page_title: Mechanics' institutes
section_title: United Kingdom
hierarchical_section_title: Mechanics' institutes / Historical / United Kingdom
caption_attribution_description: English: Mechanics' Institutes
context_page_description: Mechanics' institutes are educational establishments, originally formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men. Similar organisation are sometimes simply called "institutes". As such, they were often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more knowledgeable and skilled employees. The mechanics' institutes were used as "libraries" for the adult working class, and provided them with an alternative pastime to gambling and drinking in pubs.
context_section_description: Aberdeen Mechanics' Institute, Market Street, Aberdeen (architect Archibald Simpson), now a hotel.
  Bradford Mechanics' Institute Library
  Brechin Mechanics Institute, Angus 
  Brentford Mechanics’ Institution, founded in 1835 and closed around 1890.
  Burnley Mechanics, Burnley, Lancashire
  Darlington Mechanics Institute, built in 1854, as of 2014 a nightclub and bar.
  School of Arts of Edinburgh, renamed to Heriot-Watt University in 1966
  Eyam, UK
  Essex, UK
  Epworth, North Lincolnshire, UK
  Ipswich Institute, Suffolk, UK – Ipswich Institute Website
  Leeds Mechanics' Institute (West Yorkshire) designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, now Leeds City Museum
  Liverpool Mechanics School of Arts, founded 1825, renamed Liverpool Mechanics Institution in 1832, which later became the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys and from 1996 the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
  London Mechanics' Institute which eventually became Birkbeck, University of London
  Lurgan, County Armagh. 69 Market Street.
  Lutterworth, UK
  Manchester, forerunner of University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, which merged with Victoria University of Manchester to form the University of Manchester
  Nottingham Mechanics Institute
  University of South Wales, Newport – The old mechanics institute building was sold off and has been converted to private apartments.
  Otley, Yorkshire, UK
  Royston, Hertfordshire, built 1855, later became the town hall and picture palace
  Spitalfields Mechanics' Institution, founded in early 1825 by Thomas Gibson, father of Thomas Field Gibson
  Swindon Mechanics' Institute, UK
  Wolverhampton (Queen Street, c1835)
caption: Mechanics' Institutes, Eyam
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