Oldham Walk

Posted on by modernmoocher

1915

The Oldham area was once home to several railway stations – many of which have since closed.

There is currently no rail link to and from the town.

Tram services between Manchester and Oldham have returned – for the first time since trams stopped running in Oldham in 1946. 

The first service to Oldham Mumps left Manchester Victoria at 05:24 BST – calling at the eight stops on the line.

The tram then made the return journey, leaving Oldham at 06:00 BST and taking about 25 minutes to reach Manchester city centre.

BBC News

Oldham Central

To the right an huge Sainsbury’s supermarket 1999-2001 Pringle Richards Sharratt.

To the left can be seen the semi-derelict Grade II Listed Prudential Assurance Building 1898-91 Alfred Waterhouse & Son – now in the ownership of Oldham Council.

Image – Victorian Society

Back tracking toward Phoenix House – with its implausible heron.

It’s been four years since the Department of Work and Pensions left their Union Street office and eighteen months since plans were submitted to turn it into eighty two flats.

However, apart from hoardings being installed around the building, there doesn’t appear to have been much movement at the site – at least not legally.

Oldham Times

Turning the corner to Metropolitan Place.

Currently in use by Oldham Council – formerly home to the Registry Office, wedded couples referred to it as the Hobson Street Cathedral.

Though there seems to have been plans for both office and co-working space, along with conversion to apartments.

Back out onto Union Street and down to Gallery Oldham 2002 Pringle Richards Sharratt.

Linking to the older Library and Art Gallery 1883 T Mitchell with sculpture by JJ Milson.

Today the building has been restored to include the Council Chamber and Mayor’s Dining Room, public exhibition spaces and a new home for Oldham Theatre Workshop.

The Old Library is one of the earliest examples of an ashlar faced, in-situ formed concrete multi story building.

Oldham Gov

Take a turn up Greaves Street and here’s a faience clad Victoria House a former Billiard Club 1912 Winder & Taylor – subsequently the hall was used as council housing offices and a college before becoming vacant.

Oldham Boxing moved into the building in 2011.

Next door a Ponsonby And Carlile Solicitors Office 1902 Edgar Wood – Grade II Listed.

Back now onto Union Street and the GMB Offices.

Onwards to the former Oldham Evening Chronicle

Down the hill and left to the Walshaw Street Bus Depot 1936

Image: Jeff Smith Oldham’s Past

Home to the Pennine Lounge.

Next we head up Yorkshire Street to Harry’s Bar – formerly The Artizans Rest 1937.

Architects: CT Taylor – Roberts & Bowman.

In 2025, it was revealed by the Manchester Evening News that Oldham council planned to buy the building and demolish it with the price tag for the project reported to be £1m. The money comes from a £2.5m pot of regeneration finding given to the local authority by the government.

MEN

Image: Oldham’s Past

Image: George Symes

These two carved panels have been removed.

Just around the corner is the former Kings Picture Hall – currently Bees Knees.

Located in the town centre, directly opposite the Coliseum Theatre. The King’s Picture Hall was opened 18th September 1911. In October 1912 a café was opened in the building adding a further amenity to the cinema. In 1929 it was equipped with a British Thomson Houston sound system.

The King’s Picture Hall was closed on 25th June 1966 with Ryo Ikebe in Battle in Outer Space and Randolph Scott in Comanche Territory.

On 2nd July 1966 it was converted into a bingo club.

In 2006 it was a nightclub.

Cinema Treasures

A stand of shops – stepped the accommodate the incline, partially clad in Westmorland Slate.

Oldham Town Centre now has a new high-quality public space – Parliament Square

Six new restaurant units will be located within the Old Town Hall alongside a brand new 800-seat, seven screen ODEON cinema.

BDP 2017

A stunning glass extension to the side of the Grade II-listed building provides access to the various levels of the cinema and is also the frontage to the new restaurants.

George Woodhouse of Bolton 1841, extended by Edward Potts of Oldham 1879-80. 

Oldham Gov

To the left is a statue of Springhead born Annie Kenney – political activist, socialist feminist and suffragette, modelled by Denise Dutton, unveiled 14 December 2018.

The Egyptian Room Food Hall project extends BDP’s partnership with Oldham Council and the rejuvenated Grade II listed Old Town Hall building in Oldham town centre, the main transformation of which was also designed and delivered by BDP.

