{"id":221269,"date":"2025-06-28T12:04:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T12:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/221269\/"},"modified":"2025-06-28T12:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T12:04:11","slug":"11-more-historic-buildings-seriously-under-threat-following-hotspur-press-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/221269\/","title":{"rendered":"11 more historic buildings ‘seriously under threat’ following Hotspur Press fire"},"content":{"rendered":"

– Advertisement –\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On Monday night, Manchester watched as The Hotspur Press burned.<\/p>\n

A blaze began at 4:30pm, and by early evening, as the city\u2019s commuters were making their way home, the inferno was so severe it stopped trains at Oxford Road Station and spread to balconies on a nearby block of flats, leading to more than 100 residents being evacuated.<\/p>\n

Its cause remains unknown, as firefighters have not been able to properly investigate the site yet. To do that, they need to partially demolish the Georgian structure, which dates back to 1801.<\/p>\n

In the next few days, two emotions permeated the city: sadness and frustration.<\/p>\n

Manner, a developer who had planning permission to transform the former mill and printing shop into a block of student flats but keep its facade and signage, said it was \u2018truly heartbroken\u2019 by the fire.<\/p>\n

But a petition, started on Thursday, calling for Hotspur Press to be rebuilt \u2018in its original form\u2019 also epitomised some of the frustration Mancs had in seeing a historic gem destroyed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire has robbed Manchester of one of its most iconic and historic buildings, a cornerstone of the city\u2019s skyline and industrial heritage,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

While Hotspur Press\u2019 future is unclear and uncertain, there are still historic buildings in the city which experts and campaigners believe remain \u2018at risk\u2019 of being lost, sometimes down to a lack of protection, sometimes down to disuse.<\/p>\n

Like Hotspur Press, their future is unknown. But they are here in 2025, so we\u2019ve collated a list of 11 so you can see them before they go \u2014 if they go.<\/p>\n

Withy Grove Stores<\/p>\n

\"\"Withy Grove stores back in the day <\/p>\n

Just over the road from the bars stag and hen dos seem to love, and next to the Printworks, is Withy Grove Stores.<\/p>\n

This is probably the best-known entry on our list \u2014 but probably not for its heritage. Mancs will know the building as the home for the office supply shop which is seldom open, but always subject to fascination.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is known for its old metal sign \u2018WITHY GROVE STORES\u2019,\u201d Save also notes. \u201cThe building is a lone reminder of similar industrial buildings in the street that have all since been lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt boasts its original sash windows, a slate roof, decorative quoins and has examples of fine modillion eaves cornicing and a rare fanlight window pediment on the corner elevation. The internal condition of the building is unknown, but externally it is in a poor state of repair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere appears to be salt damage to the brickwork on the upper floors, as well as foliage growing out of the shopfront on the Dantzic Street frontage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shudehill<\/p>\n

In the heart of the Shudehill Conservation Area, designated in 1987 to recognise the area\u2019s vital role in Manchester\u2019s rise to a commercial powerhouse in the 19th century, are four warehouses.<\/p>\n

The Thorniley Brow mid-rise buildings are redbrick examples of where Manchester\u2019s textile industry took off \u2014 and the city nearly lost them in 2023, after a developer appealed against a decision to refuse planning permission.<\/p>\n

Manchester council rejected their scheme to demolish most of the buildings, and planning inspectors also agreed, refusing an appeal. The warehouses remain, but remain unused.<\/p>\n

Theatre Royal, Peter Street<\/p>\n

\"\"Theatre Royale<\/p>\n

It seems strange to say, but Manchester\u2019s most popular nightlife spot has an unused theatre.<\/p>\n

The Theatre Royal, on Peter Street, is \u2018Manchester\u2019s oldest theatre having been built in 1845\u2019, according to SAVE Britain\u2019s Heritage (Save), a campaign group that added the building to its \u2018risk register\u2019.<\/p>\n

The grade-II listed building was designed by John Gould Irwin & Francis Chester, who included \u2018a huge, projecting three bay portico of two fluted Corinthian columns flanked by Corinthian pilasters with a deep entablature above\u2019, Save writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Theatres Trust (on whose at-risk register this also sits)<\/a> describes the fa\u00e7ade as \u2018one of the finest examples of theatre architecture to have survived in Britain from the first half of the nineteenth century\u2019. According to the Theatres Trust, it served as a theatre until 1921 when it became a cinema and later found use as a bingo hall and more recently as a night club. Its interior was remodelled in 1989 but many details are thought to remain including the 1875 balcony.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s now owned by the Edwardian Hotel group, which holds the Free Trade Hall next door as well.<\/p>\n

