Now it is one of those sad observations, that we do not really care that much about buildings with a past, which have fallen on hard times.
So, while it is true there are charities, government agencies, and individuals committed to saving everything from a crofter’s hut, to castles, stately homes, and the odd shippon, there will never be enough money or groups to save everything.
All of which means that many places despite being unique and full of history will be bulldozed away and replaced by an unremarkable block of flats.
But during the last three decades there has been a move to retain buildings and convert them in to modern residential properties.
Not all these warehouse conversions or transformed old homes have been done well, but when they are, they achieve something special, providing homes, while at the same time saving a piece of our history.
And so, it is with the two on the corner of High Lane and Stockton Road which were built in 1877 and were called Denbigh Villas, and pretty much reflect the story of where we live.
They were once grand homes for the comfortably well off, one of whom wrote a fascinating account of Manchester in the 1830s.*
Later the two properties became a school for the children of the “middling people”, who worked in the professions or owned businesses, and could afford to pay for their children to attend private schools.
By the mid-20th century they had been turned in to a series of flats, which were not particularly well designed, and by the end of that century the two properties were tired and in need of much tender care and attention.
They could so easily have been demolished, but instead have been brought back, by Armistead Propertry, who have spent the last year gutting the two buildings, and making them structurally safe before starting work on creating twelve, two bedroomed apartments.**
And because of their history I have not only become attached to Denbigh Villas, but regularly visit them, to record the progress and written about them on the blog.***
Yesterday was one of those visits, and I spent an hour and half wandering through the two buildings, and the highlight was roof garden which will be a communal area for all the residents offering superb views across Chorlton.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; inside Denbigh Villas ...... a work in progress, 2019, from the collection of Peter Topping
* Reminiscences of Manchester, J T Slugg, 1881
**Armistead Property, http://www.armisteadproperty.co.uk/
***Denbigh Villas, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Denbigh%20Villas
 |
| The back of Denbigh Villas |
All of which means that many places despite being unique and full of history will be bulldozed away and replaced by an unremarkable block of flats.
But during the last three decades there has been a move to retain buildings and convert them in to modern residential properties.
 |
| Inside |
And so, it is with the two on the corner of High Lane and Stockton Road which were built in 1877 and were called Denbigh Villas, and pretty much reflect the story of where we live.
They were once grand homes for the comfortably well off, one of whom wrote a fascinating account of Manchester in the 1830s.*
 |
| The communal garden under construction |
By the mid-20th century they had been turned in to a series of flats, which were not particularly well designed, and by the end of that century the two properties were tired and in need of much tender care and attention.
They could so easily have been demolished, but instead have been brought back, by Armistead Propertry, who have spent the last year gutting the two buildings, and making them structurally safe before starting work on creating twelve, two bedroomed apartments.**
 |
| Looking across Chorlton |
Yesterday was one of those visits, and I spent an hour and half wandering through the two buildings, and the highlight was roof garden which will be a communal area for all the residents offering superb views across Chorlton.
Location; Chorlton
 |
| Looking towards the city |
* Reminiscences of Manchester, J T Slugg, 1881
**Armistead Property, http://www.armisteadproperty.co.uk/
***Denbigh Villas, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Denbigh%20Villas
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