Colchester Institute Main Building (EHER 39315)

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Summary

Late 19th century hotel by Gale and Farthing, the earliest known steel framed building in the country.

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Location

Grid reference	TM 1812 1491 (point)

Type and Period

Description

Building of Special Architectural Interest. Built as a Hotel in 1892-97 by A.J gale and N.T Farthing of Smith , Son and Gale for Henry Grant. The building was converted to teacher training college during the 1950s. It was constructed using Steel box frame with red brick curtain walls and machine tile roofs. The former Grand Hotel is remarkable in that it remains the earliest building in the country to have been constructed using a complete and fully formed coherent structural steel system enclosed within the building. Previously the earliest known was the Ritz Hotel, London, built 1903-06 <1> <2>.

Sources

<1> SEX59909 Photograph: Pratt, N.. 2001. Record Photographs 15 May 2001. 120. Black and white negative. HBR/BW/01/11.
<2> SEX63091 DESC TEXT: Department for Culture Media and Sport. 2001. Amendment to Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

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