The Loom is a brand new events space next to Oldham’s new indoor market on Parliament Square in the town centre. The gala-sized event space can fit up to one thousand standing guests, seven hundred seated, or five hundred dining, or can be split-off into smaller rooms for exhibitions, gigs, or theatre performances.

Design for a war memorial chapel, St Mary’s Church 1920.

Architect: Nugent Francis Cachemaille-Day.

Artist: H Lewis Curtis.

Image: RIBA pix

Next to the former Yorkshire Bank 1970 John Brunton & Partners.

Under construction 1970

Image: Kayla Chadwick

Down to the Spindles Shopping Centre 1991

Originally the site of St Peter’s Shopping Centre architect Richard Seifert

St Peter’s House – housed Oldham Area Health Authority Administrative Offices

Images: Yesteryear Oldham then & now 

Spindles has been revamped by AEW Architects.

Stained glass by Brian Clarke installed in 1993.

Between 1990 and 1993, Brian Clarke designed a series of three interrelated roof lights in stained glass for the Spindles Shopping Centre in his hometown of Oldham, Lancashire. Among the largest stained glass windows in Europe, and some of the largest public artworks in the UK, these panels connect the main public areas of the principal shopping centre in the town.

No town walk would be complete without a former Burton’s.

Next to the Bus Stations 2008 Austin-Smith Lord situated either side of the Civic Centre.

In the midst of it all is the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham will soon open its doors for the last time before it permanently closes to the public and is prepared for demolition. Since being condemned for containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete – RAAC in 2023, its days have been numbered.

Now the old theatre is part of plans to bring 2,000 new homes into the town centre in a partnership between Oldham Council and the developers Muse.

Oldham Times

Chris Connor as Elvis at the Oldham Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Surrounded on two sides by the Civic Centre – the lower parts are by Richard Seifert & Partners 1962, the fourteen storey Tower and Hall 1974-78 are by Cecil Howitt & Partners.

Plans are underway at the civic centre, the largest site in the regeneration project, to create a vibrant community providing eight hundred and thirty eight homes rising up to fifteen-storeys with mixed-use commercial spaces on the ground floor. This development will integrate seamlessly with the surrounding neighbourhood, particularly the nearby Former Magistrates’ Court site. The Civic Tower at the edge of the site will be retained and redeveloped as a hotel in a later phase.

Where have the Magistrates’ Courts gone?

Architects: Leach Rhodes Walker 1977.

Demolished in 2019 to make way for further redevelopment.

The proposals for the Former Magistrates Court site include two hundred and nineteen new homes with the tallest block ten-storeys and a green route connecting Manchester Chambers with King Street. The designs have been developed to ensure a unified neighbourhood with a common design language and seamless movement between other sites. 

Team Civic

Oldham Council and Muse intend to work in partnership over the next 15 years to develop the sextet of council-owned brownfield sites across the town centre.

Place North West

Next door the Police Station – architects: Leach Rhodes Walker.

Next to the Mecca Bingo formerly Shopping Giant.

We conclude at the Telephone Exchange.

Viewed across the site where Bailey’s used to be – aka Romeo & Juliet’s, Butterflies, Astoria ballroom and Bowling Alley, Froggies and Riley’s.

The site originally started out as the Grand Theatre, a performance space designed by London architects Thomas Taylor and Ernest Simister who also designed Chadderton Town Hall.

In 1937, Gaumont Super Cinemas took over the building, gutted the auditorium and transformed it into stalls and one circle seating totalling 1,842 to open their 1930s cinema.

BBC

In 1991, the Chronicle reported on a mysterious haunting which was thought to have taken place in Butterfly’s nightclub in Oldham.

Before Butterfly’s had been a nightclub the building had been used for many purposes, and in 1939 was known as the ‘Grand Theatre.’ The building was undergoing renovations when Mr Lloyd was killed. ‘Witnesses said that Mr Lloyd was crushed underneath the beam which he was trying to guide down with a rope.’

However, Derek Lloyd’s theory of the origin of the ghost was not accepted by everyone at the time. Due to the fact the ghost appeared to be wearing a white T-shirt, people believed it was unlikely to be the spirit of a 1930s man. In response, Derek argued that ‘my father always had his sleeves rolled up at work because he suffered from a skin complaint.’ 

Gallery Oldham

In 2011 the building was converted into a roller derby centre known as the Thunderdome, once home to the Rainy City Roller Derby who moved out in 2020.

