Sheffield Public Buildings, Institutions, Newspapers etc., 1852

SHEFFIELD:
Sheffield description, 1852

Source=h:/!Genuki/RecordTranscriptions/WRY/SheffieldDescription.txt The SHEFFIELD LIBRARY, which now occupies part of the Music Hall, was commenced in 1771, and has about 9000 volumes, belonging to about 250 shareholders, who pay a yearly subscription of 21s. Mr. E. Stirling Howard is the president. The Mechanics' and Apprentices' Library, in Watson walk, was founded in 1824, and has about 8000 volumes. It is open every Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, from one till four o'clock; and on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons, from twelve till two; and every evening, except Sunday, from 5½ to 9½., Apprentices pay 1s., and adults 1s. 6d. per quarter, and the number of subscribers is now about 680. James Montgomery, Esq., is president, and Alfred Smith, librarian.

THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, which has a valuable museum, and holds its meetings in the Music Hall, was established in 1822, and its members now consist of more than 70 proprietors, who pay two guineas yearly, and about 50 subscribers of one guinea per annum. Hy. C. Sorby, Esq., is president; Dr. Elam, curator; and Mr. John Holland, actuary.

The MECHANICS' INSTITUTION and the LYCEUM occupy a large and elegant building in Surrey street, erected in 1847-8, in the Italian astylar style of architecture, at the cost of about £4500, from designs and under the superintendence of the architect, Mr. George Alexander, F.S.A. of London. In the basement story is a large kitchen, also rooms for the housekeeper; a club room, 42 feet by 23, an ante-room, &c. On the ground story are several lofty, commodious, and handsomely fitted up apartments, viz.,--a news room, 42 feet by 28 ; library, 24 feet by 13; coffee room, 28 feet by 24 ; and a chess room, 24 feet by 22. On the first floor is a lecture room, 68 feet by 56, with a gallery at one end. This room is fitted up for the accommodation of 1000 persons. In the upper story are four class rooms for 50 students each, about 23 feet by 20, and three class rooms for 30 students each. There are also rooms for the secretary, directors, billiards, &c. The Mechanics' Institution was established in 1832, and has now about 500 members, including 100 females. A building fund, which had been accumulated by subscription, and the profits of exhibitions, balls, &c., was mostly exhausted about twelve years ago in the purchase of the old premises, which occupied the site of the present hall; but additional funds were afterwards obtained by the same means, and it is hoped that the debt on the new building will be liquidated in a few years. When the building was opened, in 1849, the Lyceum, under the name of the Athenæum, was associated with the Mechanics' Institution, but they separated into two distinct sections in Nov., 1851. The Lyceum Club now comprises several hundred members, and occupies, at a low rent, the best parts of the building, comprising the large and elegant news room, and coffee, library, chess, dancing, and smoke rooms. Thos. Dunn, Esq., is the president, and Mr. Thomas Marshall the honorary secretary. Mr, C. Thomson is secretary, &c. of the Mechanics' Institution, The ATHENAEUM was established in April, 1847, in the house No. 69, Norfolk street, and was removed, in 1851, to the large and commodious mansion at the corner of George street, which has been handsomely furnished and fitted up for the use of this numerous and respectable club, which now comprises upwards of 550 members, subscribing 25s. each per annum. The news and coffee rooms are spacious, and are well supplied with London and provincial newspapers, magazines, &c. The library is extensive and valuable, and here are also class rooms, reading and chess rooms, a smoke room, &c. For the annual subscription of 10s. ladies have the use of the library, and are admitted to the lectures and concerts, which are usually held at the Cutlers' Hall or the Music Hall. Members requiring such accommodation are provided with dinner, coffee, or other refreshments, at very moderate charges. Dr. Bartolome is president; Wm. Willett and Henry Atkin, Esqrs., vice-presidents; and Mr. Wm. Smith, jun., honorary secretary, of this excellent institution.

