Description

This List entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 06/12/17

SD 50 NE,
24-1/2/54

WIGAN,PARSONS WALK (North side),
Former Mesnes Building of Wigan College

04/09/97

II

Formerly known as: Mesnes Building of Wigan College.
Formerly known as: Mesnes High School PARSONS WALK.
Formerly known as: Wigan Grammar School PARSONS WALK.

Grammar school, college when surveyed. Dated 1935-7 on foundation stone
of central range; by A E Munby; altered. Brick, generally brown
of various hues and in various bonds (stretcher, monk) with
dressings of red brick in soldier courses, red tile voussoirs,
concrete bands, metal windows and pantiled roofs. U-plan
formed by three long ranges enclosing a large rectangular
forecourt (the south-west side open), with short links from
the north-east range to the side ranges, and a tower at the
external east corner. Thirties Modernist style.

EXTERIOR: Two storeys. The tower (facing Mesnes Park Terrace),
square in plan, has a narrow doorway at ground floor, a narrow
window above this with a small curved concrete balcony, triple
square-headed lancets to the 3rd stage, octagonal clock faces
to the 4th, a soldier course and concrete band, and a short
set-back top stage with pilasters and a pantiled parapet.
Otherwise, the architectural fronts are to the forecourt. The
south-east range is dominated by a 5-window assembly hall over
a crypt, with offices in 5-and 4-window portions to the right
successively set-back and lower: the crypt has an arcade of three
wide round-headed arches (formerly open but now glazed) with
triple keystones, tile voussoirs and an impost band; the hall
has 5 tall square-headed windows with horizontal glazing bars
and margin panes (as have all other windows), and a
soldier-course parapet; the other portions are in similar
style, including a doorway in the 1st bay with 3-sided-arched
concrete surround. The central (north-east) range, 4:5:4
windows, the centre breaking forwards, has similar windows
linked by concrete sill-and head-bands except the centre which
has round-headed windows at 1st floor with brick keystones,
and no bands; the 2-storey 3-bay links to left and right have
open arcades at ground floor and small windows grouped 1:3:1
at 1st floor. The north-west range, principally 6:5:6 windows,
symmetrical, the centre slightly set back, has a
3-sided-arched doorway in the centre, a tall round-headed
French window above this with a concrete balcony, and
fenestration otherwise matching the other ranges; plus a
set-back 3-window matching extension at the left end.
INTERIOR: main staircase between hall and offices with plain
brass handrail; hall austerely designed, with plain
mahogany-coloured dado, balcony at south end, stage with
rectangular proscenium at north end, coffered ceiling;
otherwise, altered.

Listing NGR: SD5801706187

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26664340

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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