Royal Exchange, Manchester
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| Royal Exchange, Manchester | |
 The Royal Exchange building |
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| Building information | |
|---|---|
| Town | Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Architect | Bradshaw Gass and Hope |
| Construction start date | 1914 |
| Completion date | 1921 |
| Size | Classical style. Portland stone, slate roof with 3 glazed domes. Baroque turret at north-west corner, domes over other corners. Arcade at ground floor and enclosing central atrium at 1st floor, trading hall (now containing theatre). |
The Royal Exchange is an impressive 19th century classical building in Manchester, England.
The grade II listed [1] current building is the last of several buildings on the site used for commodities exchange, primarily but not exclusively of cotton and textiles. The first exchange was built nearby in 1729; this was replaced by a larger building in 1806-9, which was enlarged 1847-9, and replaced in 1867-74 by Mills & Murgatroyd.[2] Extensions and modifications were carried out in 1914-21, by Bradshaw Gass & Hope,[2] and formed the largest trading room in England.[3] The interior building was rebuilt after war damage with a much smaller trading area.[2][4] The top stages of the clock tower, which had been blasted off, were replaced in a much simpler form. Trading finished in 1968, and the building was threatened with demolition.[2][5]
The building remained empty until 1973 when it was used to temporarily house a theatre company. An innovative theatre in the round was completed in 1976[2] and has housed the Royal Exchange Theatre since.
The building was seriously damaged twice. A direct hit during World War II seriously damaged the building.[4] The 1996 IRA bomb, which exploded less than 50 metres away, moved the dome (the main structure was undamaged)[6] leading to closure for two years while repairs were carried out. However, the fact that nearby St Ann's Church survived almost unscathed is almost certainly due to the sheltering effect of the large, stone-built Exchange.
It includes the Royal Exchange Theatre, Royal Exchange shopping centre and other stores on street level, including Lush, Nike, Pastiche and other brands.
It faces Boots the chemist and the Marks & Spencer/Selfridges building.
[edit] External links
[edit] Bibliography
- Hartwell, Clare [2001]. Pevsner Architectural Guides: Manchester. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-071131-7.
- Parkinson-Bailey, John J [2000]. Manchester: an Architectural History. Manchester: Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-5606-3.
[edit] References
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