Former Reform Club, Manchester

Manchester Reform Club

The Reform Club, Spring Gardens, Manchester is a former Victorian Gentlemans' club constructed in 1870-1 in the Venetian Gothic style by Edward Salomons. The club is "his best city centre building" and is a Grade II* listed building as of 3 October 1974. The contract for construction was awarded to "Mr Nield, builder, Manchester for £20,000." Built as a club house for Manchester's Liberal elite, the building was opened by William Gladstone on October 17 1871.

The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar with polychrome dressings and hipped slate roofs and is three-storey with elaborate corner turrets and oriel windows and balconies. The main entrance is "richly adorned with carving including winged beasts." The interior contains a "fine staircase, a (two-storey) grand dining room and an enormous billiard room, running the whole length of the building, in the roof." The "hall and staircase (have) linenfold panelling."

Declining membership in the late 20th century led the club to merge with the Engineers' Club in 1967, to form the Manchester Club, but this failed to prove financially viable and was wound up in 1988. Records of the club are stored at the John Rylands Library on Deansgate. The building is now a restaurant and bar.

Notes

References

• Hartwell, Clare (2001), Manchester, Pevsner Architectural Guides, London: Penguin, ISBN 0-14-071131-7

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Reform_Club