The above remarkable pictures taken in 1933 show the evidence of the cells believed in much the same condition as obtained in 1839 from the Chorlton on Medlock Township for the newly formed Manchester Borough Police. These pictures being the oldest known display of cells in the collection of some 180 years old. Courtesy of the Manchester Local Image Collection.
A copy of the Manchester News Chronicle of 15th December 1933 reveals a story of the opening of the blue washed Platt Lane PS and the comparison with these old cells at Cavendish St. The authors account reveals chain rings attached to the walls and gas lighting.
A copy of the Manchester News Chronicle of 15th December 1933 reveals a story of the opening of the blue washed Platt Lane PS and the comparison with these old cells at Cavendish St. The authors account reveals chain rings attached to the walls and gas lighting.
Chorlton on Medlock: D Division
Cavendish St: Town Hall
1830-1831 The Police Commissioners of Chorlton Row request Richard Lane architect to design the Town Hall. Completed by 14 October 1831, and included a Poor Law Guardians Dispensary on the right hand side. Police Commissioner offices to the left. Central first floor Committee rooms now form the Green Cafe at MMU(2012). [ J. J. Parkinson-Bailey, Manchester: and architectural history, (Manchester: MUP 2000).pp.61-62.]
July 18th 1839 Application for the use of the C. on M. Lock-ups and if refused the parties to be summons to the Borough Court. [An early indication as to the political hostilities that will follow the formation of the Borough of Manchester with the acquired Townships and the next three years]
Jan 6th 1840 Included in list of Sir Charles Shaw as a Lock-up.
1841 Slater’s Police and Town Office Town Hall Grosvenor Square.
Sept 27th 1842 Finally taken over by the Council's W.C and listed as D Div HQ
Dec 2nd 1842 Payment of rent
1843 Pigot’s & Borough Police Force Corporation of Manchester Capt Edward Wallis: D Division Supt. John Taylor
Slater’s
Feb 3rd 1843 To be connected to the sewer £20 and to improve the entrance basement and police accommodation totalling £81 which raises concern as to the repeated costs.
July 27th 1843 New gas lamp to be fitted £4.6.0
Nov 1st 1843 To remove the Scavenging Dept carts form the rear yard to enable the drilling [of the constables].
Nov 13th 1845 Laying of water pipes to the station closets.
Feb 22nd 1848 HM Inspector’s report for Sec of State Home Dept into improvements requested to Lock-up accommodations – improve the lighting as explained to the C.C.
Jan 4th 1849 To build a parade room at Chorlton Town Hall £179.15.0d
Jan 13th 1852 Rent £17.10.0d
March 15th 1860 Gas Street Vans to be placed in the yard to afford increased facilities for the stoppage of the escape of gas.
Oct 8th 1863 To build a room over the existing parade room.
1863 Slater’s Police Stations: Supt. William Saynor
Oct 17th 1867 Following the death of Sgt Brett in the ‘Fenian Outrage’ the LUSC ordered to make arrangements to secure the stations by:-
Plating the doors in iron, wrought iron bars to windows, revolving shutters to windows.
29 Sept 1869 HMIC Inspection reveals: 3 cells, no rooms for lodging accommodation.
Sept 21st 1870 Alterations to lock-ups £30
Oct 19th 1876 Additional accommodation required at station.
Dec 7th 1876 To convert the Overseers office to a charge office and enquiry counter, Sgts room, waiting room for £200. Five cells male and female and new corridor and ventilation shaft £800.
Feb 1st 1877 Surveyor states the Town Hall was unable to be converted by W.C into a police station and does not entirely approve of previous plans for the cells but no better arrangements can be made. [An interesting insight into the use of buildings not purposely designed for Police Duties nor owned by the W.C. This at the height of station building in the era of Local Government Board loans]
Aug 31st 1877 Authorised to purchase the Town Hall [It reveals from latter entries that the W.C buy the section within the Town Hall Building used by the police.
1879 Slater’s Boundary St West : Police Station D Division (rear entrance exits onto this street )
Jan 19th 1879 Agreed to alter Town Hall for police accommodation for £905 by Mr James Herd.