The CHURCH OF ENGLAND Instruction SOCIETY, 20, Carver street, was established October 21st, 1889, and affords all the benefits offered to the operative classes by the Mechanics' Institution. Its classes for French, Latin, Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic, and other branches of instruction are well attended, and it has a Library, amounting to more than 2300 volumes; and a Museum, consisting of upwards of 2000 specimens of fossils, birds, beasts, insects, &c., &c. One of its chief objects is the dissemination of religion, and its management is entrusted to none but members of the Established Church. It has upwards of 220 members and about 840 pupils, and connected with it is a Book Club. The Vicar is the president; the Rev. H. Farish, Henry Atkin, Esq., and N. Creswick, Esq., are the vice presidents; the Rev. George Sandford, M.A., is the honorary secretary; and Mr. Henry Wild is the librarian and assistant secretary.

The Sheffield Medical Institution occupies a neat stone building in Surrey street, erected in 1829, and bearing the inscription "Ars longa vita braves." There were formerly two medical schools in Sheffield, but they were united some years ago, and now form a very efficient institution in connexion with the University of London. Dr. Elam is the president.

The Weekly NEWSPAPERS, published in Sheffield every Saturday, are the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, established in 1819; the Sheffield Times, established in 1846, and the Sheffield Free Press, commenced Jannary 2nd, 1851. In 1848, the copyrights of the two oldest Sheffield Newspapers were sold to the proprietors of the Times, viz., the Iris, commenced in 1794; and the Mercury, commenced in 1807. These are now amalgamated with the Times, and Sheffield is without a local journal in the Tory interest. There are large Subscription News Roams at the Lyceum, in Surrey street; and the Athenæum, in George street. The Sheffield Club House, in Norfolk street, and some of the Inns, &c., are well supplied with London and Provincial papers.

Among the places of amusement are, the Theatre, erected in 1773, by a company of shareholders; the Circus and Adelphi Theatre, a substantial stone fabric, opposite the Cattle Market, built in 1836 and '7, at the cost of £6000, raised in £25 shares, and now used as a "Casino" under the name of the Adelphi Concert hall; and another large casino, in Westbar, built in 1851, and called the Surrey Music Hall. The old Assembly Rooms, in Norfolk street, are now the Council Hall. Balls, concerts, &c., are held occasionally at the Cutlers' Hall, the Music Hall, Bath Saloon, and Mechanics' Institution. The Apollo Catch and Glee Club and the Philharmonic Society meet weekly at the Bath Saloon, and are highly distinguished for vocal and instrumental talent. The Music Hall is a large stone building, in Surrey street, erected in 1823.

The BOTANICAL GARDENS, in Clarkehouse road, occupy about 18 acres of land admirably adapted for the purpose,-being a fertile and gently broken acclivity, with a southern aspect, in the picturesque vale of the Porter, opposite the verdant and boldly rising banks of Sparrow, on which are seen the General Cemetery, and many neat villas. This delightful place of recreation was opened June 29th, 1830, and cost its original proprietors upwards of £18,000, of which £3600 was paid for the land. It was formerly in £20 shares; but was sold May 16th, 1844, to a new company of proprietors, for £9000, to be raised in £5 shares. A yearly subscription of 10s. 6d. is paid on each share for the admission of the bearer and family. The gardens are open daily, from morning till night, and on Sundays from one p.m. till dusk. The proprietors are styled, in their deed of constitution, "The Sheffield Botanical and Horticultural Society." Mr. Thomas Marshall is their clerk; and Mr. John Law, is the curator.

The PUBLIC BATHS, in Convent walk, Glossop road, were built in 1836, and have two large swimming baths, two tepid plunging baths, and several suits of shower, warm, and vapour baths. Over them is a large room, fronting Victoria street, called the Bath Saloon, and used for lectures, concerts, &c. Near the junction of Ecclesall and Broomgrove roads is the Subscription Bowling Green, formed in 1851, at the cost of about £500, raised in £5 shares. This delightful place of recreation is tastefully laid out, and is for the use of none but shareholders. There are other Bowling Greens at Cherry tree hill, the Barrack Tavern, Ecclesall, &c.; and large Cricket Grounds at Hyde Park, Royds, and Darnall.

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