It was announced in April 2023 that the building was proposed for demolition and the end came in May 2025.

Image: Mark Hughes

Bradford Walk 2026

Posted on by modernmoocher

Here we are again – updating the 2020 post and subsequent 2024 visit.

Saturday 25th July arriving in bright sunshine at the Bradford Interchange – architects WC Brown City Architect and RL Moorcroft BR 1971.

Which has been transformed for the City of Culture 2025 by Bigg Design, with their multicoloured panels.

In addition there has been a transportation of the approach by Fereday Pollard, with the addition of seating in the newly landscaped plaza area.

Moving into the city centre there have been changes in the area between the Bradford Hotel and the Town Hall, it’s now a freshly landscaped space especially for pedestrians.

The NCP multi storey car park on Hall Ings has been demolished.

The demolition work is part of the Government-funded Transforming Cities Fund for Bradford.

Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is bringing forward a flagship programme of forward-thinking transport schemes, alongside major public space enhancements, that will help us shape and drive forward Bradford’s future regeneration in the city centre and beyond.

Providing an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal. The programme, which is being delivered by the Combined Authority in partnership with local authorities, will be funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport plus local match funding up to £140 million.

Photo Telegraph and Argus.

The area was once traversed by this elegant raised walkway.

The Bradford Hotel remains resolutely unmoved, recently it has been used as an Asylum Hotel, unsure that this is still so.

Located in the heart of central Bradford, The Bradford Hotel provides an elegant refuge in the midst of the bustling city.

Originally opened as the Norfolk Gardens Hotel, the hotel was completed in 1972 and opened in June of that year.

Architects – William Walker Partnership.

Adjacent is the Magistrates’ Court 1972.

City Architect WC Brown.

With a view through to One City Park 2024 Sheppard Robson.

One City Park in Bradford, England, draws attention with its striking architecture. The building’s curved design and forward-thinking concept create significant interest. For Sheppard Robson Architects, sustainability and the needs of people were paramount in the design. The facade of the complex features 1,700 glassfibre reinforced concrete elements from Rieder, making a distinctive design statement. The sandstone-coloured concrete components serve as both an architectural feature and a key element in creating a sustainable, visionary work environment.

Architonic

One City Park has been built on the site of the old Police Station opened in 1974 and demolished in 2010.

The area was once the centre of Will Alsop’s 2003 masterplan.

Which three years later are somewhat diluted:

The latest images of the scheme for the Bowl are generally disappointing and at the risk of a bad pun, the lake is now a watered-down version of Alsop’s vision.

Philip Veitch – of local practice Waller and Partners.

The Norfolk Gardens landscaping has opened up a fresh toward the Central Library 1965.

Architect – City Architect WC Brown with project architects G Sunderland and KLS Glen.

Next to the two Telephone Exchanges.

The Exchange of 1939 designed by FA Key.

The Exchange of 1976 by Trevor H Anson PSA Architect.

Turn right around to take a look at the rear of the Ice Arena.

In January 1966 Mecca Leisure Limited opened the ice rink in Bradford under the name of the Silver Blades Ice Rink, it was reputed to be “The finest rink in the world”, with coloured lighting in the barriers, sparkling chandeliers over the ice, and a plush bar and restaurant.

The resplendently dressed skaters were entertained with organ music. The opening gala at the rink had performances by British skaters who had just returned from the World Championships, they included Sally Anne Stapleford, John Curry and ice dancers Bernard Ford and Diane Towler.

History

The take a turn around the bend to the front.

Let’s go up the hill to the University of Bradford.

The institution uses this image illustrating the transition of the BDP Richmond Building of 1964, to its contemporaneously clad iteration.

Out front is the tiled mural by Joe Mayo.

Some original seating has resisted transitioning.

The undercroft has not been so fortunate in resisting the chill wind of change.

We emerge into the clear light of day and the BDP designed Chesham and Horton blocks along with the former Nuclear Research Bunker.

Next back down into town to the shops that were shops.

Let’s hop to the Grade II-listed Co-op Sunwin House designed by CWS in house architect WA Johnson and JW Cropper in 1935. 

Architect W A Johnson worked for the Cooperative Wholesale Society from 1899 until 1950. He was heavily influenced by the German architect Erich Mendelsohn after 1930, evident in his embrace of the International Modernist style. Johnson travelled widely in Germany and Holland, and Mendelsohn’s Schocken store in Stuttgart 1928 is quoted as being a particular inspiration for the Bradford Co-op.

