First of all, many thanks to Lyn for finding that super photo of the building in the Library yesterday. It was taken in 1949, just before the buses were diverted away from Loveday Street, after which I passed that corner less frequently. The picture means a lot to me, especially spending a few hours looking through what I have at home without finding anything at all. I must admit that I couldn’t recall it until I saw Lyn’s picture, but that is the place all right, and now I can remember it! There were quite a few elegant but decayed elegant buildings nearby, such as the old St Chad’s School opposite and the former Victoria Hall adjoining it, all later used for industry.
We can see that what was built was very different from the artist's impression posted earlier, which is obviously suspect because it shows both Princip and Loveday Street as being dead level, which the latter certainly isn’t. Tacitus has unearthed the newspaper contribution from 1899, stating that the original plans had to be altered, baths and other valuable requirements omitted and a wretched apology for what was intended erected in its stead.
My guess is that promoters realised they had to make compromises, and decided to build the ground floor as an industrial development taking access off Princip Street, with the People’s Hall occupying the upper floor/s taking access off Loveday Street up the hill and closer to the centre of town. Clearly the idea of impressive columns had given way to shallow pilasters round the main building, and although it remained five bays wide, it was only five bays long, rather than the seven bays originally shown in the drawing. I would even guess further that the promoters might have preferred to have a row columns along the façade to Loveday Street, to form a portico with the pediment a bay forward, but couldn’t afford that either.
It would be interesting to know a bit more about the setting up of the movement, which may be a bit complicated with its alleged Chartist connections.
I look forward to seeing any more pictures of, and learning anything more about, this fascinating building.
Thanks to everyone else for their contributions so far.
It is this kind of discussion which makes this Forum what it is – The BEST
Peter