Finally the renaissance of a beautiful Salford mansion dawns - after two decades of neglect
20.03.2022 - 22:01
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
For more than two decades it has been at the mercy of the elements, vandals, failed plans to turn it into a hotel, and municipal inertia. Now, finally, the possible renaissance of a Georgian mansion has begun.
The Grade II listed building in Buile Hill Park, Salford, has been closed ever since the Lancashire Mining Museum, which was housed there, was dismantled and moved. It is estimated £5.5m is required to restore it fully.
Now Salford council, the owners, have said an extra £270,000 has been found towards design work. It comes after proposals to transform the mansion into a new community and wedding venue were unveiled late last year.
The property will become a new base for Salford’s Registry Office, with the existing one moving from the Civic Centre in Swinton into the first and second floors of the building to provide a ‘unique venue’ for weddings, civil partnerships, and celebrations. A downstairs cafe, function room and community and heritage exhibition spaces will also be created.
There had been plans to turn the building into a drama school but they failed in the first act - due to the pandemic. Hush-hush negotiations had been taking place between Salford council and Salford City College about the proposal.
The idea was for the mansion to be restored to its original grandeur and become part of the college campus as a centre for drama. It would also have had uses for community groups.
But the scheme was shelved due to the financial uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for money having to be diverted elsewhere because of it. The council has already pledged £1.2m towards the cost of restoring the mansion and the college intended to contribute another £1m.
It was one of may rescue plans