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Latitude: 53.4784 / 53°28'42"N
Longitude: -2.2414 / 2°14'28"W
OS Eastings: 384077
OS Northings: 397991
OS Grid: SJ840979
Mapcode National: GBR DKJ.C2
Mapcode Global: WHB9G.JTWR
Plus Code: 9C5VFQH5+9F
Entry Name: The Athenaeum
Listing Date: 3 October 1974
Grade: II*
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1270889
English Heritage Legacy ID: 456834
ID on this website: 101270889
Location: City Centre, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1
County: Manchester
Electoral Ward/Division: City Centre
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Manchester
Traditional County: Lancashire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Greater Manchester
Church of England Parish: Manchester St Ann
Church of England Diocese: Manchester
Tagged with: Neoclassicism Building
MANCHESTER
SJ8497NW PRINCESS STREET
698-1/32/335 (North East side)
03/10/74 No.81
The Athenaeum
GV II*
Cultural club, now annex to City Art Gallery. 1837, by Sir
Charles Barry; damaged by fire 1874 and then remodelled
internally, and attic added. Sandstone ashlar, slate roof.
Rectangular plan plus rear extension. Italian palazzo style.
Two storeys and basement, plus added attic, a symmetrical
9-window facade, with basement treated as a plinth, raised
rusticated quoins, sill-bands, string-course, lettered frieze
(see below), very prominent mutuled cornice, and high
balustraded parapet with 4 tall chimneys. The entrance, up a
flight of stone steps, has a shallow rectangular porch with
Roman Doric columns, triglyph frieze, moulded cornice and
balustraded parapet, and a round-headed arch to a recessed
porch with coffered barrel-vaulted ceiling. Both floors have
tall 2-light casement windows with moulded architraves, those
at ground floor with cornices and apron sills and those at 1st
floor with balustrades and floating pediments. Frieze
lettered: "INSTUTVTED MDCCCXXXV ATHENAEUM ERECTED
MDCCCXXXVIII". Slated mansard attic roof (added) with
wrought-iron cresting. Five-bay side walls in matching style,
also with lettered friezes, that on the right side: "FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT AND DIFFVSION OF KNOWLEDGE". History; precursor of
Italian palazzo style in Manchester architecture.
Listing NGR: SJ8407797991
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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