Sunwin House had been – one of the most modern and stylish looking shops in Britain, when it was built in 1936, according to The 20th Century Society.

But the charity warned that the building, whose architectural style was inspired by Germany’s Bauhaus art movement, had stood empty for nearly 15 years and was in danger of creeping neglect.

Sunwin House, which was most recently used as a TJ Hughes department store after the firm went into administration in 2011, is one of 10 buildings featured on The 20th Century Society’s risk list for 2025.

BBC

The Freehold of Sunwin House, 65 Sunbridge Road, Bradford has been sold to a Bradford based investment company who have plans to refurbish the whole building principally based off a Retail/ Emporium use.

The building was purchased by Legal and General from the Co-operative Wholesale Society in 2005 subject to a lease to T J Hughes, who ceased trading in 2012. Following Administration, and the release and separation from the former Godwin Street Annexe, the original 95,000 sq ft Grade II Listed Store became an independent asset in 2017.

Holbeck Land

A stride away is the now closed Kirkgate Centre and Market – John Brunton and Partners 1975.

Demolition work will begin later this year to make way for the recently approved City Village development, comprising up to one thousand new homes, with the aim of creating a stronger, more welcoming, and sustainable future for Bradford.

Some residents have welcomed the changes, with the Kirkgate Centre previously described as a blight on the landscape. But others, like Barbara, lament the loss of the places they knew and loved.

Every time you go anywhere something has gone missing. Some of the changes are alright, some of them I think they could do without.

BBC

In 1979, the building won a European award from the International Council of Shopping Centres.

But the Historic England report described its design as mundane and repetitive.

The William Mitchell concrete reliefs housed in the market are to be conserved along with the Fritz Steller tiles.

Higher up the hill John Brunton’s Highpoint has survived the call for demolition.

The derelict former headquarters of Yorkshire Building Society, on one of the highest parts of the city centre, looms over the city centre, and to many people is the city’s ugliest building.

It is now home to an innovative residential apartment complex with a community at its heart, which embraces ideas of sustainability, preservation, and rejuvenation that will bring a new lease of life to this abandoned landmark.

Redeveloped by Radii Living.

A tower block in Bradford likened to a structure from sci-fi movie Blade Runner has been named as the best brutalist building in the country.

Built in the 1970s, High Point, the former headquarters of the Huddersfield and Bradford Building Society, was recently converted into eighty seven flats as part of a £12m regeneration scheme.

National newspaper The Telegraph named the building top of its brutalist list – ahead of the Barbican, in London, Bristol’s Clifton Cathedral and Preston bus station.

Si Cunningham, who chairs Bradford Civic Society, said it remained one of the city’s

Most divisive buildings.

Symbolic of Bradford’s confidence and prosperity.

BBC

Highpoint’s neighbour the Oastler Centre is closed and awaiting demolition.

The Oastler Shopping Centre, formerly known as the John Street Market contained 176 stalls comprising a retail area, with an additional twenty three external shops and twenty seven storerooms. The cafes and stalls within the centre were various food, clothing and craft shops with some of the cafes and stalls having been in business since the 1960s.

The original outdoor open-air market was renovated to an indoor market in the early 1970s to make economic improvements to the upper side of the city centre and was named for the abolitionist Richard Oastler.

As part of the Bradford’s regeneration projects in line with the successful UK City of Culture 2025 bid, the Oastler Centre was scheduled to be demolished in late 2023 to make way for the new Darley Street Market.

Wikipedia

The Oastler Marker had its final day of trading on 28 June 2025.

The centre along with the nearby Kirkgate Market will be demolished and replaced with green space, housing and new commercial spaces in line with the new Darley Street Market and planned City Village, an area of green space nearby the site.

Happily the signage from the Oastler’s Fountains Coffee House has been preserved by the Bradford Industrial Museum.

Bury Walk

Posted on by modernmoocher

Arriving at and looking around the Interchange – 1980 architects: Essex Goodman & Suggitt

It is the northern terminus of the Manchester Metrolink’s Bury Line, which prior to 1992 was a heavy-rail line.

A new short spur line was constructed to connect the new station. The railway had originally run into Bury Bolton Street which was further away from the town centre, and was closed by British Rail on the same day that Bury Interchange opened.

It also incorporates a bus station.

