Description

PRESTON

SD5428NW AVENHAM LANE
941-1/14/5 (North side)
27/07/79 Harris Institute

GV II*

Formerly known as: The Preston Institution for the Diffusion
of Useful Knowledge.
Mechanics institute, subsequently the Technological and
Science and Art School; now art school. 1846-9, by John Welch,
with terraced forecourt of 1849 by George Latham; and
additions to rear c.1883. Sandstone ashlar, slate roof with
glass skylights. Double-pile plan, plus later additions to the
rear. Classical style. Two storeys and 3 bays raised up on a
full basement storey (which is projected to form a terraced
forecourt: see below); symmetrical, with a central portico,
paired corner pilasters, moulded frieze, and dentilled cornice
with blocking course. The portico has 2 giant fluted columns
with composite caps in antis, the antae with delicate
anthemion enrichment to the caps (which is repeated on the
corner pilasters), and an emphatic dentilled pediment; and the
date "1847" inscribed on the soffit of the entablature. The
entrance under the portico has an architrave with frieze
inscribed SCHOOL OF ART, a large elaborately carved cresting,
an added stone plaque above this inscribed HARRIS INSTITUTE,
and a deeply recessed porch with a pedimented doorway.
Flanking the portico are tripartite bay windows with panelled
aprons, square columnar mullions, and corniced entablatures.
Hipped roof over each main block, and between these a
rectangular lantern and 2 corniced chimney stacks. The
forecourt, approached by a wide flight of steps in 2 stages,
the lower with a curved splay, has retaining walls of banded
rustication with rock-faced battered piers, and a prominent
dentilled cornice, and the whole is protected by balustrades
with square panelled piers, those at the foot of the steps
carrying urns. The left side has a rock-faced basement storey
with a central doorway, and above this a re-entrant with an
open colonnaded corridor (now partly glazed) linking the end
walls of the front and rear blocks, which have paired corner
pilasters, and banded rustication and coupled sashed windows
at ground floor. Continued to rear is late C19 addition of 2
storeys and 4 bays, in simple classical style.
INTERIOR: 2-cell entrance hall, the front cell with side
screens composed of stone columns distyle in antis (now closed
with glazed doors and partitions), and both cells with
coffered ceilings which have plaster cornices with waterleaf
and bead-and-reel enrichment; imperial staircase with
elaborate cast-iron balusters; lecture room in rear block with
raked seating; former exhibition room at 1st floor of front
block (now partitioned), with roof trusses supported by
scrolled consoles, and illumination by skylights. History:
Institution, founded in 1828, removed to this site from
original premises in Cannon Street despite protests of some
founder members that it would no longer serve the classes for
whom it was intended; function partly superseded by Free
Library opened in 1872, and subsequently by Harris Library and
Museum (q.v.); converted and enlarged from 1882 to serve as
Technological College, parent institution of Harris Technical
School in Corporation Street which ultimately became
Lancashire Polytechnic.

Listing NGR: SD5400928923

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532126

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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