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Whatever happened to the Methodist Central Halls?

Press/Media: Research

Description

Methodist central halls were grand buildings that used to attract thousands of people when the temperance movement was at its strongest. But over the years many have been sold off, with some now used as bars and nightclubs.

The electricity in Manchester's Albert Hall is switched off, and the floor is strewn with broken wood and empty beer bottles.

The pictures of scantily clad women hanging from the walls are a leftover from when the building used to be a bar and nightclub called Brannigans.

But walk up the stairs a little and the huge stained glass windows and beautiful century-old organ give clues about the building's original purpose.

It was a Methodist central hall and, in stark contrast to its recent use as a nightclub, was designed largely to try to keep the urban working classes away from alcohol (...)

Period30/08/2012

Methodist central halls were grand buildings that used to attract thousands of people when the temperance movement was at its strongest. But over the years many have been sold off, with some now used as bars and nightclubs.

The electricity in Manchester's Albert Hall is switched off, and the floor is strewn with broken wood and empty beer bottles.

The pictures of scantily clad women hanging from the walls are a leftover from when the building used to be a bar and nightclub called Brannigans.

But walk up the stairs a little and the huge stained glass windows and beautiful century-old organ give clues about the building's original purpose.

It was a Methodist central hall and, in stark contrast to its recent use as a nightclub, was designed largely to try to keep the urban working classes away from alcohol (...)

References

TitleWhatever happened to the Methodist Central Halls
Media name/outletBBC Online
Media typeWeb
Date30/08/12
Producer/AuthorKeith Moore
PersonsAngela Connelly