1879 Slater’s : Police Station
Sept 5th 1889 Survey of Stations owned outright for insurance purposes. Section within Town Hall £100.
Dec 12 1890 To relay stone flags in rooms as worn out. Concrete £40 and flags £80. Concrete chosen and tender £43.
April 30th 1891 Painting of the stations: £86
April 14th 1892 Four WCs required at station £25
June 8th 1893 New flush system required for WC as old design of single cistern system for 4 WCs unsuitable.
6th July 1893 Lock -Up Sub- Committee report on their visit to Cavendish St and Park Place lock up to examine the closets and lavatory. Also to the Bridgewater St PS where a large number of officers and constables parade for duty. Urinal accommodation should be provided for them.
1895 Slater’s :Police Station D Division Bannister William Supt. [1897 Home Office Dugdale enquiry centres on the corrupt practices led by this officer]
17th Oct 1895 Poor rate assessment appeals; Cavendish St £216.15.0, Belle Vue St £13.10.0, South Street £10.5.0, Goulden St £184.8.0, Park Place £10.0.0, as premises used for the residence of a police officer and his family such parts are rateable. At that time Cavendish St not occupied and an Inspector and his family were at Belle Vue St and a Constable and his family at South St.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£ nil Town Hall owned building £115.16.4
27th Aug 1896 Assessment for Poor Law rates. Overseer’s’ office appeal agreed and assessment struck out.
21st April 1898 Fire Brigade sub-committee visited and resolved to provide a new hut corner of Cavendish St and Lower Ormond Street for the firemen currently on duty in the cellar at the Cavendish St PS. Tender £64
19th May 1898 LUSC: Painting of ground and first floor and six rooms on second and third floors. Tender £72
19th May 1898 City Surveyor to be instructed to obtain an estimate of the cost of fixing of glass fanlights instead of perforated iron ones at the various police stations. [believed this is to the cell doors such as Fairfield St PS] Tender £126.
29th March 1900 LUSC: The substitution of a self acting w.c in lieu of those provided in the cells of the various police stations.
15th May 1901 Quinquennial Valuations: No entry shown as Police Station does not form part of the W.C building valuations as building owned by the General Council as a Town Hall.
15th Aug 1901 Drilling of Post Office messengers at Cavendish St, Willert St, Fairfield St and Broughton Town Hall Salford agreed for one hour a week
2012 The building and façade remain but interior converted into the Manchester Metropolitan University Art Department. Blue plaque indicates previous usage. The cellars reveal the brick lintels only for the cell doors now fully converted into new rooms.
July 18th 1839 Application for the use of the C. on M. Lock-ups and if refused the parties to be summons to the Borough Court. [An early indication as to the political hostilities that will follow the formation of the Borough of Manchester with the acquired Townships and the next three years]
Jan 6th 1840 Included in list of Sir Charles Shaw as a Lock-up.
1841 Slater’s Police and Town Office Town Hall Grosvenor Square.
Sept 27th 1842 Finally taken over by the Council's W.C and listed as D Div HQ
Dec 2nd 1842 Payment of rent
1843 Pigot’s & Borough Police Force Corporation of Manchester Capt Edward Wallis: D Division Supt. John Taylor
Slater’s
Feb 3rd 1843 To be connected to the sewer £20 and to improve the entrance basement and police accommodation totalling £81 which raises concern as to the repeated costs.
July 27th 1843 New gas lamp to be fitted £4.6.0
Nov 1st 1843 To remove the Scavenging Dept carts form the rear yard to enable the drilling [of the constables].
Nov 13th 1845 Laying of water pipes to the station closets.
Feb 22nd 1848 HM Inspector’s report for Sec of State Home Dept into improvements requested to Lock-up accommodations – improve the lighting as explained to the C.C.
Jan 4th 1849 To build a parade room at Chorlton Town Hall £179.15.0d
Jan 13th 1852 Rent £17.10.0d
March 15th 1860 Gas Street Vans to be placed in the yard to afford increased facilities for the stoppage of the escape of gas.
