A Monumental Effort: Restoring the Albert Memorial Afternoon Lecture

Manchester Town Hall has been closed since January 2018 for an extensive restoration programme that will repair and upgrade the building to modern standards. The work will include the conservation of many heritage features.

Our series of Heritage Lectures aims to shine a light on some of the fascinating work that’s been going on behind the scenes. We’ve already heard about the work on our paintings, mosaic flooring, clock, stained-glass windows, organ and furniture. Now it’s time to turn our attention outside of the building to the iconic Albert Memorial in Albert Square.

Strictly speaking, the memorial is quite separate. It was built and completed well before the Town Hall, predating it by a decade. But the Our Town Hall Project encompasses the public realm too, and the decision was made – very early in the project – to include the Albert Memorial as part of it.

The first monument to commemorate Prince Albert, the Albert Memorial is an elaborate Gothic enclosure, protecting a marble statue of the Prince. The high levels of decoration on the 73’ high memorial represent his interests. There are portraits of famous men and the coats of arms of his dominions in Saxony. The memorial was created by Matthew Noble and completed in 1866.

Join us in Central Library for a chance to hear from our lead Architect, Jamie Coath from Purcell, and Steve Eccleshre from Bullen Conservation, the stonemasons currently working on the memorial’s restoration and repair.

The lecture is free to attend but please book your place.

Doors open 12.30pm for a 1pm start (ends 2.15pm)

Host or Publisher Manchester Library and Information Service