Engineering and Construction Gallery

Foyer JLP01_22_02_099

The Bridgewater Hall, Barbirolli Square, Manchester. Looking up at the glazed projecting prow of the main foyer of the Bridgewater Hall during its construction, with a workman in the foreground.
The Bridgewater Hall was designed as the home of the Halle Orchestra. Work on the site began in September 1993. The building was topped out in March 1995 and it was opened in September 1996

© Historic England Archive

Bricklaying JLP01_08_087537

Royal Scot Hotel, King's Cross Road, Islington, Greater London. Bricklayers at work building the interior walls of the Royal Scot Hotel during its construction.
Construction of the seven-storey Royal Scot Hotel at Percy Circus began in 1970. The structure was built of loadbearing brickwork in order to avoid a chain reaction in the case of wall collapse due to fire or explosion. Large quantities of bricks were therefore needed, which were delivered from Woodside Brickworks in Norwood and the Redland brick company in Horsham. The topping out ceremony was held on 23rd March 1972 and the hotel was officially opened on 14th November 1972. When it opened, the hotel had just fewer than 350 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, as well as a restaurant, coffee shop, cocktail bar and lounge bar, a functions suite, and car park

© Historic England Archive