Civic Centre

Civic Ensemble on Le Mans Crescent

This is a civic ensemble comprising a library, museum and art gallery, magistrates court and central police station. Built between 1931 and 1939 for Bolton Borough Council by the architects Bradshaw, Hope and Gass of Bolton, with late 20th-century alterations.

The building is constructed in ashlar gritstone and red brick walling on a steel frame, with a flat concrete roof structure embellished by a false mansard roof covered with Westmorland slate.

The plan is nearly symmetrical, with a central element formed by an east-facing crescent designed to provide a setting for the late 19th-century town hall to the east. The north and south ends of the crescent widen to form rectangular blocks that accommodate the main functional spaces of the complex.

The east elevation rises two storeys above a basement and features a crescent-shaped frontage extending from a triple semi-circular arched gateway at the centre. On each side of the central arch are attached stepped piers supporting lanterns with flagpoles. Inscribed plaques at the bases record the commencement of works in 1932 and the opening of the Civic Centre in June 1939. Flanking the gateway are paired pilasters framing pedestrial doorways. Extending outwards from the gateway are 13-bay curved frontages rising from channelled ashlar basement walls set behind ashlar balustrading. The elevation features tall rectangular ground floor windows and square upper floor openings in moulded ashlar surrounds. An unmoulded frieze and cornice sit below parapet balustrading, behind which rises the false mansard roof. At each end, taller entrance blocks rise above the crescent mansard and terminate the elevation. Each has a curved frontage framed by paired pilasters, between which are set tall Ionic columns that flank the principal entrances to the complex. These have stepped approaches, with double doors within moulded surrounds set back behind the columns.

The south elevation is a 14-bay return elevation that reflects the detail of the main east front in plainer form, with slightly advanced end bays framed by pilasters. Between these are 12 bays below a low solid parapet, with the basement floor behind railings set between low piers. The elevation is linked to the east front by an angled bay with a tall semi-circular arch-headed niche containing an inset window.

The north elevation extends for 8 bays beyond an angled bay, with bays 1 and 7 advanced between pilasters and an additional set-back bay to the west end with an angled bay returning to the long rear elevation that extends the full length of the complex.

The west elevation is a long rear elevation with a central archway and flanking ranges. At the north end is a long wedge-shaped service range that is single storey, rising to two storeys towards the centre with a return range arched over a narrow courtyard linking with the main rear elevation.

Much of the interior retains its original plan form, with the museum, library and court interiors well-preserved, though modified in certain areas. Circulation spaces, lobbies and spiral stairs are handsomely detailed and executed in high quality materials. The building contains an abundance of original fittings and joinery of equally high quality.