Description

LE MANS CRESCENT
797-1/0/10009 Civic Centre

II

Civic ensemble, comprised of library, museum and art gallery, magistrates court and central police station. 1931-1939, with late C20 alterations. By Bradshaw, Hope and Gass, architects, of Bolton, for Bolton Borough Council. Ashlar gritstone and red brick walling on a steel frame, with flat concrete roof structure embellished by a false mansard roof covered with Westmorland slate.
PLAN: near symmetrical plan, the central element of which is an east-facing crescent designed to form the setting for the late C19 town hall to the east. The north and south ends of the crescent widen to form rectangular blocks which accommodate the main functional spaces of the complex.
EXTERIOR: EAST ELEVATION: 2 storeys above basement, with crescent -shaped frontage extending from triple-semi-circular arched gateway to centre. Each side of the central arch are attached stepped piers supporting lanterns with flagpoles. Inscribed plaques at the bases record the commencement of works in 1932 and the opening of the 'Civic Centre' in June 1939. Flanking the gateway are paired pilasters framing pedestrial doorways. Extending outwards from gateway are 13-bay curved frontages rising from channelled ashlar basement walls set behind ashlar balustrading. Tall rectangular ground floor windows and square upper floor openings in moulded ashlar surrounds. Unmoulded frieze and cornice below parapet balustrading, behind which rises the false mansard roof. At each end, taller entrance blocks rise above the crescent mansard and terminate the elevation. Each has a curved frontage framed by paired pilasters and between which are set tall Ionic columns which flank the principal entrances to the complex. These have stepped approaches, and double doors within moulded surrounds set back behind the columns.
SOUTH ELEVATION: 14 bay return elevation reflects the detail of the main east front in plainer form, with slightly advanced end bays with framing pilasters. Between, 12 bays below a low, solid parapet, and the basement floor behind railings set between low piers. The elevation is linked to the east front by means of an angled bay with a tall semi-circular arch-headed niche with inset window.
NORTH ELEVATION: 8 bays beyond angled bay with bays 1 and 7 advanced between pilasters and additional set-back bay to west end with angled bay returning to long rear elevation extending full length of complex. Angled link with east front, as at south end.
WEST ELEVATION: Long rear elevation with central archway, and flanking ranges. At north end, long wedge-shaped service range single storeyed and rising to 2 storeys towards centre with return range, arched over narrow courtyard linking with main rear elevation.
INTERIOR: Much of the complex retains its original plan form, with museum, library and court interiors well- preserved, albeit modified in certain areas. Circulation spaces, lobbies and spiral stairs are handsomely detailed and executed in high quality materials. There is an abundance of original fittings and joinery of equally high quality.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q96233694

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)