Mechanics Institute, Swindon - Sep 2005

Jondoe_264 · 29th Dec 07, 22:01

Continuing the posting of content no longer featured on our website . .

Mechanics Institute - Sep 2005

A super weird building! Grade II* listed but showing the scars of being derelict since 1986. Built in 1855 as a social retreat for GWR railway workers, though it is much noted that it was built and funded largely privately and not by GWR. The building was also used by the local community for social events and annual fetes. The site was significantly extended in 1892.

I visited in Sep '05 with Sam of www.nobodythere.co.uk. On approaching by a uniform street of workers cottages I was slightly taken back by the seemingly random arrangement of old and new that make up the Mechanics Institution, dominated by the ugly modern fly tower that just doesn't sit with the rest of the building. For a compact site on a resonably small footprint it is crammed with so much of interest, most noteably a huge reading room and library on the ground floor and auditorium on the first.

Pictures, in particular order:

Ground Floor Plan

First floor plan

Original entrance end

1892 entrance

Foyer of 1892 entrance

stairs & fire extinguisher brackets

More Escher stair shennanigans

First floor Bagatelle room

Ground Floor skittles alley

First floor Girls Reading Room

Ground Floor Reading Room

Reading room moulding detail

First floor auditorium

Auditorium plaster motif detail

Auditorium rear window (at original entrance end)

Fly Tower rigging

JD

29th Dec 07, 22:01	#1
Jondoe_264 Veteran Member Join Date: September 2005 Location: Down there somewhere Posts: 697	Mechanics Institute, Swindon - Sep 2005 Continuing the posting of content no longer featured on our website . . Mechanics Institute - Sep 2005 A super weird building! Grade II* listed but showing the scars of being derelict since 1986. Built in 1855 as a social retreat for GWR railway workers, though it is much noted that it was built and funded largely privately and not by GWR. The building was also used by the local community for social events and annual fetes. The site was significantly extended in 1892. I visited in Sep '05 with Sam of www.nobodythere.co.uk. On approaching by a uniform street of workers cottages I was slightly taken back by the seemingly random arrangement of old and new that make up the Mechanics Institution, dominated by the ugly modern fly tower that just doesn't sit with the rest of the building. For a compact site on a resonably small footprint it is crammed with so much of interest, most noteably a huge reading room and library on the ground floor and auditorium on the first. Pictures, in particular order: Ground Floor Plan First floor plan Original entrance end 1892 entrance Foyer of 1892 entrance stairs & fire extinguisher brackets More Escher stair shennanigans First floor Bagatelle room Ground Floor skittles alley First floor Girls Reading Room Ground Floor Reading Room Reading room moulding detail First floor auditorium Auditorium plaster motif detail Auditorium rear window (at original entrance end) Fly Tower rigging JD