The Grammar School pavilion at the Lower Broughton Playing Fields, Salford, was designed by James Murgatroyd of Mills and Murgatroyd and opened Played in Manchester by the Lord Mayor on August 1 1899. It cost £1,125 to build, The architectural heritage of a city at play plus £782 to drain and prepare the pitches. Remarkably intact over a century later, the pavilion is by Simon Inglis (this extract © English Heritage) still in use by local schools. Introduction

Sport’s more rigorous safety charged area in which there are Introduction regime has placed considerable scores of examples of interesting pressure on our older facilities. buildings, highly cherished by Malcolm Cooper, English Heritage Yet it has also led to the creation by their owners and users, but of some of the wonderful new many others where disuse and facilities we see all around, not dereliction has set in. least in the north west, where the Not surprisingly they found that s many of us who live and We have in recent years, for – including football (by far the has one man’s shrine is often another Awork in this great city of example, made great advances in world’s most popular sport), helped transform the cityscape man’s unwanted eyesore. Manchester are surely aware, our understanding of industrial , rugby (both union and with a number of breathtaking Conversely, they also came sport plays a fundamental role structures (factories, mills and league), hockey, tennis (both lawn venues; the City of Manchester across apparently humble in the health and welfare of our so on), domestic architecture and real), bowls (both crown green Stadium at , for example. buildings or sites which turned communities. Whether one plays (such as back-to-back housing and flat green), golf, archery, water In turning our attention to out to be far more significant than or watches, swims or runs, kicks and prefabs), commercial and polo, snooker… the list goes on sporting heritage we are therefore even regular users were aware. or catches; whether one is for the leisure-oriented buildings (shops, – were either invented, or at the not turning our backs on progress. Here are just a few of the Reds or the Blues, the Sharks or cinemas and public houses) and very least developed, honed and On the contrary, because the examples featured in this book. the Aces, or even if one is only even telephone and post boxes. codified for popular consumption pace of modernisation is so rapid, Manchester, the study was able dimly aware of crowds gathering, We also maintain a register of by British sportsmen and women, now is the absolutely the right to establish, has the three oldest of games being played, of hopes historic parks and gardens, which administrators and officials. time to take stock of what historic purpose-built Lads’ Clubs still in even some of the city’s sporting As the groundsman’s sign at being raised or dashed, we can now includes some 1500 sites, But what of British sport’s buildings and sites we have, active use in Britain today, one of cognoscenti did not know existed. Manchester United’s Old hardly fail to recognise that sport amongst them a number of public architectural heritage? and make sure that we evaluate which, the Salford Lads’ Club, has We learnt that the now empty stadium suggests, visitors from is as much a part of the fabric parks in the Manchester area. Sports architecture, and the very them, record them, and where recently been listed Grade II. Manchester Ice Palace in Derby overseas love to visit Britain’s of city life as are the arts, the Given these areas of concern, places where sport is played – the appropriate, work with partners Probably the oldest sports Street, built in 1910, is the oldest many famous sports venues. sciences, commerce and industry. we are delighted therefore to turn parks and gardens of sport, as it to ensure that they are either ground in Manchester, it surviving rink in Britain, but that United’s museum, which opened As the public body responsible to the subject of sport, and in were – have not enjoyed the level conserved for sporting use, or transpires, is on Moor Lane, one of the first ice rinks in the in 1998, attracts up to 250,000 for protecting and promoting the particular to this brand new series of attention that many people feel adapted for other uses that will which we now know formed world had been in . visitors a year and is one of historic environment, English of English Heritage publications they deserve and need. secure their long term viability. part of Manchester’s first proper And of course we were all the north west’s leading tourist This detail from an undated Heritage has, over the years, under the inspirational title of As a result, a number of It was to assist us in this process racecourse at Moor in 1681, reminded of the deep emotional attractions. Manchester City now painting in the Lancashire undertaken the study of a diverse Played in Britain. buildings and sites have been lost that in 2001 English Heritage’s and has been open space set aside ties that bind people to buildings have their own museum too, at the County Cricket Club museum range of building types. Our Starting with Played in before their historic, architectural North West Region decided to for sport ever since. Behind the when the disused City of Manchester Stadium. But at appears to be work with ancient monuments, Manchester we hope the series and social worth has been properly commission a pilot study entitled ground is a road, Nevile Road, in Hathersage Road attracted an might other sports-related sites from the period when cricket churches, great houses and will develop into a wide ranging, assessed. A Sporting Chance - Extra Time for whose route follows almost exactly avalanche of votes to win BBC in the Manchester area also be of first established itself in the buildings at risk is well known. comprehensive and informative This rate of loss has been England’s Historic Sports Venues. the path of the racecourse itself. Television’s Restoration series in interest, to local residents as well Manchester and Salford areas, But in addition to conservation, record of the best of this nation’s especially accelerated in the Furthermore, with the We discovered why there is a 2003, an initative that English as to visitors and tourists? Could a between 1815-25. An early set another part of our role is to extraordinarily rich sporting last decade or so following the Commonwealth Games on the Tennis Street in Old Trafford, a Heritage was happy to support. greater understanding of sporting of rules belonging to Broughton address our fieldwork and analysis heritage. much stricter health and safety horizon, we decided to focus Cricket Street in Denton, and a Played in Manchester represents heritage help to regenerate certain Cricket Club, formed in 1823, to specific building types, or sites, And it is quite extraordinary. guidelines imposed since the specifically on Manchester. Robin Hood pub in Cheetham just one aspect of the work carried areas of the city, or help revive states that no fielder be permitted that are poorly understood, and Incredibly, most of the sports terrible tragedies at Bradford in Starting with a blank sheet of Hill. We found a delightful 1960s in the pilot study; the site visits and pride in neglected grounds and to smoke or lie down during play. which may be at risk as a result. played at international level today 1985 and Hillsborough in 1989. paper and no preconceptions, turnstile block at the Belle Vue the related historical research. open urban spaces? project leader and heritage greyhound stadium, which is also, Another vital element of the consultant, Jason Wood, and his incidentally, the oldest greyhound study was a comprehensive survey team of experts (Simon Inglis, stadium in Britain; a well of public views and attitudes. Clare Hartwell, Julie Graham, Gill preserved Edwardian billiard room Jason Wood and his colleagues Chitty and Frank Kelsall) took in an Eccles pub; a modernist talked to hundreds of individuals; on the not inconsiderable task of bowls and tennis pavilion in officials of governing bodies, mapping out the issues that might Park, and a Salford representatives of strategic inform English Heritage’s future company which is only one of two authorities, local planners, club approach to sporting heritage at a left in the world making wooden officials and historians, sports national level. lacrosse sticks. We found an fans and players. They asked, As they soon established, this historic real tennis club within a what do Mancunians think about is a complex, often emotionally short stroll of the city centre which sporting heritage?

