IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Radium Street, MANCHESTER, M4 6GH

On the right is Murrays' Mills now being converted by Graham Construction for Manchester Life. "Murrays' Mills is a beautiful collection of Grade II and II* listed buildings forming a horseshoe around the landscaped courtyard garden. The Murray brothers began construction in 1797, starting with Old then Decker Mills. New Mill followed quickly, and the mills were then connected by linking wings. All but one wing remains, as do the engine houses and the chimney. Manchester Life’s focus has always been on sympathetically revitalising this irreplaceable heritage site and setting it up for a brand new purpose. From the soaring 7-storey Old Mill, to the head-turning façade of the Murray Street Block, the entire site is being painstakingly restored and engineered to return the mill complex to its former glory while delivering cutting edge standards of new build development." http://mcrlife.co.uk/murrays-mills/ The site was earmarked for development in 2004. The preferred developer then was a consortium comprising Inpartnership and the Burrell Company, both from Edinburgh. Work was expected to start in 2007 and be completed in three years.

The Grade II* listed https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1270855 Doubling Mill and Fireproof Mill date from 1842 and are part of the Murray's Mills complex. It was converted into office space by Urban Splash in 2003 and is now known as Waulk Mill https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/regeneration/projects/waulk-mill On the fence are a poem and twelve artworks by Len Grant http://www.lengrant.co.uk/work/the-big-series-2020-21/ Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

This view is possible as one wall of the quadrangle has been largely demolished. The body of water was a private canal basin off the Rochdale Canal, now isolated. The tall building on the left is a mid-19th century beam engine house and the chimney is to its left. The three storey building on the right is a rebuilt engine house and behind it is New Mill of 1804. The block opposite is on Murray Street and includes offices with oriel windows. This block dates from 1804-6, the same date as the demolished Bengal Street block that would have closed the side where I'm stood. This is well described in "Cotton Mills in Greater Manchester".

Doorway into Jersey House off Jersey Street.

Compare with the view in January 2016 Image

Utilitarian former pub on the corner of the splendidly-named Radium Street. The presence of the satellite dish must mean it hasn't been closed for as long as looks would suggest. How many pints were sunk inside by local workers or residents I wonder? Answers on a postcard. An application to demolish it in 2010 failed - it is the sort of building which stands in the way of urban regeneration and its grand visions (see the marketing slogans on the right, and the faux old paving). By 2014, something was afoot: Image

The "Dance Bar" on the corner was originally a pub called the Cross Keys whose licence dated back to 1830. The original pub was situated about 50 yards further up Jersey Street and was briefly known as The Amalgamation. It was demolished in the late 19th century to make way for a brass foundry and so the Cross Keys set up on the corner of German Street, which was renamed to Radium Street in 1914. Tetley bought it from Taylors Eagle Brewery in 1922. It closed in 2010 and was earmarked for demolition. However it has survived and is used as offices.

Until 1914 the street was called German Street. The premises on the right are an artisan bakehouse.

A poem by Len Grant http://www.lengrant.co.uk/work/the-big-series-2020-21/ which can be seen together with twelve artworks on the fence of Waulk Mill, Redhill Street Image

Two artworks by Len Grant http://www.lengrant.co.uk/work/the-big-series-2020-21/ which can be seen together a poem and ten other artworks on the fence of Waulk Mill, Redhill Street Image These two feature Ho's Bakery, Chinatown and New Islington with Canada Geese.