WCS were appointed in October 2019 to provide a Heritage Appraisal of No. 76 Quay Street in Manchester City Centre. Although unlisted and not located within a conservation area, the building is unusual within the City Centre as a purpose-built mid-19th century carving and gilding workshop and is now the only remaining pre-20th century structure on this part of Quay Street.
Our research established the survival in Manchester City Archives of drawings showing the original proposals for the building from architect Robert Holding in 1869. We were then able to demonstrate how the structure had subsequently evolved and to provide a concise report highlighting those historical features, materials and structural elements which had survived the various later changes. We worked closely with the client and project architect to help them progress the scheme and make best use of the surviving features of the building.
Following our Heritage Appraisal of No. 76 Quay Street we were re-appointed to carry out a detailed condition survey and make recommendations for the conservation of the roof of the building, the most complex area of the structure and one which presented a range of technical conservation challenges. We identified the presence of an internal rainwater drain and a lack of sufficient drainage capacity as a key weakness and proposed a new drainage arrangement to reduce the risk of water ingress. We also highlighted where traditional materials such as lime plaster soffits and natural slating had survived and advised on their sensitive replacement within the project.
