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Wakefield Mechanics' Institute

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The building was constructed between 1820 and 1821, to serve as public rooms, with a music saloon on the first floor. The saloon opened in 1823, and the building soon also housed a subscription library, a newsroom, a
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was founded at a meeting at the institute. In 1910, the building was renamed as the Institute of Literature and Science, but it declined in popularity, and closed in 1935. It was taken over by
49:, who was living in the damp basement. Public baths were instead installed in the basement. From 1828, the saloon housed the town's annual charity ball, its most prominent social event. 144: 201: 250: 240: 245: 176: 115: 65: 181: 45:, and a public dispensary, which was in the basement. The dispensary closed in 1832 following the death of the 120: 18: 87: 98:, and above them a frieze in which is inscribed "MECHANICS' INSTITUTION". The rear elevation is 72:, which let rooms out to various organisations, while allowing the saloon to be used for events. 61: 57: 8: 86:
The building is two storeys high and five bays wide. It is built of sandstone, with
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on the ground floor; the roof is covered in Welsh slate. The upper floors feature
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and includes windows to the basement. There are wrought iron railings, with some
34: 234: 216: 203: 53: 42: 95: 91: 46: 30: 103: 99: 171: 145:"The building that might have been the town hall" 232: 22:The building in 2008, while in use as a museum 29:is a historic building in the city centre of 251:Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire 139: 137: 135: 79:, which remained there until 2012. It was 241:Buildings and structures completed in 1821 132: 17: 116:Grade II* listed buildings in Wakefield 233: 167: 165: 246:Buildings and structures in Wakefield 66:National Federation of SubPostmasters 162: 13: 182:National Heritage List for England 14: 262: 177:"Former City Museum (1259120)" 27:Wakefield Mechanics' Institute 1: 126: 121:Listed buildings in Wakefield 75:In 1955, the building became 149:Wakefield Historical Society 7: 109: 10: 267: 23: 106:in the form of urns. 21: 217:53.68375°N 1.50080°W 62:mechanics' institute 213: /  222:53.68375; -1.50080 24: 70:Wakefield Council 258: 228: 227: 225: 224: 223: 218: 214: 211: 210: 209: 206: 194: 193: 191: 189: 173:Historic England 169: 160: 159: 157: 155: 141: 81:Grade II* listed 77:Wakefield Museum 64:. In 1897, the 266: 265: 261: 260: 259: 257: 256: 255: 231: 230: 221: 219: 215: 212: 207: 204: 202: 200: 199: 197: 187: 185: 170: 163: 153: 151: 143: 142: 133: 129: 112: 12: 11: 5: 264: 254: 253: 248: 243: 196: 195: 161: 130: 128: 125: 124: 123: 118: 111: 108: 56:was opened on 37:, in England. 35:West Yorkshire 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 263: 252: 249: 247: 244: 242: 239: 238: 236: 229: 226: 184: 183: 178: 174: 168: 166: 150: 146: 140: 138: 136: 131: 122: 119: 117: 114: 113: 107: 105: 101: 97: 93: 89: 84: 82: 78: 73: 71: 67: 63: 59: 55: 54:corn exchange 50: 48: 44: 38: 36: 32: 28: 20: 16: 198: 186:. Retrieved 180: 152:. Retrieved 148: 96:sash windows 85: 74: 51: 43:savings bank 39: 26: 25: 15: 220: / 94:pilasters, 92:Ionic order 88:rustication 52:In 1838, a 235:Categories 205:53°41′02″N 188:5 November 154:5 November 127:References 47:apothecary 208:1°30′03″W 83:in 1971. 31:Wakefield 110:See also 100:stuccoed 58:Westgate 104:finials 33:, in 190:2023 156:2023 237:: 179:. 175:. 164:^ 147:. 134:^ 192:. 158:.

Index


Wakefield
West Yorkshire
savings bank
apothecary
corn exchange
Westgate
mechanics' institute
National Federation of SubPostmasters
Wakefield Council
Wakefield Museum
Grade II* listed
rustication
Ionic order
sash windows
stuccoed
finials
Grade II* listed buildings in Wakefield
Listed buildings in Wakefield



"The building that might have been the town hall"


Historic England
"Former City Museum (1259120)"
National Heritage List for England
53°41′02″N 1°30′03″W / 53.68375°N 1.50080°W / 53.68375; -1.50080
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