The beauty of Manchester

[Dirty Harry]

Refuge assurance building Oxford Rd...is the daddy. esp when viewed from a passing train on the bridge.

That’s a great call about that particular train section, Piccadilly to Deansgate (and just beyond) is probably my favourite journey in Manchester.

 

[artfuldodger]

great clip that...Im also a fan of the CIS tower and of course the soon to be gone Fire station on London Rd...crying shame no one can adapt that fker.

I thought the fire station was being developed? Is it being demolished?

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

I thought the fire station was being developed? Is it being demolished?

Several developers have had a swing at the fire station...the councils usual tactic is to let it deteriorate beyond help and then invite options to drop it and sell the site...this is ongoing!

 

[artfuldodger]

Several developers have had a swing at the fire station...the councils usual tactic is to let it deteriorate beyond help and then invite options to drop it and sell the site...this is ongoing!

I went on a tour of it, about 5 years ago, with one of the Manchester tour guides. It was supposedly the last time anyone would see it as a fire station before it was developed as a hotel. At that point Britannia hotels owned it and had used it as a dumping ground.They had sold it to a developer. It was an absolutely fascinating tour. So many stories. But I must confess there hasn’t been much obvious work done since.

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

I went on a tour of it, about 5 years ago, with one of the Manchester tour guides. It was supposedly the last time anyone would see it as a fire station before it was developed as a hotel. At that point Britannia hotels owned it and had used it as a dumping ground.They had sold it to a developer. It was an absolutely fascinating tour. So many stories. But I must confess there hasn’t been much obvious work done since.

Crying shame...prime spot though...won't be with us in another 5 years..

 

[normskih]

That’s my favourite city centre building n’all.

I used to work there. It was my first job. As you’re stood on Oxford Rd, say with your back to The Salisbury. Our office was the very top right hand side. We had to go up a marble staircase to the office. All the windows had Refuge Assurance imprinted on them. All newcomers to the company went on a weeks course at the start of employment to learn all about the background of the Refuge. It was one of those times where you never appreciated what you had. Just like the song goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

I used to work there. It was my first job. As you’re stood on Oxford Rd, say with your back to The Salisbury. Our office was the very top right hand side. We had to go up a marble staircase to the office. All the windows had Refuge Assurance imprinted on them. All newcomers to the company went on a weeks course at the start of employment to learn all about the background of the Refuge. It was one of those times where you never appreciated what you had. Just like the song goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.

looks great in there these days with the opened up ground floor bar area...not that long ago that some twat carved a themed oirish pub into the Whit street corner entrance..

 

[dobingsdobber]

Fletcher Moss Park.

Now over populated by Southern tossers

the Old Parsonage next door as well.
Fletcher Moss' old home.Beautiful.

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

That’s my favourite city centre building n’all.

here's a shot for yer....Stanley Baker. From Manc Noir classic ' Hell is a City'

 

[jimharri]

Refuge assurance building Oxford Rd...is the daddy. esp when viewed from a passing train on the bridge.

Pity they changed the name. In my opinion, the current owners missed a trick there, not keeping with the original name. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks "It'll always be the Refuge Tower to me".