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Stretford
Public Hall
 Stretford Public Hall
stands beside Chester Road near the junction with
Kingsway.
The building was designed by the architect N. Lofthouse
and built in 1878. It was one of the contributions
made to the community by John Rylands, the textile
millionaire. The image above is show with the permission of Bill Boaden from his collect on the Geograph website.  The image above is show with the permission of Mike Faherty from his collect on the Geograph website.  Above: Enriqueta and John Rylands. The Rylands moved to
Stretford in 1857 to take up residence in Longford
Hall. Previously they had lived in a house in
Ardwick Green, which in later years was converted into
St. Gregory's R. C. School.
His generosity towards the residents of Stretford led to his donation of a public baths, a church, homes for the elderly and a coffee house, in addition to the Public Hall. When Rylands died in 1888, his widow, Enriqueta, made the hall available to the local council for a nominal rent. When she died in 1908 the hall was sold to Stretford Council for £5,000. Stretford Public Hall
became home to the Stretford Civic Theatre but over the
years fell into a poor state of repair. It was
designated a Grade II Listed building in 1987 and was
refurbished, in the 1990s, when Trafford Council used it
as offices.
The Rylands' home, Longford Hall, was demolished in 1995 but the grounds survive as Longford Park. Close Window |