Celebrating our Precinct …… with a bit of history ....and eleven original Peter Topping paintings

I just missed the opening of the precinct in Chorlton which dates to sometime around 1971. *

Looking in at the Precinct, 1979

And so, I missed that bit of Manchester Road which is now the car park, and the bold optimism of new retail experiences, which included our first purpose-built supermarket.

Over the last 47 years I have been a frequent and loyal visitor and like many remember a time when it was a bustling place with a range of diverse shops offering fresh food, wallpaper, and newspapers, along with holidays, kid’s clothes, and dry cleaning.

Recently an air of uncertainty has hung over the place with several plans over the last decade or so to “regenerate” the centre, which have come and gone like snow in the winter sun.

But this time there appears to be a very real chance that something is going to happen, which in turn has provoked a flurry of alternative “visions” ** media comment*** and now a consultation process. 

The first part of that exercise will close on August 21st, followed by further consultation in October on the master plan, culminating with a planning application in late 2023. ****

All of which prompted Peter Topping to begin a new project, as part of his mission to paint all of the iconic buildings in Chorlton. He has decided to document the remaining eleven businesses and being an artist to paint each one in the style of Van Gogh.

A.J. Adams, 2023

The result is a series of bright and vibrant paintings which give the sense that the place still offers up an exciting and varied shopping experience.

And because I can, the first two I have decided to show case are the green grocery shop of Tony Adams, and Frosty’s the butcher.

Tony has a special place in our family story, as he has been supplying our Christmas trees for nearly 40 years.  

At first, we would walk the boys down to choose a tree, and then it became two, one big and one small.  

The big one had to be so tall that you had to chop a bit off.  

But as I was rubbish at selecting them, we deferred to Tony who has chosen and delivered the trees at a very reasonable price for over a decade.

W.H. Frost, 2023

And more recently Tina’s mum over from Italy has discovered Tony and is in the shop two or three times a week choosing the veg and fruit, and then crossing to Frost’s the Butcher’s.

As a veggie my trips to Frosty’s have been less frequent, but Rosa’s a great fan of their meat, and even I confess when buying for Tina the staff are always happy to give advice.

At which point I could go into the history of each business, but that would be too easy, so much better to make a visit and ask for yourself.

I have concerns about the existing tenants, and indeed the rental cost of the future shops, and these I have addressed in my comments to the consultation process.

Leaving me just to say that over the next few days the remaining eight paintings will appear on the blog, and because there is a nice symmetry I have added a third painting which is the Wilbraham Road entrance to the Precinct which contrasts with the image from 1979 

Location; Chorlton Precinct

Pictures; the precinct in 1979, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Paintings;  

The Precinct Entrance © 2023 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures

W H Frost © 2023 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures

A J Adams © 2023 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures

*Looking for the story of Graeme House and that Chorlton Shopping Precinct, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/02/looking-for-story-of-graeme-house-and.html

**GMPF picks developer for Chorlton Shopping Centre, Dan Whelan, March 27th, 2023, https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gmpf-picks-developer-for-chorlton-shopping-centre/

Consultations over the Precinct Begin, cmkagan, July 27th 2023, Chorlton Voice, https://chorltonvoice.org/

***The Vision has gone public, Sian, Chorlton ClT, June 15, 2022, https://chorltonclt.org/index.php/2022/06/15/the-vision-has-gone-public/

Precint Comments, https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/503838/response/1239420/attach/3/STR%20B37DGW%20Precinct%20comments%20redacted.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

First phase of consultation on Chorlton Shopping Centre site begins, Chorlton Precinct and Graeme House, Neil Hodgson, July 27 2023, https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2118311-first-phase-of-consultation-on-chorlton-shopping-centre-site-begins

****ONE CHORLTON, JOIN THE CONVERSATION, https://onechorlton.co.uk/