Fire, Ambulance, and Police Station London Road Manchester

Opposite Piccadilly Station is an enormous (former) police and fire station. By Woodhouse, Willoughby & Langham, 1901-1906, winners of a competition judged by Waterhouse. The building incorporates a coroner's court which remainedl in use for a time after closure of the main building. It was a magnificent municipal showpiece, now shamefully neglected, the detail blurred by a thick layer of dirt. A huge near triangular block is ranged around a courtyard used for drill. As well as all the usual facilities there was accommodation for thirty-two firemen and their families and six single men. The style is neo-Baroque in red Accrington brick, tawny terra cotta and brown faience, with Hawksmoorish turrets as part of a picturesque skyline. A high offset tower forms a landmark. To London Road there is a wide arched entrance to the yard and an upper Ionic colonnade. The elevation is symmetrical except at the corners, to the left there is a squat domed turret, to the right a small upright turret crowned with a flame motif. The terra cotta is by Burmantofts, and the sculptural and architectural modelling by J J. Millson symbolizes the various functions of the building through allegorical representations of Courage, Vigilance, Justice, Truth, etc. Watching birds perch around the tower and there are four figures around each of the two turrets. Relief panels on themes of fire and water are placed high up on the principal London Road elevation. Paired figures recline over each of the four main entrance doors in the manner of Michelangelo's Night and Day in the Medici chapel in Florence. Similar figures over the second-floor window spandrels. The classically inspired figures are generous and solid, clothed in flowing drapery, with a hint of Art Nouveau attenuation.

The fire station closed in 1986, since when it has been largely empty despite several redevelopment proposals. It was placed on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register in 2001 and in 2010 Manchester City Council served a compulsory purchase order on the fire station's owner, Britannia Hotels. Britannia announced in 2015 their intention to sell the building after nearly 30 years of dereliction. It was sold to Allied London in 2015 and renovation commenced in 2018 with the building to be redeveloped as a mixed-use comprising leisure and hotel facilities.

MANCHESTER NEW CHIEF FIRE STATION - This important undertaking of the Corporation of Manchester was the subject of one of the principal open competitions offered the architectural profession of Great Britain last year (1901). Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, F/FRIBA., of King - street, Manchester, and Mr. John Langham, architect, of Albert- Square, Manchester, are the joint authors of the successful and first premiated design. The Manchester Corporation have since appointed them to carry out the work; also Mr Windsor, of Manchester, to take out the quantities. It seems strange, remembering so well-known an architect and perspective artist as Mr. John Langham made the original of the perspective view we today publish, and also the fact that such a building is of national interest both from an artistic and utilitarian point of view, that the Selection and Hanging Committee of the Royal Academy have placed It amongst the "crowded out." True, that the necessary dimensions of the picture would have required a comparatively large portion of the very meagre wall-space allotted to architectural work at Burlington House; yet, taking into account that the building will probably represent the most up-to-date ' and comprehensive fire- brigade station in the world, and further, that It is to be erected in the second city of the British Empire, surprise has naturally been expressed that it will not be on view in this year's Royal Academy Exhibition.

