The Victorian Society in Manchester Registered Charity No. 1081435 Registered Charity No.1081435 Autumn Newsletter 2012 EDITORIAL where demolition is proposed, English things done. Latest achievement is the Heritage has allowed the relevant Local restoration of the twelve Saint’s statues Conservation – a Tale of Two Cities Authority to take the decision provided now replaced on their plinths in the The present is a good time to review that Local Authority was not the owner nave. the conservation and regeneration of the building in question. That is of our built heritage in Manchester not the case with Grade I and Grade and Salford. Over the past couple II* listings where the view of English of decades, the salvation of many Heritage would have to be sought and buildings has involved conversion in general their view would prevail. for two principal end usages – apart­ ments, and hospitality and catering. Many experienced professionals and Conversions to hotel, restaurant and volunteers in England’s heritage and bars have been particularly significant conservation lobbies feel that because in regenerating important buildings of current economic circumstances this in Manchester city centre where the different approach to Grade II listed scale of apartment conver sions has buildings may be seen as relaxed also caused the city to lead the way indifference by English Heritage and in a return to provincial city centre can be exploited to the detriment of living. However, current economic their cause. A further difficulty is that circumstances have led to a dramatic grants for Grade II listed buildings are decline in conversions and buildings by and large much harder to find than for residential purposes – apartments for the higher grades. An exception was cannot be sold for the prices obtained St. Peter’s Church, Blossom Street, five years ago and therefore the Ancoats where grants were obtained financial model (on which everything and it is now in use as a rehearsal depends) has collapsed. space for the Halle Orchestra. The vast majority of England’s quarter million or The concrete wasteland currently so Grade II listed buildings are in use on view on the north­east corner of and are either owned or managed by Princess Street and Whitworth Street responsible people. However, when may well be with us for some time. Some such a building becomes empty or years ago Manchester City Council, redundant, there is a much greater threat in a controversial move, vigorously to its future than might have been the opposed by the Victorian Society, gave case decades ago. The conservation planning permission for a 15 storey rule that states that a disused building is hotel/office/apartment block on this site. by definition a building at risk is a good As any hope of selling the apartments and practical one. at the original proposed price does not currently exist, the development has It is only fair to point out that English foundered and further, because the Heritage, despite being presently concrete and steel footings have gone drastically under resourced, can be in, the plot cannot revert to its previous sometimes receptive to the upgrading of use as a surface car park. Similar certain significant buildings from Grade economic considerations bedevil the II up to II*, mindful of the considerable issue of Ancoats Hospital – arguably the additional protection that it confers. most significant current conservation controversy. In common with most of The following list is a brief summary of the buildings dealt with below, and current local conservation issues: about 90% of English Heritage stock, The abandoned Mortuary Chapel, the remains of the former Ancoats Gorton Monastery: Over fifteen years, Dispensary and Hospital are Grade II passion, commitment, knowledge and Agecroft Cemetery, Salford on the listed. It has for long been the practice hard work has resulted in the charitable Victorian Society’s list of the Top that in the case of such Grade II listings trust becoming expert in how to get Ten endangered buildings 1 The Gaskell House, Plymouth come before Manchester City Council’s The Manchester Victorian Society Grove: An equally expert charitable Planning Committee for the restoration c/o Portico Library trust is moving this project forward of this historically important building. It 57 Mosley Street despite recently having the lead roof was talked about ten years ago following Manchester M2 3HY stolen. The latest achievement has the restoration of Piccadilly station. The The Victorian Society is the champion for Victorian and been in persuading English Heritage to main issues are to deal with the very Edwardian buildings in England and Wale allow a stainless steel roof replacement poor condition of the roof and permit which is of less interest to criminals. Metrolink to run four lines through the station instead of the present two. NEWS London Road Police and Fire New Director at the Victorian Society Station: It is now eleven years