Proposed Hostel Stockport Road Ardwick

MANCHESTER HOSTEL SCHEME. The plans of a Manchester Company for a large hostel for unmarried men and women have been submitted to the Manchester Town Planning and Buildings Committee which yesterday approved them. The scheme has been under consideration for some years. Mr Percy Hothersall, the architect of the proposed building yesterday gave to the Manchester Guardian some details of the scheme. It is proposed to build the new hostel, to be called Devonshire House, on a site on Stockport Road, Ardwick between Syndall Street and the Devonshire Hotel. The hostel is intended to provide accommodation at moderate rates for young business people, at a charge of 30 shillings to 35 shillings a week for a room and two meals a day. The plans provide for about 750 bedrooms, the men's and women's rooms being on opposite sides of the building. There will be no provision for married couples. The building is also planned to include a lounge, a dining room, reading and writing rooms, a recreation room and the like. It is to have a frontage of some 250 feet on Stockport Road. Mr Hothersall stated yesterday that he hoped to start the building early in the new year, and expected that it will take about a year to build. The company which has been formed to promote the scheme is Syndall Estates Limited. [Manchester Guardian 11 December 1935 page 13]

HOTEL FOR THE UNMARRIED £200,000 Project at Manchester WEEKLY TARIFF 35s.  - In a few weeks time work to start on a new hotel—close the centre of the city—which has been designed to cater for single men and women. The complete building will cost £200,000, and will be six storeys high. Here, in surroundings and general amenities equal in many ways to an up-to-date hotel, living accommodation will offered to single men at 35 shillings a week, and to single women at 30 shillings a week. An entirely new prospect will be opened to those seeking " lodgings." The new hotel Is to be known as Devonshire House and will have a wide frontage on a main thoroughfare on the south-east side of the city. The hotel will be a few minutes tram ride from Piccadilly. It expected that a public prospectus will Issued in February. . There will over 700 furnished bedrooms, each fitted with hot and cold water. There be big dining room to seat 1,000 persons, a large lounge, a spacious ballroom theatre and full-sized swimming bath. Residents will able to have meals night or day. The bedrooms and other apartments will be grouped round the areas, the men’s and women's sections being on separate wings. The general scheme and plans are the work of Mr. Percy Hothersall. the Manchester architect, with whom is associated Colonel S. L. Keymer of Alderley Edge. The social significance of this project has been recognised in many quarters, and the promoters have been encouraged to consider other sites. The hotel all Its aspects, will provide sufficient opportunities residents, so that, in effect, they will community capable of developing their own general Interest. They will be in a position to form their own social centre with clubs and societies of sports, literacy, theatrical, or debating character. There will also be sick wards charge a qualified matron. each side of the main entrance to the hotel there will five shops. The promoters, it is understood, do not intend to apply for a licence for the sale of alcoholic drinks. [Yorkshire Post 7 January 1935 page 4]

Reference    Builder 2 February 1934 Page 230
Reference    Manchester City News Saturday 3 February 1934 Page 3 - illustration not visible
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 January 1934 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 11 December 1935 page 13 - planning approval.
Reference    Yorkshire Post 7 January 1935 page 4