Oct 8th 1863 To build a room over the existing parade room.
1863 Slater’s Police Stations: Supt. William Saynor
Oct 17th 1867 Following the death of Sgt Brett in the ‘Fenian Outrage’ the LUSC ordered to make arrangements to secure the stations by:-
Plating the doors in iron, wrought iron bars to windows, revolving shutters to windows.
29 Sept 1869 HMIC Inspection reveals: 3 cells, no rooms for lodging accommodation.
Sept 21st 1870 Alterations to lock-ups £30
Oct 19th 1876 Additional accommodation required at station.
Dec 7th 1876 To convert the Overseers office to a charge office and enquiry counter, Sgts room, waiting room for £200. Five cells male and female and new corridor and ventilation shaft £800.
Feb 1st 1877 Surveyor states the Town Hall was unable to be converted by W.C into a police station and does not entirely approve of previous plans for the cells but no better arrangements can be made. [An interesting insight into the use of buildings not purposely designed for Police Duties nor owned by the W.C. This at the height of station building in the era of Local Government Board loans]
Aug 31st 1877 Authorised to purchase the Town Hall [It reveals from latter entries that the W.C buy the section within the Town Hall Building used by the police.
1879 Slater’s Boundary St West : Police Station D Division (rear entrance exits onto this street )
Jan 19th 1879 Agreed to alter Town Hall for police accommodation for £905 by Mr James Herd.
1879 Slater’s : Police Station
Sept 5th 1889 Survey of Stations owned outright for insurance purposes. Section within Town Hall £100.
Dec 12 1890 To relay stone flags in rooms as worn out. Concrete £40 and flags £80. Concrete chosen and tender £43.
April 30th 1891 Painting of the stations: £86
April 14th 1892 Four WCs required at station £25
June 8th 1893 New flush system required for WC as old design of single cistern system for 4 WCs unsuitable.
6th July 1893 Lock -Up Sub- Committee report on their visit to Cavendish St and Park Place lock up to examine the closets and lavatory. Also to the Bridgewater St PS where a large number of officers and constables parade for duty. Urinal accommodation should be provided for them.
1895 Slater’s :Police Station D Division Bannister William Supt. [1897 Home Office Dugdale enquiry centres on the corrupt practices led by this officer]
17th Oct 1895 Poor rate assessment appeals; Cavendish St £216.15.0, Belle Vue St £13.10.0, South Street £10.5.0, Goulden St £184.8.0, Park Place £10.0.0, as premises used for the residence of a police officer and his family such parts are rateable. At that time Cavendish St not occupied and an Inspector and his family were at Belle Vue St and a Constable and his family at South St.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£ nil Town Hall owned building £115.16.4
27th Aug 1896 Assessment for Poor Law rates. Overseer’s’ office appeal agreed and assessment struck out.
21st April 1898 Fire Brigade sub-committee visited and resolved to provide a new hut corner of Cavendish St and Lower Ormond Street for the firemen currently on duty in the cellar at the Cavendish St PS. Tender £64
19th May 1898 LUSC: Painting of ground and first floor and six rooms on second and third floors. Tender £72
19th May 1898 City Surveyor to be instructed to obtain an estimate of the cost of fixing of glass fanlights instead of perforated iron ones at the various police stations. [believed this is to the cell doors such as Fairfield St PS] Tender £126.
29th March 1900 LUSC: The substitution of a self acting w.c in lieu of those provided in the cells of the various police stations.
15th May 1901 Quinquennial Valuations: No entry shown as Police Station does not form part of the W.C building valuations as building owned by the General Council as a Town Hall.
15th Aug 1901 Drilling of Post Office messengers at Cavendish St, Willert St, Fairfield St and Broughton Town Hall Salford agreed for one hour a week
2012 The building and façade remain but interior converted into the Manchester Metropolitan University Art Department. Blue plaque indicates previous usage. The cellars reveal the brick lintels only for the cell doors now fully converted into new rooms.