Tiling detail

Another morning commenced in Manchester.

My usual venue is Churchgate House. It houses the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the office of the GM Mayor Andy Burnham (amongst other organisations),

Climbing the stairs I would bet that most people do not give these tiles a second glance. They do however provide a clue to the building’s original use. It was built as offices and warehouse for one of the largest textile manufacturers in the country, Tootal Broadhurst and Lee. The lion must have been the firm’s symbol - there is a golden lion on the building’s very impressive exterior, although it is high up and most people probably don’t look up to notice.

The exterior is largely as it was when built at the end of the 19th century (Lee House at the back is early 1930’s, the stump of what was planned - but never completed - as the tallest building in Europe at the time). Most of the original interior has gone, it is all open plan and very up to date.

These tiles are the exception. I like a bit of retained history, it makes a building much more interesting. Tootal Broadhurst and Lee built with confidence and with an eye to quality, no doubt expecting their tenure here to be long and fruitful. A lesson for us today.