 Played in Manchester Played in Manchester  Introduction

But it also became clear that For some groups within society, there are no hard and fast rules. indeed, sport clearly offers Every case has to be judged on its an ideal platform on which to merits, while everyone seemed to build a greater awareness and agree that the needs of spectators appreciation of our wider heritage. and players should not come Inevitably this book is only second to that of conservation. a small step in a much longer Many hard working club process. Many of the issues officials spoke a great deal about highlighted by the study go far both the pleasures and pains they beyond the remit of English experience in looking after much Heritage. loved but creaking properties; of Also inevitably the approach the costs of basic maintenance and we have taken will not meet with of the difficult balance they face universal approval. between preserving the best of For example, it might seem what they have – because this was odd to readers that we have not part of their club’s appeal – while dedicated individual chapters to at the same time needing to offer major sports such as football and more modern facilities in order to cricket, whereas there are sections attract younger members. on minority sports such as archery Sports clubs not only fulfil an Which buildings and which Many in this position felt and lacrosse. important role in promoting health sports-related sites did they believe strongly that they were not This was deliberate, partly and community life. They also act were of interest, or of importance? given enough help or support to because we felt that the historical as the unofficial guardians of a And what criteria did they use in preserve their buildings and open background to those sports is substantial proportion of our urban making those assessments? spaces. All the advice they were already well covered in other green space. Stamford Bowling Were these buildings and getting from governing bodies works – of which a select few are Club in the centre of Altrincham locations valued for their and funding agencies was geared listed in the Links section – but (above), play on a green that dates architectural qualities, or for towards replacement rather than also because our emphasis is on back to at least 1844 and is part their cultural significance, for renewal. areas that we feel are less well of a Conservation Area. Even non- their associations with specific Two reports which readers may known, or researched, and may bowlers recognise the importance individuals, or events perhaps? Or find offer a useful background to therefore merit wider recognition. of this historic open space. But simply because they were part of the Played in Britain series are Power Equally, there are several sports in October 2004 the club faced the local scene and fitted in well of Place: the Future of the Historic which, in the Manchester area eviction after a massive rent rise, with the surroundings? Environment (English Heritage, at least, do not possess or are and the future of the green is now When speaking of sporting 2000) and The Historic Environment: not associated with any historic in serious doubt. Hundreds of heritage, as one would expect, A Force for Our Future (DCMS 2001). buildings or sites. Hockey is one bowls and other urban sports clubs respondents often emphasised the Both are listed in the Links section such example. have succumbed to pressure from value of tradition, and of the sense on page 130. In other cities, no doubt, other developers in recent decades. of belonging and identity that well Both documents emphasise sports would come to the fore, established sports clubs engender. the need to widen public access to while others that are strong in Often location was deemed the historic environment, to take Manchester, such as lacrosse, Rita McBride’s Arena is one and Manchester United’s Academy the crowd. No-one who watches or more important than modernity. into account those aspects of the might not feature at all. of 35 artworks located on the Ground (see map on page 35). plays sport needs to be persuaded Nor were new facilities necessarily historic environment that people While calling this book Irwell Sculpture Trail, a Lottery- Speaking at its installation of the power of place, or of the wanted if costs were likely to value most, and to engage those Played in Manchester we also fully funded joint venture between the in 2002, McBride explained, ‘I value of historic sporting locations. rise as a result. Above all, a clear people who feel excluded from the acknowledge that the study Arts Council of England, Salford have always been fascinated by Indeed based on the idea of majority emphasised that access planning process. area takes in not only the city City Council and three other local the structures and the scale of a sculpture trail, an Irwell Valley to affordable and accessible All these and a number of other of Manchester but also Salford, authorities straddling the Irwell. structures built for spectacle.’ sports heritage trail – and a similar sports facilities and open spaces recommendations relating to the parts of Trafford, Tameside and Five metres tall, the ‘sculptural It is a fascination shared by one in Old Trafford perhaps – might was the most important factor in future management of our historic Stockport. It does not extend to amphitheatre’ sits atop a turf many, drawn not only towards the be one practical way to celebrate their judgement, and that these environment apply equally to the areas of embankment overlooking the river, action, but towards the intimacy this important part of our shared amenities needed protection. sport. Bolton, Rochdale or Oldham. the Littleton Road Playing Fields of enclosed spaces and the hum of cultural and historic legacy.

