Another in the short series celebrating our Municipal Town Halls which focus not only on the grand buildings but also the achievements of local government.
Stretford Town Hall is is that grand building on Chester Road which has for over a century served as a Public Hall, Municipal Library, Civic Theatre and council offices.
It also had a set of swimming baths at the rear all of which made it a focal point for those who lived in the area.
It was built in 1878 by John Rylands who lived just up the road in Longford Hall and on his death his wife gave the building to the local authority for a small annual rent.
On her death the council bought the property.
Over the last century and a bit the place has changed as new civic buildings were built.
So the library moved out when the new one was opened in 1940 and after a period as Stretford Civic Theatre it became council offices reverting to a Public Hall in 1997 while the swimming baths closed when the new Leisure Centre opened.
Painting; Stretford Public Hall © 2013 Peter Topping
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk
Facebook: Paintings from Pictures https://www.facebook.com/paintingsfrompictures
It also had a set of swimming baths at the rear all of which made it a focal point for those who lived in the area.
It was built in 1878 by John Rylands who lived just up the road in Longford Hall and on his death his wife gave the building to the local authority for a small annual rent.
On her death the council bought the property.
Over the last century and a bit the place has changed as new civic buildings were built.
So the library moved out when the new one was opened in 1940 and after a period as Stretford Civic Theatre it became council offices reverting to a Public Hall in 1997 while the swimming baths closed when the new Leisure Centre opened.
Painting; Stretford Public Hall © 2013 Peter Topping
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk
Facebook: Paintings from Pictures https://www.facebook.com/paintingsfrompictures
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