4. ^ Pickering, Paul; Tyrell, Alex (2000). The People's Bread: A History of the Anti-Corn Law League. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-56720-497-4.
  5. ^ a b Frangopulo, N. J., ed. (1962) Rich Inheritance. Manchester: Education Committee; p. 85
  6. ^ Tylecote, Mabel Phythian (1957). The Mechanics' Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851. Manchester University Press. pp. 132–134.
  7. ^ Kusamitsu, Toshia (1980). "Great Exhibitions before 1851". Hist Workshop J. 9 (1): 70–89. doi:10.1093/hwj/9.1.70.
  8. ^ Cliff, Alice (Spring 2014). "Coming home - Bally's miniature phrenological specimens". Science Museum Group Journal. 1 (1). doi:10.15180/140102.
  9. ^ Hartwell, Clare (2001). Pevsner Architectural Guides: Manchester. p. 219.
  10. ^ Hartwell, Clare (2001). Pevsner Architectural Guides: Manchester. pp. 196–197.
  11. ^ Eileen Jay, ‘Armitt, Mary Louisa (1851–1911)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 13 Nov 2015
  12. ^ Brown, David K. "Whitehead, Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36868. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Sources edit

  • Pevsner, Nicholas; Hartwell, Clare & Hyde, Matthew, The Buildings of England: Lancashire — Manchester and the South East (2004) Yale University Press ISBN 0-300-10583-5

External links edit

53°28′37″N 2°14′21″W / 53.4769°N 2.2392°W / 53.4769; -2.2392

December 15, 2023
mechanics, institute, manchester, mechanics, institute, princess, street, manchester, notable, building, which, three, significant, british, institutions, were, founded, trades, union, congress, operative, insurance, society, university, manchester, institute,. The Mechanics Institute 103 Princess Street Manchester is notable as the building in which three significant British institutions were founded the Trades Union Congress TUC the Co operative Insurance Society CIS and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology UMIST In the 1960s it was occupied by the Manchester College of Commerce It has been a Grade II listed building since 11 May 1972 1 Mechanics Institute Princess Street Manchester Plaque commemorating the first meeting of the Trades Union Congress at the Mechanics Institute in 1868Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 Relocation 1 3 Present day 2 Alumni 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Plaque commemorating the first meeting of the Co operative Insurance Company at the Mechanics Institute in 1867Early years editThe institute which was one of many was established in Manchester on 7 April 1824 at the Bridgewater Arms hotel Its purpose was to provide facilities for working men to learn the principles of science through part time study The original prospectus of the institute statedThe Manchester Mechanics Institution is formed for the purpose of enabling Mechanics and Artisans of whatever trade they may be to become acquainted with such branches of science as are of practical application in the exercise of that trade that they may possess a more thorough knowledge of their business acquire a greater degree of skill in the practice of it and be qualified to make improvements and even new inventions in the Arts which they respectively profess It is not intended to teach the trade of the Machine maker the Dyer the Carpenter the Mason or any other particular business but there is no art which does not depend more or less on scientific principles and to teach what these are and to point out their practical application will form the chief object of this Institution 2 The most notable of the founders were William Fairbairn Richard Roberts George William Wood George Philips Joseph Brotherton and Benjamin Heywood The last of these chaired the first meeting became the leading patron and is often considered to be the founder Many of these men shared similar interests such as being Unitarians and members of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society aside from a desire to improve the commercial industrial and technological life of Manchester In this regard Brotherton stood out as a deviation from the norm for example in politics and religion 3 Others among the founders were James Murray Thomas Hopkins J C Dyer and Phillip Novelli all of whom were later significant figures in the Anti Corn Law League 4 In 1825 the first building in England expressly designed for use as a mechanics institute was erected for its use in Cooper Street off Princess Street in Manchester 5 This was demolished in the early 1970s citation needed Although the original purpose of the institute was maintained it was increasingly the case that emphasis was placed also on the wider social aspects of the organisation Heywood s initial optimism regarding the moral upliftment of a significant number of working men through technical education was tempered by the realisation that tiredness and even employment status impeded its achievement From around 1830 the scope of education was widened to include more elementary aspects there were proposals to set up reading groups in surrounding areas that would be supplied with books from the institute s library and also moves to encourage involvement in sports and in general social events Mostly led from the top although occasionally the result of explicit demands from its membership the changes included the creation of a room for reading newspapers a change in the type of lectures which became less rigidly based on scientific topics as also did the library stock and events such as concerts exhibitions and excursions played a more important role Facilities for educating women and children were also introduced but for example a request to begin classes in history was rejected because of fears that it would lead to debates about politics 6 This institute organised the first City exhibition in 1837 and this led to a large number of similar exhibitions in English industrial towns and cities 7 By the 1840s the exhibitions included thousands of casts busts and masks relating to the fashionable subject of phrenology and were attracting over 100 000 visitors The Manchester Phrenological Society used its facilities 8 Relocation edit The institute moved to the current building in 1855 The building was designed by J E Gregan in an Italian palazzo style and was Gregan s last work 9 It consists of three tall storeys with a basement and blind attic storey and is constructed of brick with stone dressings It set a standard for the scale of the commercial warehouses which were to follow but the nobility and purity of the design sets it apart from its neighbours citation needed The inaugural meeting of the Trades Union Congress was held in the building 2 6 June 1868 In 1882 it was decided to establish a technical school the Technical School and Mechanics Institution it opened in September 1882 5 This was the beginning of the institution later known as UMIST Present day edit As of 2002 the building contained archives from the National Labour History Museum 10 which were subsequently relocated with that museum Alumni editMary Louisa Armitt who founded the Armitt Library 11 Robert Whitehead engineer and developer of the first self propelled torpedo 12 See also edit nbsp Greater Manchester portalGrade II listed buildings in Greater Manchester Listed buildings in Manchester M1References edit 103 Princess Street Manchester Manchester England Britishlistedbuildings co uk 11 May 1972 Retrieved 4 May 2015 Tylecote Mabel Phythian 1957 The Mechanics Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851 Manchester University Press p 131 Tylecote Mabel Phythian 1957 The Mechanics Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851 Manchester University Press pp 129 130 Pickering Paul Tyrell Alex 2000 The People s Bread A History of the Anti Corn Law League Bloomsbury Publishing p 226 ISBN 978 0 56720 497 4 a b Frangopulo N J ed 1962 Rich Inheritance Manchester Education Committee p 85 Tylecote Mabel Phythian 1957 The Mechanics Institutes of Lancashire and Yorkshire Before 1851 Manchester University Press pp 132 134 Kusamitsu Toshia 1980 Great Exhibitions before 1851 Hist Workshop J 9 1 70 89 doi 10 1093 hwj 9 1 70 Cliff Alice Spring 2014 Coming home Bally s miniature phrenological specimens Science Museum Group Journal 1 1 doi 10 15180 140102 Hartwell Clare 2001 Pevsner Architectural Guides Manchester p 219 Hartwell Clare 2001 Pevsner Architectural Guides Manchester pp 196 197 Eileen Jay Armitt Mary Louisa 1851 1911 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 accessed 13 Nov 2015 Brown David K Whitehead Robert Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 36868 Subscription or UK public library membership required Sources editPevsner Nicholas Hartwell Clare amp Hyde Matthew The Buildings of England Lancashire Manchester and the South East 2004 Yale University Press ISBN 0 300 10583 5External links editManchester Mechanics Institution archive University of Manchester Library 53 28 37 N 2 14 21 W 53 4769 N 2 2392 W 53 4769 2 2392 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mechanics 27 Institute Manchester amp oldid 1153722115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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