Mechanics Institute Restoration
When the ~Railway Works were established, facilities were needed for the men they employed. Through the company, private capital and subscriptions from the workers, by 1855 there was a 280-cottage Railway Village, a church, a public house and a Mechanics’ Institute. The original architect brief was to provide baths, reading, lecture and refreshment rooms, a market and shops on the site. The Institute became so popular that it was substantially extended in 1892 with new facilities including a theatre, new reading rooms, library space and lecture room.
We are currently working on Phase 1 of the project, a feasibility study and options appraisal to identify an optimal solution for the building’s re-use. Ultimately, we are aiming for a creatively restored, but commercially viable scheme for this historically significant building.