Spotted this whilst out and about with @host - tempted by the description of an "Ornate 1830's ballroom" we thought it would be rude not to have a look.
In reality the place is rammed pull of old fruit machines, lighting rigs and chairs etc and you really can't see much of the good stuff. There's bit's of nice old signage here and there if you can be bothered clambering about to get to it - tbh I couldn't, there's a nice building in the somewhere though - I just grabbed a few shots, nice staircases etc but might give someone a taster who wants to do a better job.....
This large five storey 1830's Grade II Listed building is a former Masonic Lodge, with two large ballrooms, bars, lounges and kitchens. Supposedly one of the oldest lodges in Manchester if not the UK.
Seems to have closed about 10 years ago and last used as a club/function rooms.
For anyone interested in the actual architecture.......Grade 2 listed
Former Masonic Hall. c1880 with rear wing of 1924.
Rusticated rubble, coursed and squared in small blocks. Welsh
slate roof. 2 storeys raised over basement, 6-window range,
asymmetrically planned in Greek revival style. Entrance in
advanced bay towards the left, up steps in portico with fluted
Doric columns and triglyph frieze. Paired doors with heavy
raised panels. The frieze line of the portico is continued
across the facade as a plain string course. Tall casement
windows in ashlar architraves with moulded aprons below
architraves. Shouldered architraves to first floor openings,
but all but two of these are blind. Pediment over advanced
entrance and right-hand bays, triglyph frieze at eaves level,
and overhanging cornice. Later rear range of brick with stone
dressings. 2 storeys and attic. Polished granite entrance to
left with narrow stair windows over. Heavy rusticated
voussoirs to high first floor windows. Dated in cornice over
second storey, "AD MCMXXIV"
In reality the place is rammed pull of old fruit machines, lighting rigs and chairs etc and you really can't see much of the good stuff. There's bit's of nice old signage here and there if you can be bothered clambering about to get to it - tbh I couldn't, there's a nice building in the somewhere though - I just grabbed a few shots, nice staircases etc but might give someone a taster who wants to do a better job.....
This large five storey 1830's Grade II Listed building is a former Masonic Lodge, with two large ballrooms, bars, lounges and kitchens. Supposedly one of the oldest lodges in Manchester if not the UK.
Seems to have closed about 10 years ago and last used as a club/function rooms.
For anyone interested in the actual architecture.......Grade 2 listed
Former Masonic Hall. c1880 with rear wing of 1924.
Rusticated rubble, coursed and squared in small blocks. Welsh
slate roof. 2 storeys raised over basement, 6-window range,
asymmetrically planned in Greek revival style. Entrance in
advanced bay towards the left, up steps in portico with fluted
Doric columns and triglyph frieze. Paired doors with heavy
raised panels. The frieze line of the portico is continued
across the facade as a plain string course. Tall casement
windows in ashlar architraves with moulded aprons below
architraves. Shouldered architraves to first floor openings,
but all but two of these are blind. Pediment over advanced
entrance and right-hand bays, triglyph frieze at eaves level,
and overhanging cornice. Later rear range of brick with stone
dressings. 2 storeys and attic. Polished granite entrance to
left with narrow stair windows over. Heavy rusticated
voussoirs to high first floor windows. Dated in cornice over
second storey, "AD MCMXXIV"