1835: why was it built?
Industrialisation, the growth of a large Empire and the intensification in manufacturing and trade saw…
1835 - 1855: construction complete
In 1835 the Institute building was constructed and opened as a Mechanics Institute. By 1855…
1865 - 1939: Why did it have an art school?
Greater cultural awareness was prompted nationally by the Great Exhibition at Crystal palace in 1851.…
1939 - 1945: what happened during the war?
During the Second World War at least part of the Institute building was requisitioned for…
1945 - 2022: How was the building used after the war?
1945 – 50 Post war the Red Cross used the upstairs as a depot . . .
2008 - 2018: why is the building so important?
The architecture of the LSI building in the mid 1800s, in the small coastal town…