Basic Site Details | Name: | Mechanics Institute | | Town, district or village: | Dumfries | | City or county: | Dumfriesshire | | Country: | Scotland | | Parish: | | | Status: | Demolished | | Grid ref: | | | Notes: | The new hall of this Institute, in Irish-street, Dumfries, was opened on the 12th ult. The style is Gothic, of the Early English period. The front elevation to Irish-street is 62 feet long - its leading feature consisting of three large entrance doors with pointed arches, and a circular tracery window under the main gable. The arches arc built of white and red stones alternately. The height from the ground to the apex of the gable is 40 feet. The internal arrangements of the building are simple. The three front entrance doors open into a lobby 30 feet long, from which access is had to the ground floor of the hall. At the one end of the lobby is the stair up to the gallery, at the other end is an ante-room for cloaks, etc. The total width of the ground floor of the hall is 58 feet, and its length is 56 feet (exclusive of the platform, which is at the end opposite the front doors, and is 33 feet long by 11 feet wide). The gallery is placed opposite the platform, and extends over the entrance lobby ; it is 23 feet deep, and 33 feet wide, and gives the total length of 76 feet from the back of the platform to the back of the gallery. The roof of the building is in three compartments, dividing the interior into a central nave and aisles on each side. The nave rises above the side aisles to the height of 31 feet, and is constructed of eight laminated wood ribs, in the form of pointed arches, springing from iron columns, which give a vaulted appearance to the interior. The ribs of the nave are carried down the lower roofs of the side aisles, and terminate on stone corbels in the walls. The roof of the nave, rising above that of the aisles, allows the light to be introduced through a range of clerestory windows on each side. The ceilings are plastered and formed into panels and geometric figures by intersecting mouldings. The ribs etc, are grained oak, and are finished on the spandrels with polychromed trefoils and shields, which are filled in with the initials of great men of the past and present day. The plaster panels and mouldings are tinted variously to harmonise with the wood-work. The gallery front consists of an open ornamented iron railing, bronzed, and lined behind with crimson cloth. At night the hall is lighted with ornamented brackets, hung from the beams of the gallery and nave. At present it is seated for 1,000 people; but if occasion requires, it can be arranged to hold 150 more. The cost of the building is about £1,300. The design was furnished by Mr. Fraser, architect, Dumfries. The contractors were for the mason work, Messrs Crackstone and Son; for the joiner work, Mr Mein; for the plaster work, Mr. Fraser; and the slater work, Mr. Bridges. Mr. Coltart had the painting, and Mr. Aitken the glazing. [Building News 10 January 1862 p22]
| Alternative Names| The following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | Dumfries and Maxweltown Mechanics Institute | | |
Building Type Classification| The building is classified under the following categories: | | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Institute | | |
Street Addresses| The following street addresses are associated with this building: | | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Mechanics Institute, Irish Street | Yes | |
Events| The following date-based events are associated with this building: | | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1859 | 1861 | Build/construction | | | 12 December 1861 | | Opened | |
PeopleDesign and Construction| The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | Alexander Fraser | | | 1859 | 1861 | |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this building: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory | 1868 | Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory | | London, Wyman | | | MacDowall | 1867 | History of Dumfries | | | p770 |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this building: | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 10 January 1862 | | | p22 |
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