2-982-390 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Inauguration of the Townhall, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1858. The inauguration of the new public buildings in Nicholas-square, Newcastle, took place in the beginning of this month, in the form of several grand musical performances by the Sacred Harmonic and Choral Society of Newcastle...The floor of the Music Hall floor is supported by wrought-iron girders on cast-iron pillars and brackets...The roof is also constructed of wrought iron. The ceiling is divided into panels, and enriched with plaster-work. The hall is lighted in the daytime by ten Venetian windows on each side, and at night from the ceiling by sun-burners: at each alternate junction of the beam is fixed a sun-burner, in all ten in number, by Mr. Bradford, of Manchester, gas engineer: these "sun-lights" consist of rings of gas-jets terminating in ornamental bosses, that hang from the ceiling. The rarefaction of the atmosphere caused by the heat of the burners carries off the vitiated air to flues in the roof. The admission of fresh air is by perforated iron gratings, fixed under the front paneling of the side galleries...There is also a gallery at the north end. The hall will seat...in all 2400, exclusive of the orchestra...The organ in the gallery is a temporary one'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.