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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Location within Burnley town centre | |
| Address | Manchester Road Burnley England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53.7878°N 2.2445°W |
| Type | Theatre |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1855 |
| Architect | James Green (1854–55) William Waddington (1888) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Designated | 19 November 1997 |
| Reference no. | 1244905 |
The Mechanics' Institute was built 1854–55 to a design by Todmorden architect James Green. Charles Towneley officially 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]
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]
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