Burnley Mechanics

The Burnley Mechanics is a theatre in the Lancashire town of Burnley. It began in 1855 as a Mechanics’ Institute designed by James Green, a Todmorden architect. Charles Towneley opened the building that year as a place for reading and discussion. Over time it grew into a social and cultural centre for the town. William Waddington enlarged the structure in 1888 to meet the town’s needs. In 1959 the council bought the building and let it be used for leisure. It became a theatre in 1979 after an interior rebuild. Historic England recognises the theatre as a Grade II* listed building. The Grade II* grade is the second highest, for buildings of exceptional interest. John Champness calls its façade the finest Classical façade in Burnley. Nikolaus Pevsner and Clare Hartwell describe it as one of the town’s best buildings. The façade features coupled Corinthian columns at the entrances. Central windows on the second floor are flanked by Corinthian columns and pilasters. Visitors find a sandstone ashlar façade in Palazzo style. The front has five bays on two storeys, with Venetian-style windows on the ground floor. The rear extension, added by Waddington, matches the original design but uses architraves with pilasters. Inside, the 1979 conversion created a theatre space while keeping the building’s historic character. The theatre stands on the edge of Burnley’s market area, close to other civic buildings.