Huddersfield Mechanics' Institute

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The name Huddersfield Mechanics' Institute was used by two separate organisations from 1825 to 1836 and from 1843 and 1883.

The first was more fully known as the Huddersfield Scientific & Mechanics' Institute and was renamed the Huddersfield Philosophical Society in 1836.

Huddersfield Mechanics' Institute (1843-1883)

The Huddersfield Young Men's Mental Improvement Society was established in May 1841[1] by employees of John Frederic Schwann. The society changed its name to the Huddersfield Mechanics' Institute following a meeting held on 1 August 1843 chaired by J. Kell, reflecting a desire by its members to place a greater emphasis on the teaching of technical and scientific subjects.[2]

By February 1844, the institute had 410 members.[1]

In 1847, the occupations of the attendees was recorded as follows:[3]

occupation #
carpenters 27
clerks 15
dyers 14
errand and factory hands 52
finishers 58
masons 13
mechanics 24
printers 12
printers 10
shoemakers 14
smiths 13
spinners 27
students 71
twiners 13
warehousemen 14
weavers 41
wheelwrights 12
woolsorters 12

In 1883, the Huddersfield Mechanics' Institute was merged with the Huddersfield Female Educational Institute (est. 1846) and became the Huddersfield Technical School and Mechanics' Institute.

Further Reading

Notes and References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Huddersfield" in Leeds Times (17/Feb/1844).
  2. Leeds Mercury (12/Aug/1843).
  3. Reproduced from Martyn Walker's thesis "'A solid and practical education within reach of the humblest means': the growth and development of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics’ Institutes 1838–1891" which is available to download.