since University of Manchester: The Christopher Costelloe, formerly Senior Clare Hartwell’s revision of Pevsner ambition of the University to rid itself Conservation Adviser at the Society, described this building as “shamefully completely of the Sackville Street has taken over from Dr Ian Dungavell. neglected”. The building is owned Campus has now emerged into the by The Britannia Hotels Group and public domain. For us, the main issue As a qualified stonemason, Christopher undoubtedly constitutes Manchester will be the redundancy and sale of the has unusual hands­on experience city centre’s most disgraceful heritage UMIST building, the Sackville Street of building conservation. For the last saga. Action has been taken to Spalding & Cross section falls within our two years he has been Conservation forestall further decay but the outward period. Converting the entire building Adviser for the Victorian Society. appearance is still appalling. Latest to hotel use would appear the only chapter in the saga was the city’s failed possibility but it will be a much greater “I know first hand what a difference the CPO bid. challenge than the Refuge Building. Victorian Society makes,” said Chris, “and I am very excited to be taking Unitarian Chapel, Upper Brook Victoria Theatre, Gt Clowes Street, over as its Director. Unfortunately Street: Architect Charles Barry Salford: The London based Theatres there is still so much for us to do, but (when he was in the city building the Trust has recently taken an interest in it is gratifying to have so much public Athenaeum) is now little more that a this Grade II listed building as it still support for our campaigns.” shell. No firm plans in place to restore. has many original features intact such as safety curtain, flies, understage Ancoats Dispensary and Hospital: machinery, grave traps and a venerable Now a roofless shell secured by Strand Electric lighting control board. scaffolding and owned by Urban Splash Some people with experience of saving who want to flatten it. Permission and bringing back to life the Plaza to demolish seems not yet to have cinema in Stockport are also interested. been formally granted by Manchester City Council. Local residents have a Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road: permanent “Save It” vigil, in contrast to Still in the ownership of the city. Turkish their local councillors indifference. Bath complex restored and some stained glass re­instated. Crumpsall Library: In a disgraceful state – there are no firm plans in place Agecroft Cemetery Chapel, Salford: to secure its future. Sharpe and Foster’s now dilapidated chapel is on the Victorian Society Top Disused Castlefield Railway Viaduct Ten Endangered list. The purpose of Chris Costelloe (the one nearest to the canal basin the list is to publicise problems with a Professor Hilary Grainger, Chair of opposite MOSI): Some years ago view to seeking solutions, so we await the Victorian Society, said: “Chris there were rumours that Peel Holdings outcomes....... is just the person to take over at this wanted to demolish it. There is a exciting stage of our development. possibility that Metrolink want to restore The above list is, of course, incomplete. He combines an intimate knowledge and use it for doubling up lines running Looking at the successful heritage of casework with excellent leadership south from city. projects, a common thread emerges skills, and we are sure that he will be a – a passionate advocate, inspiring great success.” Varna Street Board School: Now and leading a team through a maze listed Grade II. Samantha Barnes’ of technical and financial challenges, The former Director, Dr Ian Dungavell, book came too late to save some of gathering momentum and support as has now left to become the first Chief Manchester’s remaining board schools ideas progress and eventually making Executive at the Friends of Highgate whose historical importance and a safe landing on the sunlit uplands. Cemetery Trust. Professor Grainger architectural merit had been largely From those heights they can all look said “Ian has made an outstanding overlooked but at least this one may down on a building that, without their contribution to the work of the Society” now remain. efforts, would not have still been there. and added, “we wish him every success in his new post.” Victoria Station: Plans will shortly David Astbury October 2012 2 Worsley New Hall Project was matched by its gardens, laid out by Red Cross Museum and Archives, The Worsley New Hall project is a joint William Andrews Nesfield, the country’s the Royal Archives and Chetham’s venture by the University of Salford most sought after garden designer. Library, Manchester. Information was and Peel Holdings Ltd to research and Nesfield had an established clientele also gathered through a number of oral collate information on the history of of wealthy and influential landowners history interviews with members of the the New Hall in Worsley, Salford.