Masonic Hall (EHER 25473)

Masonic Hall, formerly The Mechanics Institute. It was built around 1850-60 with a red brick facade with stone dressings, a hall to rear with grey slate roof and weatherboarded base. The Mechanics' Institute was formed in 1847 and used the National School for meetings until the erection of this building, heavy debt was incurred which-brought about a financial crisis in 1867, it continued into the 20th century but had ceased to exist by the First World War, during its 60 odd years of existence the Institute was the only body consistently providing adult education and to offer aids of self-improvement in its reading room and library.

Masonic Hall, formerly The Mechanics Institute. Built around 1850-60 with a red brick facade with stone dressings, a hall to rear with grey slate roof and weatherboarded base to raised roof lights. It has a symmetrical single storey entrance facade with raised lugged pediment above a transomed four light bay with slanting roof, chamfered angles and surround, moulded mullions and transoms, moulded cornice, polygonal leaded lights. There is moulded coping to pediment. Right and left round headed arches with imposts and keystones to entry porches, halved Dutch gables over to base of pediment. The Mechanics' Institute was formed in 1847 and used the National School for meetings until the erection of this building, heavy debt was incurred which-brought about a financial crisis in 1867, it continued into the 20th century but had ceased to exist by the First World War, during its 60 odd years of existence the Institute was the only body consistently providing adult education and to offer aids of self-improvement in its reading room and library. <1> Photographs <2>