Restoring buildings of architectural and historical interest

Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust saves buildings at risk

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Heritage Champions

The Trust was registered as Charity and Limited Company in 2004. Its aims are to restore buildings of architectural and historical interest (particularly those ‘at Risk’) in the ten Boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Chairman: John Graham

Trustees: Leslie Coop, Christine Grime, Warren Marshall, Kate Martyn, Rebecca Mills, Moira Stevenson, Mark Watson

Get in Touch

‘The Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust values its close links with the Edgar Wood Society whose members give guided tours for visitors, give talks, and lead walks around the Edgar Wood buildings in the Middleton Conservation Area. They also help with gardening and routine maintenance. Learn more about the Edgar Wood Society by clicking here

Current project: Restoration works complete

Long Street Methodist Church School, Middleton

Long Street Methodist Church and Schools are a stunning Arts & Crafts masterpiece and part of Middleton’s Golden Cluster of architecture; a blend of rustic arts and crafts and elegant art nouveau design.

At the centre of the design is an ‘outside room’ garden with the brick church on one side and the rendered schools on the other. Linking the two are a lecture room and a gateway entrance. The styling is unique and styles abstract or expressionist are terms which come to mind. Their designer, Edgar Wood, created some of the most exciting architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. He pioneered art nouveau in the late 1880s, Arts & Crafts in the 1890s and art deco in the early 1900s.

IWe are delighted that the School has now reopened and must thank amongst others the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Viridor. as well the wider Townscape Heritage Initiative in Middleton of which this forms the biggest and most iconic building.

NEXT STEPS:

1) To provide kitchen facilities and furnishings in the former school rooms, now called ‘The Edgar Wood Rooms’

2) To undertake the repair and restoration of the church which remains on the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register.