Conservation charity SAVE Britain's Heritage has added 18 new buildings in Greater Manchester to its Buildings at Risk register.
The organisation works to protect historic buildings all over the UK by raising awareness, helping local campaign groups with legal advice and action, and working alongside architects, engineers, planners and investors to come up with alternatives to demolition.
SAVE recently released a report all about Greater Manchester’s historic buildings and the developments that threaten them. Titled ‘Boom not Bust: How Greater Manchester can build the future without destroying its past,’ the report focuses on Manchester city centre, Rochdale and Oldham, featuring a wide range of buildings and architecture – including some iconic local landmarks.
Some of the highlights include the Theatre Royal on Peter Street, which is among oldest surviving theatre buildings in Manchester, and the Charter Street Ragged School in Angel Meadows.
SAVE believes that losing these buildings would ‘rob’ communities of their landmarks and therefore connections to their past. Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain's Heritage, said: "The bricks and mortar of these buildings hold precious stories about the people of Manchester and this region’s world-famous industrial and social history.
“Following on from our recent report ‘Boom not Bust’ we are adding 18 threatened buildings to our SAVE Britain’s Heritage Buildings at Risk register to bring them to national attention and focus. With imagination, determination and political will, they can be part of Greater Manchester's future not just its past."
Here are the 18 Greater Manchester buildings featured in the report and recently added to the Building at Risk register.
More information about the buildings can be found on the SAVE Britain's Heritage website, where you can also buy a copy of their 'Boom not Bust' report.
5. Particular Baptist Chapel
Located on Rochdale Road in Manchester city centre. This building dates back to 1907 and is now surrounded by new builds. SAVE says that the building is currently disused, "but could surely find some kind of community or commercial function." Credit: Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage | Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage
6. 38-45 Back Turner Street
Located in Manchester city centre, these buildings are "barely surviving" and currently held together by scaffolding. SAVE says: "This series of late 18th and early 19th century cottages and workshops are grade II listed in recognition of the rarity of these surviving early examples of small-scale weavers accommodation in Manchester." Credit: Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage | Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage
7. Marsden Harcombe and Co
Located on Marshall Street in the city centre, this building was built in 1934 in an Art Deco style. SAVE says: "Bringing back these vestiges of the commercial past into use is the only way to preserve the defining industrial character of this neighbourhood without which it is just another shabby street." Credit: Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage | Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage
8. Ex-industrial building
Located at the corner of Mason Street/ Marshall Street, this building is believed to have been built in the 1920s. SAVE says that it was "once part of a humming area of light industrial activity." Credit: Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage | Mark Watson for SAVE Britain’s Heritage