 Played in Manchester Played in Manchester  Introduction

Withington Baths, Burton Road Limited by time and that is only to be welcomed. As opened its doors in 1913 and resources, we chose as our stated earlier, this is the first step retains many original features, boundaries the area lying within on a long journey. including its coloured glass panels, the M60 motorway belt, with We nevertheless hope that it floor tiling and Salford-made occasional forays beyond – to will help to inform and delight all Ellison’s turnstiles. Designed by the likes of Davyhulme, Ashton, those whose lives are touched by the City of Manchester’s Architects Altrincham and Stockport – only sport, in one way or another. Department under the directorship in cases where we considered We wish to thank Manchester of Henry Price, is the there to be buildings of specific City Council for their generous oldest functioning public baths in interest or relevance to the overall support for Played in Manchester. the Manchester area. story of sporting heritage in the Their commitment is yet another Manchester area. demonstration of what sport The map opposite shows the means to the city and its people. extent of the study area and the key Finally, one of the most sites featured within the book. rewarding aspects of the To all those who feel strongly Manchester study has been the that, as separate political entitities, goodwill and support we received Salford, Trafford, Tameside and from across the city’s sporting Stockport should not be bracketed fraternity – a testament not only within the general heading of to people’s desire to celebrate our Manchester, or that entries from sporting heritage, but also, we Radcliffe or Oldham should have feel, to the positive character of the taken precedence over ones from many individuals in this city who Sale or Urmston, we offer our dedicate much of their lives, often sincerest ap0logies. without financial reward, to the But to borrow a sporting phrase, sustenance of community life. the referee’s decision is final. We We hope that Played in Manchester had to draw a line somewhere. will help to make those people’s One last caveat. It is not this efforts more appreciated, and book’s aim to express English supported. Heritage’s policy. We also hope that readers Nor does it set out to tell the will be spurred into visiting and story of sport in Manchester. enjoying the many fascinating Rather, it offers a guide to the sites featured in the book, and in city’s history, as told through its the process, help to ensure that sports buildings. this city’s wonderful sporting This is, admittedly, a novel heritage will be recognised, approach, and one we recognise celebrated and safeguarded for may well prompt discussion. But many years to come.

Top left A personalised crown green Top right The 1948 FA Cup Final This is an extract from Played in bowl, made from lignum vitae (a ball used when Manchester United Manchester by Simon Inglis now protected form of hardwood), beat Blackpool 4-2, on display at the awaiting restoration by Premier Bowls Manchester United museum. © English Heritage 2004 of Stockport. Below right Another vintage lignum www.english-heritage.org.uk Below left A medicine ball found at the vitae bowl, c.1880, from the skittle www.playedinbritain.co.uk Salford Lads’ Club, Ordsall, possibly alley of the Manchester Tennis and supplied when the club opened in Racquet Club, on Blackfriars Road, photographs by Simon Inglis and 1904. Salford. David Brearley

 Played in Manchester Played in Manchester