Old Chapel Building at Didsbury Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University

MANCHESTER

SJ8490 WILMSLOW ROAD, Didsbury 698-1/25/676 (East side) Old Chapel Building at Didsbury Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University

GV II (Formerly Listed as Students' Union Building, Manchester Polytechnic Didsbury School of Education)

Probably part of Wesleyan Theological Institution, in use as a students' union building at the time of listing. Mid C19; altered. Red brick in Flemish bond on a sandstone plinth, with sandstone dressings and steeply-pitched slate roofs. E-plan formed by hall on east-west axis with receding domestic wings linked to the north and south sides (C20 single-storey addition now filling re-entrants at rear). Gothick style. Two storeys to 2 different levels, with a symmetrical west front formed by the wide gable-end of the hall range flanked by set-back one-bay links to the gable ends of the wings. The gable of the hall has octagonal corner turrets, 2 stone canted bay windows at ground floor (probably added), a tall stepped triple lancet to the centre of the upper floor flanked by single-light lancets, a small trefoil above, and a pitched stone coping with a central flat. The linking bays, which are lower, have 1st-floor sill-bands and cross-windows with margin panes, the lower of these taller with arched lights and a hoodmould. The gables of the wings, breaking forwards slightly, have similar windows and blind lancets at attic level (gables now false because roofs have been rebuilt at lower level). The return sides of both wings are in similar style, consisting of a symmetrical 3-bay main element with gabled centre breaking forwards and containing a Tudor-arched doorway with Gothick panelled door and Gothick traceried fanlight, and a 2-bay continuation to the rear; some windows with sashed 4-pane glazing or no glazing bars. Interior: some Gothick fan-vaulting in the hall.

Listing NGR: SJ8480290539