Baguley Hall, a striking medieval manor house and rich part of Manchester’s cultural heritage, is now up for sale and is said to be one of the region’s oldest buildings.
Historic Baguley Hall was built all the way back in the 1300s and nearly 900 years later, this majestic Manc structure is still standing and has now been put on the market in an effort to preserve its future for generations to come.
Featuring a great hall built from ‘unusual’ timber, tall mullioned windows that hark back to the centuries gone by and a renewed stone slate roof, it’s quite the landmark.
Once a manor house, then thought to have been turned into a farmhouse and now simply sat unused, you can practically see the history.
It’s after the family of the same name. (Credit: Colliers)
Put up for sale by property firm Colliers, they are now inviting offers for people to buy the freehold or start a lease on the 14th-century gem located not too far from Manchester Airport.
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With Historic England – the public body that helps maintain and celebrate some of the nation’s most beloved buildings and cultural sites – having recently completed a number of repairs, the hope is that Grade I-listed buildings won’t just be kept intact but given a whole new lease of life.
Situated on a two-acre plot in a popular residential area, it’s considered one of the finest halls in the North West, and plans to further revitalise the space with new functions have already been floated.
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There’s even talk of transforming the space into a food-based pub (with or without bedrooms), a boutique hotel, an events centre and various other possibilities open to interested parties.
It has a medieval north wing, remodelled in the 17th century, a 16th-century porch and an early 17th-century south wing.
Will Tait, Associate Director in Colliers’ Licensed and Leisure team, who is handling the sale commented: “Baguley Hall is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a truly special historic building. We think it is well-suited, because of its layout and location, for various uses, including hospitality.
“Historic England is seeking to transfer the freehold or a long leasehold to a company that will restore and operate the building in a sympathetic way, in keeping with its grade I listing, and will enable the public to access it on at least an occasional basis.”
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Catherine Dewar, North West Regional Director at Historic England, added: “Baguley Hall is a South Manchester historic gem. Standing for nearly 900 years, it boasts the most incredible great hall with tall, mullioned windows and an unusual timber frame.
“We’re looking forward to working with Colliers to find prospective buyers or long-term tenants to find an exciting new use for this stunning site.” Here’s hoping someone will step in and carry on its legacy.
When it comes to those incredible facilities, we’re talking a gym, a yoga studio, three outdoor terraces with views across the city, study spaces, a private dining room, a gaming lounge, and free laundry. Not to mention a coffee lounge with free tea, coffee, and breakfast cereals.
They truly have thought of everything to allow students to thrive and make the most of the Manchester life, including running social events, co-working spaces, and mental health support.
This is Fusion Manchester’s brand new state-of-the-art student accommodation in Deansgate / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (Supplied)
And as for the location? Well that’s just the cherry on top.
Fusion Manchester is nestled in the heart of Deansgate, making it less than a five-minute walk to Deansgate Train Station or tram stop, as well as being in prime proximity to the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University which are both around 20 minutes away on foot – ideal when you’re running late for a class.
It also could not be in a better spot for making plans on the weekends with new friends, as it’s just a stones-throw away from some of the best cafes, restaurants, concert and retail spaces that Manchester has to offer.
The rooms boast incredible panoramic views / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (Supplied)
All residents’ rent covers their utilities, superfast Wi-Fi, free laundry, regular housekeeping and access to shared facilities, as well as the building having a 24/7 reception, secure fob entry, and CCTV throughout, to keep students feeling nice and safe.
Rooms range from en-suite accommodations at £265 per week, to classic, premium, or deluxe studios from £345 per week – but hurry, as they’re booking up fast and it’s not hard to see why.
If you’d like to book a viewing or learn more about Fusion Manchester, click here.
Featured Image – Darren Robinson Photography (Supplied)
Property
Manc architects submit plans to demolish 1970s office block and make way for new residential area
Danny Jones
A Manchester-based architects has submitted promising proposals to demolish an old 1970s-era office block and make way for a brand new residential community in Stockport.
The vision seems fairly ambitious and lofty – pun intended – but the potential outcome could be stunning.
Ollier Smurthwaite (OS) Architects are the local practice behind the new housing plans, which will not only provide nearly 300 new homes but also bring part of the Stopfordian skyline down; it’s not often you hear of things getting lower when so much of Greater Manchester just keeps building up.
Sharing the first proper glimpse at what they hope the redeveloped corner of the busy A6 main road will look like, many have been pleased to see familiar red brick and a traditional feel as opposed to more glass towers.
Writing a lengthy caption alongside the social media post, the OS state, “We are preparing a planning application for the St Christopher’s site in Stockport.
“Located at the prominent junction of Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane, the proposal aims to transform the prominent corner by demolishing the existing 10-storey 1970s office block to make way for a new residential community.
“The proposals are for a modern ‘mansion’ block with taller ceilings, more windows, better communal areas and private gardens.”
It remains to be seen at what price point these apartments will be available for.
Promising a total of 278 ‘new dwellings’, the scheme will crucially see the height of the existing plot lowered to fall in line with other neighbouring properties, as St Christopher’s House currently sits well above the nearby terraces and its metropolitan style does stand out against the surrounding brickwork.
The early reception to the proposed plans looks to be largely positive, too, with one user commenting online, “A very nice looking building with character. More of these please”; another went so far as to add, “These are the sort of modern buildings that will become grade listed.”
It’s also worth showcasing what exactly these blueprints look like when they’re brought to life, such as another development over in Longsight:
Render vs Reality. We recently completed our Daisy Bank scheme in Longsight Manchester for 72 new homes. The scheme takes contextual references from Dalton Ellis Hall & Victoria Park Christian Fellowship in the adjacent conservation area.@createstreets@archi_tradition… pic.twitter.com/DasRUtaylh
Safe to say that seeing what businesses trying to regenerate boroughs actually deliver compared to their initial mock-ups is always useful.
The award-winning firm goes on to add that “the building will be deliberately stepped back from the pavement to create a planted tree-lined avenue”, which will also revolve around a central courtyard and residents’ gardens, with ground-floor flats benefitting from private patios.
CGIs of shared communal roof terraces also give the designs that added modern look, with few other places in the vicinity offering this kind of space. It could be a welcome addition to the region that is already going through plenty of change at the minute.
Another big construction scheme is the one being carried out by Capital and Centric over the new Weir Mill district, which could be transformational for the town centre.
Danny Jones -
26th May 2024 
