Mechanics Institute (West Street)

The Institute was established following a public meeting at the Town Hall on 13 November 1836. Within a year there were 256 members but it was also evident that the initial enthusiasm had waned. In 1839 out of 265 members, 75 were described as ‘artisans’. This lack of interest was a continual cause for concern to the committee. By 1841, they were noting with regret that the Institute was used by every class of the community except that for whose direct benefit it had been formed. Meetings had been held in the Town Hall, the Bethesda Chapel and in the Grey Horse Inn but in 1844, it was decided to erect a permanent building. The new building opened March 1848 on the West Street opposite the Post Office building. By the 1900’s the Institute had become little more than a social club and it was sold to the Council in 1907 and converted to a bank. It was demolished in 1971.