Gatehouse Of Hmp Manchester

The gatehouse of HMP Manchester, formerly known as the gatehouse of Strangeways Gaol, was built between 1866 and 1868 by architect Alfred Waterhouse. It is constructed of red brick with sandstone dressings and features steeply-pitched slate roofs, showcasing an irregular plan in the French Gothic style. The building stands three storeys high and has three bays, along with a two-storey, three-bay wing to the left.

The main feature of the gatehouse is the central entrance archway, which is flanked by semi-octagonal turrets. These turrets rest on battered sandstone rubble plinths and are adorned with plain stone bands and a first-floor string-course. The eaves are prominently bracketed, and the turrets are topped with octagonal-conical roofs. There are also two tall chimneys located on the central ridge.

The two-storey central section includes a large round-headed arch that is moulded in three orders, featuring massive double doors and a plain fanlight above. At the first floor, there is a round-headed niche that contains the Royal Arms, flanked by single-light windows. The three-storey turrets have single-light windows that diminish in height, with iron bar grilles on all floors of the right-hand turret and the ground floor of the left turret. The two-storey wing to the left matches the main building's style and includes a bay window on the left and a gabled porch on the right.