Figure 14. Detailed drawing from 1849 OS Map : 1 yard to the mile. Note Chief Constable's office front right with Police Office and Chief Superintendent's office behind. The cells were down the steps in the basement.
Figure 15 Google Map location
Figure 15 Google Map location
Manchester City: A Division
King Street: Town Hall and Assize Court
1821 Salter’s Police Office: 53 King St Boroughreeve, Deputy Constable & Beadle James Brierley
1822 - 1825 The building in the classical style of the Town Hall designed by Francis Goodwin on King Street. The building housed, around a central lobby, rooms for the Chief Constable and the police along with the Weights and Measures and other council functions including the Gas Office. [J. J. Parkinson-Bailey, Manchester: and architectural history, (Manchester: MUP 2000).pp.59-61.]
June 21st 1839 Contract with the waterworks Co for supplying water – Offices King Street £2. 2. 0.
2nd Dec 1839 Water Works Co expense recorded*.
Jan 6th 1840 Sir Charles Shaw declines the Borough Office on King Street and the key is returned to agents but retains lock-up and police office.
1841 Slater’s Police Station. Wm Martin. Superintendent.
Borough Police Office. Commissioner Sir Charles Shaw : Knight.
Officers of the Boroughreeve Constables of Manchester.
Officers appointed for the Court Leet of Manchester.
Sept 27th 1842 Take over by WC listed as A Div and Force HQ.
1843 Pigot’s & Slater’s : Borough Police Force Corporation of Manchester Capt Edward Wallis: A Division Supt. James Sawley
July 27th 1843 Window tax for all stations at £13.7.4
Aug 22nd 1844 Cells under the Town Hall infested with vermin and require repairs.
Feb 22nd 1848 HM Inspector’s report for Sec of State Home Dept into improvements requested to Lock-up accommodations – Cells introduce gas lighting with iron protection from inmates, improve the ventilation, widen the seats [beds]. Further that a new set of cells be erected on land adjoining the police office and a new Borough Court to accommodate all the persons together [Later Minshull Street and Strangeways]
July 7th 1847 C.C. Reports the poor state of the cells and offices due to bad ventilation and repairs required as Constables now giving up their situations and remainder complain of poor health as a consequence. Copied to the General Purpose Committee of the Council to decide best course for the future.
April 26th 1849 To knock down an interior wall btw charge office and lobby to improve light and ventilation.
Dec 9th 1858 Sec of State certification of force as efficient but cells in the Town Hall damp and poor ventilation and only lit by gas.
Jan 27th 1859 Report concerning the A Div lock-ups and police stations to the General Purpose Committee, stated well founded complaints over a lengthy period of the insufficient accommodation existing in the Town Hall, supported by the Government Inspector of the Sec of State. The unsatisfactory and unhealthy character of the cells, charge office Supt's office and parade room to affect the health of the officers.£5 require in gas to heat and light the underground station. No parade ground to drill the officers and too far distant from the main residences in Hulme to secure the PCs attendance. [see Albert Road]
June 22nd 1860 Complaint from the jury of the Court of Record that a man held for a misdemeanour was kept overnight in cells heated by steam with uncovered convenience that were unfit for human habitation and placed with felons and thieves. Improper that a man held only on suspicion should be held with known characters.
Feb 20th 1862 Removal of offices form ‘Cross Street’ to Albert Street in Aug 1860 left 3 PCs minding the warehouse and premises key boxes which earns £681 p.a. This process continues throughout the century.
25th July 1893 Mention of the remaining existence of the Keys Office in the basement of the now Public Library. This process is returning some £1,600 pa on £1pa per key deposited.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£ 0 main building £13.0.0 office only
14th July 1898 Keys Office requires new w.c £10
2012 Building now demolished, main façade now in Heaton Park as seen in 1916 below.
I have included a link to the excellent Our Manchester website which has more on what became of the old Town Hall site. The link expands for numerous Manchester buildings, information and tours
1822 - 1825 The building in the classical style of the Town Hall designed by Francis Goodwin on King Street. The building housed, around a central lobby, rooms for the Chief Constable and the police along with the Weights and Measures and other council functions including the Gas Office. [J. J. Parkinson-Bailey, Manchester: and architectural history, (Manchester: MUP 2000).pp.59-61.]
June 21st 1839 Contract with the waterworks Co for supplying water – Offices King Street £2. 2. 0.
2nd Dec 1839 Water Works Co expense recorded*.
Jan 6th 1840 Sir Charles Shaw declines the Borough Office on King Street and the key is returned to agents but retains lock-up and police office.
1841 Slater’s Police Station. Wm Martin. Superintendent.
Borough Police Office. Commissioner Sir Charles Shaw : Knight.
Officers of the Boroughreeve Constables of Manchester.
Officers appointed for the Court Leet of Manchester.
Sept 27th 1842 Take over by WC listed as A Div and Force HQ.
1843 Pigot’s & Slater’s : Borough Police Force Corporation of Manchester Capt Edward Wallis: A Division Supt. James Sawley
July 27th 1843 Window tax for all stations at £13.7.4
Aug 22nd 1844 Cells under the Town Hall infested with vermin and require repairs.
Feb 22nd 1848 HM Inspector’s report for Sec of State Home Dept into improvements requested to Lock-up accommodations – Cells introduce gas lighting with iron protection from inmates, improve the ventilation, widen the seats [beds]. Further that a new set of cells be erected on land adjoining the police office and a new Borough Court to accommodate all the persons together [Later Minshull Street and Strangeways]
July 7th 1847 C.C. Reports the poor state of the cells and offices due to bad ventilation and repairs required as Constables now giving up their situations and remainder complain of poor health as a consequence. Copied to the General Purpose Committee of the Council to decide best course for the future.
April 26th 1849 To knock down an interior wall btw charge office and lobby to improve light and ventilation.
Dec 9th 1858 Sec of State certification of force as efficient but cells in the Town Hall damp and poor ventilation and only lit by gas.
Jan 27th 1859 Report concerning the A Div lock-ups and police stations to the General Purpose Committee, stated well founded complaints over a lengthy period of the insufficient accommodation existing in the Town Hall, supported by the Government Inspector of the Sec of State. The unsatisfactory and unhealthy character of the cells, charge office Supt's office and parade room to affect the health of the officers.£5 require in gas to heat and light the underground station. No parade ground to drill the officers and too far distant from the main residences in Hulme to secure the PCs attendance. [see Albert Road]
June 22nd 1860 Complaint from the jury of the Court of Record that a man held for a misdemeanour was kept overnight in cells heated by steam with uncovered convenience that were unfit for human habitation and placed with felons and thieves. Improper that a man held only on suspicion should be held with known characters.
Feb 20th 1862 Removal of offices form ‘Cross Street’ to Albert Street in Aug 1860 left 3 PCs minding the warehouse and premises key boxes which earns £681 p.a. This process continues throughout the century.
25th July 1893 Mention of the remaining existence of the Keys Office in the basement of the now Public Library. This process is returning some £1,600 pa on £1pa per key deposited.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£ 0 main building £13.0.0 office only
14th July 1898 Keys Office requires new w.c £10
2012 Building now demolished, main façade now in Heaton Park as seen in 1916 below.
I have included a link to the excellent Our Manchester website which has more on what became of the old Town Hall site. The link expands for numerous Manchester buildings, information and tours
