Details
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
