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| | Manchester Civic & Municipal Buildings including the Town Hall Extension, University of Manchester, Masonic Hall, the ... |
 | | Nineteenth century Manchester saw the emergence of a new ruling elite - the self-made businessman and the textile industrialist millionaire. |
 | | In 1845 Manchester began to create public parks; in 1851 an Act of Parliament authorised the introduction of a half penny rate to create public libraries and museums; later came free hospitals for the treatment of the poor, the introduction of underground sewers and various Planning Acts to improve the living conditions of its people. |
 | | Designed by Vincent Harris, as a result of an open competition, (he had also designed the Library next door), it was to be eight storeys high and intended to house various growing municipal departments including gas, electricity, rates, rents, street cleaning, etc, and a cinema with demonstration rooms beneath ground level. |
| www.manchester2002-uk.com /buildings/civic.html (1245 words) |
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