Here is a blast from the past in the form of a ghost sign which has come to light more by accident than design.
 |
| The hint of a ghost sign, 2021 |
Andy sent over these two pictures, adding “The Bauer Millett showroom on Deansgate reveals itself, well, a bit anyway! Thanks to Cathy for noticing this”.
Now you will have to be a certain age to remember the Bauer Millet car show rooms on Deansgate.
They were situated between the Deansgate pub and the railway bridge which carries the trams over the main road.
And despite regularly passing the show rooms I never had occasion to photograph them, while they were still Bauer Millet and later when they became variously a place to buy posh Humbies and later still kitchen furniture.
 |
| The showrooms, 2021 |
Just when they moved from Deansgate to around the corner to Watson Street I can’t remember, but I know they closed in 2014.*
The former showrooms remained closed for two years before becoming the home of the 53Two theatre which according to the Manchester Evening News was to be the city’s latest theatre.**
And now the news from Manchester Chamber of Commerce is that “53two are now a month away from phase one of its two phase build, opening their theatre-bar/café and Arts-Hub at the end of May”***
Leaving me just to post one more link from Manchester which offers up lots more on what the theatre is all about.
 |
| The showrooms between two railway bridges, 1970 |
All of which may seem a long way from a ghost sign, but I think it I rolls out.
Location, Deansgate & Watson Street
Pictures; the former Bauer Millett showroom, 2021, from the collection of Andy Robertson, and in 1970, T.A. Fletcher, m66752, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
*Bauer Millet force to close, Auto Retail Network, December 28, 2014, https://www.auto-retail.co.uk/public/bauer-millett-forced-close/
**Manchester's newest theatre 53Two breathes new life into a converted car showroom, Sarah Walters, October 11, 2016, Manchester Evening News, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/53two-manchester-theatre-bauer-millett-12009322
*** 53TWO ARE NOW A MONTH AWAY FROM OPENING THEIR THEATRE BAR/CAFÉ AND ARTS HUB, GREATER MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MAY 5TH, 2021, HTTPS://WWW.GMCHAMBER.CO.UK/NEWS-OPINIONS/53TWO-ARE-NOW-A-MONTH-AWAY-FROM-OPENING-THEIR-THEATRE-BARCAF%C3%A9-AND-ARTS-HUB/
****53two –inside the intriguing arts, culture and music venue under the arches, Emily Oldfield, Manchester, https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/haunt-manchester/places-product-list/53two
No comments:
Post a Comment