Melbourne Court

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement 22 November 2024 to Update Details, Name and Address and reformat the text to current standards

SJ 99 NE 4/184

STALYBRIDGE TRINITY STREET Melbourne Court

(Formerly listed as Former Sunday School)

G.V. II

The Sunday School at Trinity Street was constructed in 1904-5 as part of an established Congregational Church complex built in 1859-62 and designed by the Poulton and Woodman practice, who designed five congregational churches in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Historic mapping shows the site was previously a burial ground for an earlier independent chapel and the current building replaced a school which was probably contemporary with Poulton and Woodman's church. In 1905 the foundation stone was laid by John Frederick Cheetham (1835-1916), local mill owner, philanthropist and Liberal MP for Stalybridge. He gave £1,000 towards the cost of the building, which faces the library (NHLE: 1356492) that he had financed a few years previously. The Sunday School collaborated with the Mechanic's Institute to run adult education classes, including addresses by notable figures. The library was endowed by John Bright, a nationally important British reform politician and orator and former MP for Manchester. The building was converted into sheltered housing in the late C20.

The building is constructed of coursed rubble with sandstone dressings and has a Welsh slate roof. It is of two storeys with a first-floor hall and meeting rooms and classrooms below. The entrance and stair hall are located towards the street (east). The frontage is aligned east-west onto Trinity Street and has a 2:4:2 range with stone mullioned and transomed windows and a pedimented porch with a moulded doorway surround. To the roof is a shaped parapet and central gable with coping, kneelers and finials and there are buttresses with concave gables. The main block is taller. All the windows on the riverside elevation have mullions and transoms. Alternate window bays have gables. The south elevation is similar. There is a central cupola with louvred bellcote openings under a pediment. The interior retains its plan form and is plain, with more elaborate stairs containing turned balusters and panelled newels.

Listing NGR: SJ9633198527