The JR Clynes Building
Oldham’s original library, museum and art gallery opened in 1883. Today the building has been restored to include the Council Chamber and Mayor’s Dining Room, public exhibition spaces and a new home for Oldham Theatre Workshop.
On this page you can find out about more about the original building and the restoration work that took place in 2024/25.
Engineering excellence
From the first floor you can see the slender timber beams that support the opening of the atrium. These are a visible reminder of the pioneering engineering solutions that were used in this building in 1883. Steel tension rods were fitted within the timber to reinforce the beams allowing them to support the atrium floor while maintaining their slender appearance.
The incorporation of the iron tie within the timber beam would have enabled the engineers to significantly reduce the depth of the beam in this highly visible location. For the age of the building this is a highly engineered solution to an architectural feature. Effectively a “pre-tensioned” timber beam.
The restoration team decided it was important that this highly significant detail was retained in the building. Their engineering solution ensured that the new steelwork structure in this area did not interfere with the existing structural beam arrangement.
Polished terrazzo floor
Restoration work also uncovered the original floor on the stairwell that had been hidden under carpet tiles for many years. This red terrazzo surface is formed with marble chips set in a red cement which were ground and polished by hand to form an attractive floor finish.
The project team worked hard to restore other flooring features in the building. The wooden parquet floor was lifted from the first floor to be cleaned and sanded. It was then installed in the art gallery space on the second floor where it can be appreciated by new generations of visitors.