Ancoats Hospital...

Ancoats hospital closed in 1996, its casualty department had already been shutdown in 1987 amid local resident's protests who staged a waiting room sit-in. Immortalised in a 1952 painting by L.S. Lowry, the hospital stood on Mill Street (Old Mill Street) since 1869 and originally looked after the city's poor and industrial workers. Following its closure, the once proud servant of the people of Ancoats suffered neglect and decay. Subsequently, the only remaining part of Ancoats Hospital is the original dispensary. A plan to refurbish the Grade II listed building by developers Urban Splash has been shelved culminating in an apparent successful application to Manchester City Council for demolition to be granted. Sadly, there is little more than the buildings's facade left as the roof and iconic tower have long since been removed. Upon the realisation that this valuable piece of Manchester history was about to be lost forever, the local community once again joined forces to fight for building's preservation with protests and petitions. I have little idea how successful this campaign has been other than to acknowledge some kind of 'stay of execution' as the bulldozers have not moved in - at least for now.