Former Cox\u2019s Bar, Windmill Street<\/p>\n

\"\"Cox\u2019s Bar<\/p>\n

On the other side of the Theatre Royal is Cox\u2019s Bar, which Save says \u2018forms a slice across the back of the\u2019 the building. It adds: \u201cThe building has had a number of uses over the years and appears to have been refaced at some point in brick and grey terracotta dressings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis end of the theatre building faces towards what became in 1876 Manchester\u2019s railway station [now the Manchester Central convention centre]. It is possible that it was at this time that it was altered and given a use serving the customers of the railway. However, more research would be needed into its history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barrack House, Chester Road<\/p>\n

Just outside the city centre is Barrack House, a grade-II listed building which stands at 10 Princess Street in Hulme, but also visible from Chester Road.<\/p>\n

Built in the early 1800s it was historically used as officers\u2019 mess and later offices. Today it is subdivided into flats. Save says: \u201cIt is in poor condition despite being in partial use and seems to be deteriorating.\u201d<\/p>\n

31 Byrom Street<\/p>\n

Spinningfields was designed as Manchester\u2019s answer to Canary Wharf in the early-2000s, and is fittingly an image of steel and glass. But in its midst sits what Jonathan Schofield, a Manchester writer and tour guide, calls \u2018splendid\u2019.<\/p>\n

But, writing in the\u00a0M.E.N.\u00a0this week, he added it \u2018looks like it might fall down soon unless urgent action is taken\u2019.<\/p>\n

20 High Street<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to miss this High Street gem, because it\u2019s opposite the Arndale \u2014 so you\u2019re either distracted by your shopping, an errand, or a tram coming around the corner.<\/p>\n

But if you stop and look at number 20, you\u2019ll find \u2018the last pre-20th century building on this stretch of the High Street\u2019, Save explains, which was \u2018most recently a caf\u00e9 on the ground floor with offices above\u2019.<\/p>\n

The group continues: \u201cThe ground floor has elegant rusticated detail with the opening for the shop or caf\u00e9 for which it was clearly built to accommodate situated in a low arched opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe door to the stairs leading to the floors above has a large key stone adorned by a bust of a bearded man.\u201d<\/p>\n

35 Back Turner Street<\/p>\n

\"\"Back Turner Street<\/p>\n

Deep in the Northern Quarter, where Thomas Street<\/a> watering holes spill out into fashionable on-street beer gardens, a series of cottages, at least 100 years old, appear to slowly be falling down.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re all grade-II listed, Save says, because they are a \u2018rarity\u2019 of \u2018small-scale weavers accommodation in Manchester\u2019.<\/p>\n

It adds: \u201cIn fact, these examples are only just surviving and some of this range is being held up by extensive scaffolding whilst number 36 collapsed in 2005 having been listed in 2004. Clearly a plan is needed if these valuable remnants of Manchester\u2019s industrial past are to survive much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

41-43 Faulkner Street<\/p>\n

This small former warehouse is a perfectly formed addition to China Town, according to Save. It says: \u201cOriginally a warehouse built in 1846 to the designs of Thomas Fish Taylor, the fa\u00e7ade of this grade-II listed building would not look out of place as the offices of a bank or grand headquarters if on a small scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve not seen its beauty, you wouldn\u2019t be alone, as Save notes it requires \u2018craning your neck\u2019 to see \u2018deep entablature\u2019. While its lower floors are in-use, the top floors remain unloved.<\/p>\n

Cable Street<\/p>\n

New Cross, is littered with 18th-century buildings. And tour guide and Manchester expert Hayley Flynn, aka Skyliner, is worried about them.<\/p>\n

One in particular catches your eye \u2014 a \u2018wonky\u2019 warehouse on Cable Street \u2014 which Historic England says is grade-II listed \u2018for its special architectural or historic interest\u2019. It\u2019s got a surface-level car park outside.<\/p>\n

Fenton House, Higher Ardwick<\/p>\n

\"\"Fenton House<\/p>\n

Another one slightly out-of-town, Fenton House at 4 Higher Ardwick, is described as an \u2018attractive early 18th century house\u2019. Grade II listed, it was once a hotel and then care home. Now disused, it is showing signs of deterioration. Save says, \u201cAlthough recent work is encouraging, there is still concern about its condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

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