Electricity Junction Box in Castlefield canal basin, Manchester

The electricity junction box, dating from the early 20th century, was manufactured by Hardy and Padmore of Worcester for Manchester City Council. It is made of cast iron and is located in the Castlefield Conservation Area, near the listed former Congregational chapel and two other similar junction boxes on Castle Street and the north bank of the basin.

The box has longer sides that face north-east and south-west. It features a low pyramidal cap with castellated edges above a moulded cornice, which is supported at each corner by an inward-scrolled corbel. Each of the two longer sides serves as a door, framed with a moulded surround and adorned with two decorative strap hinges on the right-hand side. A Jacobean-style geometric strapwork relief surrounds a detachable plaque that displays the crest of the City of Manchester. The two shorter sides are plain but have moulded edges. Each short side includes a circular relief that reads ‘Hardy & Padmore Limited, Worcester,’ while the north-west side has a raised banner at the base indicating the registered design number, although this side is mostly hidden by the wall against which the box is positioned. The box is painted black.