The following is a brief description of the entire scheme. The Site on which the building ig to be erected is in shape a trapezium having frontages to London- road (the main thoroughfare) of 260 feet, to Fairfield-street of 328 feet 6 inches, to Whitworth-street of 284 feet, and to Minshull-street (late Commerce- street) of 97 feet 3 inches. Our illustrations render any comment to the architectural style adopted unnecessary. The materials principally to be employed externally are golden buff, vitreousterracotta, and red stock bricks. The internal construction is to be of brick, steel, and concrete, and consequently fireproof throughout. The entire building will comprise four distinct sections, the Manchester chief fire station forming about 80 per cent. of the entire buildings whilst second in importance is a branch police and ambulance station, occupying about 10 per cent, and being situated at the corner Of Whitworth- street and Minshull-street. A branch public library and premises for a branch bank on the ground and basement floors roughly form the remaining 10 per cent of the scheme and front London-road, the Bank having a return front in Fairfield-street. The engine-house, which is seven bays in length, each bay being 33 feet in depth by 25 feet 3 inches in width, faces to Fairfield- street. Both the front doors and the "return doors," opening from the central drill-yard, will be fitted - with instantaneous opening gear." The horses' stalls are conveniently placed on either side of the engines; they will be engaged, too, and when a "call out" takes place, the doors of the stalls open by means of electricity, and the horses are trained to pass out to their proper positions, when, by pulling of a cord, their previously suspended harness drops on them, their collars fastening by means of a clasp. This operation takes about twenty seconds, during which time the driven and duty men have descended from their tenements or recreation-rooms by means of sliding steel poles, and, having donned their helmets, etc., the first turn out is on its way to the scene of action within thirty seconds of the alarm being received in the electrical operator's or watch-room. The Manchester new chief fire-station is to be fitted with the Gamewell Fire Alarm Signal Apparatus at a cost of about £10,000. On the ground floor, besides the engine-house are the general office, main entrance, electrical apparatus room, chief officer's rooms and chief officers' clerks' room, all of which are in the Fairfield-street block. On the same level, and forming part of the London-street block, are the fire brigade workshops, while its gymnasium, loose boxes, etc., face to Whitworth-street. The first, second, and third floors of the Fairfield-street and London-road blocks, as well a8 part of the second floor of the Whitworth-road block, are devoted to officers' residences, recreation-rooms, and firemen's tenements. These, with the exception of the chief and second officer’s are all approached by means of balconies from the one main staircase. The first, second, and third floors of the Whitworth-street block are occupied by the upper part of the gymnasium, provender, and accoutrement stores, and laundries for the officers' and firemen's families, and covered-in play-grounds for children and infants. Everything that will insure the most up-to-date efficiency in the working of the fire brigade, as well as the comfort and healthy recreation of the men is being provided and altogether the Manchester Corporation is likely to possess the best equipped station of the time. Mr. George Parker, the chief Officer (of Belfast and Bootle reputation) is giving the architects the full benefit of his wide and helpful knowledge and experience.

The branch police station and ambulance-station provide accommodation for two two-horse ambulances and stabling, with tenements for four ambulance men on the first and second floors. The police-station contains on the ground floor a main entrance and entrance for families, spacious charge office, sergeants' and inspectors' office and adjacent are mess and parade rooms, all placed so as to be under proper direct control of the charge officer. There are four cells for males and four for females, each opening on to distinct and disconnected corridors. Adjacent to the cells are separate rooms for the doctor and matron. There is also a large store-room provided on the ground floor. The basement below the police-station is devoted to heating-chamber, etc., storerooms, and men's lavatories and conveniences. In the arrangement of this section of the work the architects have been greatly assisted by Mr. Peacock, the Chief Constable of Manchester. The bank provides the usual accommodation for a branch bank. The branch public library has a lending and reference department on the ground floor with a small private room for the librarian, above which and forming a mezzanine are the cloakrooms, etc., for the library attendants. In the basement a boys' room, book-store, and heating-chamber are provided. The estimated cost of the buildings (exclusive of the purchase of the site, which cost £22,000, and the installation of the Gamewell Fire Alarm System) is £75,000. For the purpose of expediting the commencement of actual building operations the Watch Committee has consented to the excavations and building up to the ground level to be tendered for and let as a separate account. [Building News 16 May 1902 page 695-696]

MANCHESTER - The great block of buildings at the junction of London‑road. Whitworth‑street, and Fairfield‑street, Manchester, which is to be used mainly as a Central Fire Station, was opened on Friday by the Lord Mayor. The buildings include, besides the fire station, accommodation for testing gas‑meters, a police and ambulance station., and a coroner's court. In the fire‑station everything has been done to facilitate the speedy turning out of the brigade on an alarm of fire, and, in this connection, electricity is brought largely into use. The men are warned, their dwellings above the engine‑house lighted up, the stalls opened, and the doors of the engine‑house rolled back by this means. The architects were Messrs. Willoughby, Woodhouse, and Langham, of Manchester, whose design (chosen in competition five years ago), was illustrated in our issue of May 25, 1905, and the work has been carried out by Messrs. J. Gerrard and Sons, Limited, of Swinton. Mr. James Porteous was the clerk of works. The terra cotta and faience work is by the Burmantofts Co., of Leeds.  The original estimate was for £120,000. In consequence of extra provision this has been exceeded. [Building News 5 October 1906 Page 490]

Reference        Building News 16 May 1902 page 695-696 and illustration
Reference        Manchester City News 14 May 1904 Page 6
Reference        Building News 5 October 1906 Page 490