Mechanics Institute, Hanley

Active: 1845 - 1885

Function: Art school

Policy: 'An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the Staffordshire Potteries' recommended that a Mechanics Institute be established in 'the Potteries' similar to those already existent in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Nottingham, London etc.

The aims of the proposed institute were based on the codes of the London Mechanics Institute. The institute was to provide (among other facilities) a library, museum 'of models, drawings, machines, minerals and natural history', lectures - including the fine arts, and elementary school teaching for subjects which included sculpture and modelling.

The original 'Appeal' specifically targeted the 'working classes' who it asked to support the plans by becoming signatories of the project. [see 'An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the Staffordshire Potteries' undated] Haggar describes the institute as operating in 1845. [Haggar (1953), p. 5]

Pottery classes began in 1884 and had twelve students [see 'Hanley Mechanics' Institution The Annual Meeting', Staffordshire Sentinel, 28 January, 1885].

Citing this record

'Mechanics Institute, Hanley', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1219761051, accessed 03 Oct 2023]

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