East Manchester – Modern Mooch

Here we are again in Holt Town – following visits in 2017 and 2020.

Somewhere between the Ashton Canal and the River Medlock.

An area which has always embraced industry with open arms and dirty hands.

An area which has been home to many, with the attendant houses, schools, churches and hospitals

Now the Town is to become a Village – caught between a Sheik and a hard faced Developer, with the Council in tow.

Holt Town is a major regeneration project to create a new, eco-friendly neighbourhood. Our vision includes up to 4,500 new homes of different types and tenure and 30,000 square feet of workspace. With high-quality green spaces, a 1km play street, new local services, plus a cultural hub, lido and mobility hub.

The Neighbourhood Development Framework was created by a team of consultants led by Studio Egret West.

This document will help guide investment in Holt Town over the next ten to twenty years.

Let’s all go to the Lido – now!

As of this week there are still the vestiges of car repairs, panel beaters, scrap metal merchants and just about occupied houses.

Wither will they wander?

As they are nowhere to be seen in the wonderful ink and wash world of Studio Egret West.

The Devil’s Steps are permanently closed.

We all dreamt of you last night

We all fell out of bed twice.

A taste of honey is better than none.

Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?

On the corner of Ravensbury and Stockholm Street Clayton Manchester there stands a Cooperative Shop of 1908.

We have previously visited another fine example on Northmoor Road.

In 1902 the area is still set to open ground.

This Manchester Local Image Collection photograph of 1912 shows new terraced homes emerging to meet the housing needs of the world’s first industrial city.

Here is the street in 1965 the shop already shut.

The corner shop on Bank Street still trades.

The Stuart Street Power Station does not.

Changing patterns in shoppers habits sealed the fate of many local and corner shops, as larger supermarkets opened, increased mobility and car ownership became more common.

When I first visited the building was undergoing renovation work.

The beautiful terracotta tile work and corona obscured by scaffolding .

I returned last week to find the job almost done – converted to flats, in an area which has seen a great deal of improvement to the general housing stock, paving and street furniture.

A joy to see a fine building almost returned to its former glory, with a much needed social purpose, reviving the city’s western edge.