It attracts 125,000 people every year – but bosses need extra funding to stop the damageThe People’s History Museum has sat on the River Irwell in its current guise since 2010(Image: Supplied)

One of Manchester’s most-loved attractions is suffering ‘substantial damages to its building’, bosses have confirmed.

The People’s History Museum (PHM) is rated as TripAdvisor’s sixth-best ‘thing to do’ in Manchester, bringing in more than 125,000 visitors annually.

Despite its popularity, the Spinningfields museum has suffered from ‘persistent leaks that are causing substantial damage to the building fabric’, caused by an ageing roof, a new planning application reveals.

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Although PHM has applied for planning permission to re-roof the grade-II listed Edwardian pump house, bosses say they cannot go ahead with the work unless they get necessary ‘capital funding’ — giving them an anxious wait to see if the roof can be repaired.

“People’s History Museum has filed a tentative planning application for repairs to the roof of our Edwardian Pump House building in Spinningfields. This will only be possible if we can secure the capital funding required for the project,” a spokesperson said.

“Opened in 1909, the Pump House is the last remaining hydraulic power station in Manchester, once supplying power to civic buildings, mills and warehouses. Designated by Historic England as a Grade II listed building in 1992, it is recognised as a ‘very unusual survival’.

“PHM is committed to preserving this remarkable building and securing its future for all to enjoy. As an independent charity, the museum relies on donations and fundraising to support these ambitions.”

(Image: People’s History Museum)

Specifically, the museum needs to ‘strip and re-roofing the historic pitched roofs, repair and replace all structural timber’, ‘renew asphalt flat roofs where possible’, and carry out ‘high level masonry repairs to string courses, weather courses, and parapets’, the planning application said.

The bid was submitted last week, just days before PHM confirmed it will host festive markets next month.

Makers Markets will take over the Engine Hall from November 21-23, with a ‘Winter Warmer’ launch event taking place on the evening of November 20. Guests can enjoy live music, pop up workshops, a glass of mulled wine, and a chance to preview the stalls for a £10 ticket.

You can see and comment on the planning application here.