The Old Cheetham Hill District Library, Manchester

Image: © Tricia Neal Taken: 2 Jan 2014

This grand old building began as the local library, closed down when new one was built nearby. It then had one or two other uses, before closing completely and falling into decay. It is sad to see a Grade II listed building with buddleias growing out of its roof. Whilst searching for information, I not only discovered it was listed, but also that there was an i-petition to save it (with a miserable 25 signatures) and a campaign on Facebook. Here are a few extracts from the description on the English Heritage listing page: "Henry Price (the City Architect); altered. Red brick and white limestone...Edwardian Baroque style. High single storey over basement, 3 wide bays...projected wings embracing a central entrance lobby with projected porch...high stepped stone parapet...rectangular porch with channelled rustication, a round-headed doorway with voluted keystone and open-pedimented architrave with coupled columns, and semi-spherical roof...pilasters with cartouches lettered "SCOTT" and "MILTON" (left wing) "SHAKESPEARE" and "DICKENS" (right wing)...Basement area protected by wrought-iron railings with limestone piers, geometrical open-work standards, bar railings with attached swags and festoons, and flaming-urn finials."

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