Righton’s Dress Warehouse, Cavendish Street / Higher Ormond Street All Saints

Notable for its ten-window display, and built in 1905 for William Righton, draper, the shop occupied the last undeveloped site in Grosvenor Square - at the junction of Cavendish Street and Upper Ormond Street. Although alterations have been made - the main entrance used to be in the centre of the Cavendish Street frontage ‑ much of the original building survives. On the upper storey the ornamental tiles are a notable feature; Righton's name is impressively emblazoned in relief above the front of the store and his initials can be traced along the Ormond Street elevation. Internally, slender ornamental cast‑iron columns support a gallery with fine wrought‑iron work. Righton's occupied these premises until they went into liquidation in 1959. The building was then acquired by Till and Kennedy Ltd, Ironmongers and builders' merchants, who used it as a showroom until it was purchased by Manchester Corporation in 1969. It is now part of Manchester Metropolitan University.

William Righton had established the business in 1881 at 54-56 Stretford Road. He died at Llandudno  in 1923

Reference    Manchester Guardian 22 March 1905 page 1
Reference    A Walk Round All Saints

Archive      Manchester Libraries Information and Archives. Ref: GB127.M900/1/1/2/4/6588
Date:        4 April 1905