Middle Warehouse, At Former Castle Field Goods Yard

SJ 8397, 698-1/19/59,

MANCHESTER, CHESTER ROAD (north side), Middle Warehouse, at former Castle Field Goods Yard

05/06/90

GV

II

Former canal warehouse, unoccupied at time of survey. 1828-31; altered in C20. Red brick with some sandstone dressings (and some C20 concrete); roof concealed. Large rectangular plan except for central projection at rear. Five storeys, a 26-window range, symmetrical, with a 10-window centre (probably formerly pedimented) dominated by a giant segmental blank arch containing a pair of segmental arched shipping holes, with a low sandstone pier in the centre and responds at the sides, a blank medallion in the centre of the blank arch and keystones to all arches; windows here and in the outer ranges mostly small and round-headed with raised sills, but those in the outer ranges arranged in pairs between former 5-stage loading slots altered as windows (C20 full-height fire-escapes added near both ends). Plain stone band over top storey, and plain parapet (replaced over the centre by a concrete flat-roofed penthouse). Four-stage loading slot in right-hand return wall. Rear has windows similar to those at front, and added C20 concrete hoppers. Interior: remains of loading hoists visible in shipping holes.

History: similar to former Duke's grain warehouse on Bridgewater Canal at Liverpool, built 1811. Very prominent feature of site, enhanced by restoration of basin leading to shipping hole during course of survey.

Listing NGR: SJ8310797413