In 1827, Manchester saw the formation of the Botanical and Horticultural Society to encourage study in these areas. The society built a 16 acre horticultural centre in Trafford; the White City Botanical Gardens. The site was chosen by scientist John Dalton as it was downwind from the city’s industrial pollution and would offer a haven of foliage and fresh air. Trees and plants were brought in from around the world and the gardens became extremely popular both with botanists and those seeking relaxation and clean air in the city. The white arches which still stand today were the entrance to the gardens and have been given Grade II listing.

In 1857 the gardens hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition, showcasing over 16,000 items of art loaned from private collections around the country, much of which had never been seen by the public. The exhibition attracted 1.3 million visitors over 142 days.
Another event was held to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 and this attracted a huge 4.7 million visitors over the course of 192 days.

Unfortunately towards the end of the 19th century, interest in the gardens declined as many wealthy citizens, some of whom were benefactors to the gardens, began to move away from the city to take up residence in the surrounding countryside. Some of the land was rented out in the early 20th century upon which an amusement park and motorcycle speedway stadium were built. An athletics track was later added in the 1950s.

The site eventually fell into disrepair and was closed in 1982, the archways the only reminder of the gardens which could have easily become the Kew Gardens of the north.

Since the 1980s almost half of the mills in Greater Manchester have been destroyed and many more stand empty, derelict and neglected, such as Hartford Mill in Oldham, pictured below. Not only could this result in more loss to our heritage and past but it’s not what the public want. Historic England and YouGov polled the public and found that 90% of adults in England believe that mills are integral part of England’s history, identity and story. Unfortunately Hartford Mill is set to be demolished after the condition of the mill deteriorated and the site became a hotspot for anti social behaviour.

Mills shaped the physical and cultural landscapes of the North and offer a wealth of character and space. To avoid losing more of our industrial legacy, we need to look at how we can repurpose these buildings for modern usage without losing the essence of what makes them so special in the first place. There is approximately 21.5 million sq ft of vacant floor space in mills across Manchester, equivalent to 25,000 homes. They are the perfect spaces to accommodate apartments, hotels, offices, retail and leisure space, combining Manchester’s heritage with modern interests.

Murray’s Mill in Ancoats was the largest mill complex in the world in 1806 and comprises a collection of grade II and grade II* listed buildings. It is also the world’s oldest surviving urban steam-powered cotton spinning factory. After sympathetic restoration work, including masonry repairs carried out by Quadriga, the mill is being reborn as luxury apartments. Stone stairs, exposed brickwork and supporting pillars have been tastefully incorporate into the design and the result is a fusion between old and new.
Using Murray’s Mill as an example of successful repurposing, it is clear that the future of our mills lies in preserving the fabric and character of the past whilst ensuring use for modern society.

In 2017 Historic England launched a campaign to save former textile mills, offering a £252,000 grant to repair Leigh Spinners Mill in Lancashire in an effort to kickstart the movement. The mill is set to become home to businesses, community groups, and education and sports facilities whilst the existing Leigh Spinners Company will continue to operate in its current location on the ground floor.
The next steps in saving our historic mills involve identifying the most at risk mills and prioritising the restoration and repair of them so their legacy lives on for future generations.

The main characteristics of neoclassical architecture are:

• Grandeur of scale – buildings tend to be large and imposing
• Simple geometric forms
• A focus on symmetry
• Repetition of elements such as windows and doors
• Greek or Roman style detailing
• Dramatic use of columns
• Expanses of blank wall space
• Long sequences of columns called colonnades
• The use of rotundas – buildings with a circular ground plan often covered by a dome
• The use of porticoes – a porch leading to building entrance, often supported by columns
Notable neoclassical structures in Britain:

• Somerset House, London
• Buckingham Palace, London
• Bank of England Building, Liverpool
• Most buildings on Grey Street in Newcastle
• Manchester Central Library
• Birmingham Town Hall

Did you know that a number of scenes from the BBC drama Peaky Blinders were filmed in Manchester?

One location used in the series was London Road Fire Station, where Cillian Murphy can be seen standing on a balcony overlooking the central courtyard. Boxing scenes were also filmed in the old engine room, pictured below (the 1980s Boddies bitter advert wasn’t featured!)

Quadriga are currently working on the restoration of London Road Fire Station which will see this iconic Grade II* building brought back to life in the form of bars, restaurants and a hotel, all complete with original features.

But why is it so important to the Northern Powerhouse?

When George Osborne unveiled his Northern Powerhouse strategy 3 years ago, the city was highlighted as one of the five cities that would lead Northern investment and development to rival the activity of the South.

Now hailed as the capital of the north, Manchester’s economic growth has gone beyond rival cities, such as London, with productivity rising by 6.8% between 2014 and 2016.
This city centre’s economic growth has only encouraged other industries to thrive in the area such as creative, digital and technology, business services, manufacturing and engineering and construction. The construction industry contributed 9.2% more to the Manchester economy in 2016 than 2014 and over 2,000 foreign owned companies have chosen to locate in the city.

This has resulted in Manchester becoming one of the fasted growing cities in Europe (Deloitte Real Estate, 2017).
This investment and growth of the city has lead to high levels of office space take up and demand for leisure and residential development.
As a result of this rising demand, many historic buildings of the city are now being restored and refurbished. Quadriga are highly experienced in historic building restoration, offering a service that is dedicated to innovation and conservation.

We’re involved in many projects across the city from façade surveys to building restoration works. Recent works on regeneration schemes include the ongoing works at Hanover House as part of the NOMA Scheme. We have been undertaking heritage restoration works at the building to include Edwardian tile repair, heritage plaster repairs and timber restoration. Once completed, the historic grade II listed building will become grade A offices.
Works have recently completed at Bonded Warehouse, the former Granada TV Studios which is part of the St John’s Scheme to redevelop the former site into office, residential, retail and leisure space. Works at Bonded Warehouse included timber repairs, roof repairs, brickwork and masonry cleaning and waterproofing.
Whilst this growth is important to the city, it’s also key to keep its rich architecture alive. Incorporating heritage buildings into regeneration can ensure our cities history is preserved for now and the future.

There’s no doubt that Manchester is at the forefront of the Northern Powerhouse and as a Manchester office occupier ourselves, here at Quadriga we can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store for the cities continued development.
For more details on all services that Quadriga provide, please contact Lindsay Law on;
0161 883 2153

lindsay@quadrigaltd.com