Bury Interchange replaced the bus termini scattered around Bury town centre, notably around Kay Gardens.

Wikipedia

Image courtesy of Roy Banks

An £80m transformation is coming to the Bury Interchange, which will see step-free access at the Metrolink, a “vertical circulation core” to better connect the Metrolink with the bus facility, and an integrated travel hub with spaces for cycle storage.

The work is much-needed, explained Transport for Greater Manchester’s Alan Lowe, he said that the interchange was built in the 1980s and very much is of its time.

Onward to the Art Picture House which is Grade II Listed – currently operating as a Wetherspoons.

The Art Picture Palace was a 1923 rebuild of the earlier Art Picture Hall both designed by architect Albert Winstanley. The Art Picture Palace was opened on 26th January 1923. A remarkably complete survivor of a 1920’s cine-variety house executed in an elaborate style.

Films ceased in February 1965 and it became a bingo club. Later converted into a billiard hall until 19th May 1991 when it became a bingo club again, it later became a Chicago Rock Cafe.

Cinema Treasures

Next door a typical steel glass and brick banded office block Maple House.

Around the corner and over the road to the Town Hall 1939-40 architects: Reginald Edmonds of Jackson & Edmonds then 1947-54.

Large and Dull – Niklaus Pevsner.

Back through the Interchange to the former Cooperative Store of the 1930’s.

The Portland Stone towers still visible – the elevation largely retro-clad in glass.

Passing through the Millgate Shopping Centre of the 1980’s.

Unambitious but successful, the floors cheerfully tiled – Niklaus Pevsner.

Down in the subway at midday.

The better to get a view of the Market Hall 1971 – architects: Harry S Fairhurst.

The Indoor Market Hall is currently closed due to the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete – within the building structure. RAAC is a lightweight type of building material that was used between the 1950s and 1990s.

Back under the road – where we find a delightful Telephone Exchange.

With an adjacent Multi Story Car Park.

Around the bend to The Rock.

The Rock is a vibrant retail and leisure centre which is home to a range of high street fashion brands, independent retailers, tantalising eateries and fantastic entertainment – it’s the perfect place to visit any day of the week. 

It is the work of architects BDP – completed in 2010 at a cost of £350 million.

Our masterplan for The Rock took into account the historical street pattern and public realm context to give the scheme its own identity, and make visual connections to local landmarks.

The retail and leisure scheme brings many exciting brands to Bury for the first time.

New pedestrian streets rejuvenate and improve connections to adjacent areas stitching the town back together.

The development will also contain 408 one and two-bedroom apartments.

Back to basics at a former Burton’s hiding its faience facade.

Typical inter-war infill on our crazy mixed up mongrel high streets.

Ribblesdale House

Application by Shop and Store Developments Ltd submitted August 1965. Architect on application was Samuel Jackson and Son of Ocean Chambers in Bradford but during the application process this changed to John Brunton & Partners – Brunton was a partner in Jackson’s firm, at the same address. It had a restaurant and shops on the first floor.

Off now to the Bury Bolton Street Station – currently home to the East Lancashire Railway.

The street level buildings were destroyed by fire on 14 May 1947 and were replaced with a new brick and concrete entrance and footbridge in 1952. 

British Rail closed the station on 17 March 1980, when it was replaced by a new bus/rail interchange station further east into the town centre. Bury Interchange railway station served up until 1991 before the entire Bury Line was converted to light rail operation. It reopened in 1992 for Metrolink operation.

Bury was once the centre of multiple train links and the lost station of Knowsley Street.

Over the road the former Temperance Billiard Hall 1910 architect Norman Evans.

Down the side and up the steps to the Unitarian Church.

The new church was designed and constructed by local architects James T Ratcliffe.

The church was opened in 1974, with a service of dedication on Saturday, 9th March. The total cost, including furnishings, was £85,000.

The People Praising by Elizabeth Mulchinock is a 12 foot high original sculpture at the front of the church which represents the family of the church.

Her work can also be seen at Sainsbury’s in West Ealing and Reading.

Next door is the former Trustee Saving Bank.

Planning application January 1965 – work started in June 1965. The architectural firm was Richard Byrom, Hill and partners. Richard Byrom was submitting building applications in the 1930s in Bury and locally.

The rendering on the building is original but the windows have been changed. The Job Centre took over the building in 1993. It is in a conservation area and the Civic Trust had some concerns!

Many thanks to David French for the above information.