The Derby Hall, Bury in June 2003

The Derby Hall is a large Victorian neo-classical building situated on Market Street in the centre of Bury, Greater Manchester.

History

The Derby Hall was built in 1850 for Edward Stanley, the 14th Earl of Derby.

It was designed by Sydney Smirke, an architect who is best known today for his work on the circular reading room at the British Museum.

The Derby Hall from the air, showing the now demolished Derby Hotel and Bury Athenaeum

It was originally the central part of a larger development that included the Derby Hotel on the left, and the Athenaeum on the right (both also designed by Smirke). These other two buildings were demolished in 1965 and 1971, respectively.

Stanley intended the building to be Bury's Town Hall (and for many years it was known by this name) however because of a disagreement between the Tory peer and Bury's Liberal controlled town council, it was never used for this purpose. Instead it was used as a magistrates court, a police station, and even a jail.

The Derby Hall in the early seventies, showing the electricity showroom which at that time occupied the ground floor

In 1925 the Derby estates were sold, and the building was purchased for £12,500 by Bury council: it was at this time that it became known as The Derby Hall. The main room upstairs served as a civic hall, hosting dances, banquets and other occasions.

In 1936, despite much local opposition, the stonework of the ground floor was knocked out to make a large glass window for a showroom for the local electricity board. This remained for forty years, when it was in turn replaced by the three archways that stand today.

Since 1979 the building has been operated by a registered charity called Bury Metropolitan Arts Association, which uses it as a theatre and concert venue known as The Met.