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53°28′39″N 2°14′26″W / 53.4775°N 2.2406°W / 53.4775; -2.2406

Portland Street is a street in Manchester, England, which runs from Piccadilly at its junction with Newton Street south-westwards to Oxford Street at its junction with Chepstow Street. The major buildings of Portland Street include the largest former warehouse in the city centre, Watts Warehouse (grade II* listed), the former Bank of England Building and other former warehouses on the corners of Princess Street.

Location

Portland Street was a name given to a new street on the site of a lane called Garrett Lane after a 14th-century hall, Garrett Hall; like some others, it was borrowed from the street of the same name in London by wealthy Manchester men in the early 19th century.^[1] It became Victorian Manchester's showpiece: until the 1850s, it ended at David Street (afterwards renamed Princess Street). From the 1840s, this part of the town began to be taken over by warehouses and during the 1850s and 1860s they predominated in Portland Street.

The 1911 Victoria County History refers to "a very fine vista of unbroken line" of warehouse buildings "chiefly constructed in brick and terra cotta".^[2] Its parade of impressive buildings was reduced by bombing during the Manchester Blitz of the Second World War and some later development ignored the old building line.^[3]

Buildings

One building is grade II* listed (Watts Warehouse) and many are grade II listed, including the former Pickles Building at no. 101, the Portland Thistle Hotel at 3, 5 and 9, Nos. 74–80 (including the Grey Horse public house) and many old Victorian textile warehouses.^[4]

Watts Warehouse (1851), now Britannia House, at Nos. 35–47 between Minshull Street and Chorlton Street. The architects were Travis & Mangnall and each floor is built in a different architectural style, none of which are Gothic or Classical but "a licentious bit of confectionery in stone, iron, timber and glass".^[5] At the top are four roof pavilions with wheel windows. It was converted to a variety of new uses in the mid-1970s.^[6]
St Andrew's House (1962), between Chorlton Street and Sackville Street, architects Leach, Rhodes & Walker, and Telephone House (1961), between Sackville Street and Abingdon Street, are tall slabs set back from the original building line.^[7] St Andrew's House was built by a technique which was new at the time: the core of the 21-storey building was cast continuously using a climbing shutter and the precast external panels fixed using a tower crane thus dispensing with scaffolding. Thus tenants were installed on the lowest floors before the upper seven storeys had been built.^[5]
Bank of England building (1971), between York Street and Charlotte Street, architects Fitzroy Robinson & Partners, consists of a solid podium topped by two contrasting blocks.^[8] Having been vacated by the bank it has been converted to other uses.
Pickles Building (1870) on the east side, at no. 101 on Princess Street corner, is a former warehouse; the architects were Clegg & Knowles.^[9]
Westminster House (1970s), was built as the County Hall (head office) for Greater Manchester County Council, an administrative body covering the region from 1974 to 1986.
The Circus Tavern claims to have the smallest bar in Europe. It is a Grade II listed building.^[10]

Transport

The northernmost section of Portland Street is close to the bus and Metrolink stations at Piccadilly Gardens and the Metrolink line towards Piccadilly railway station crosses Portland Street to get into Aytoun Street. There are bus stops for southbound services near Sackville Street and northbound services near Dickinson Street. Chorlton Street coach station is nearby south of Chorlton Street next to the gay village.

References

^ Bradshaw, L. D. (1985). Origins of Street Names in the City of Manchester. Radcliffe: Neil Richardson. ISBN 0-907511-87-2; p. 39
^ William Farrer & J. Brownbill (editors) (1911). "Townships: Manchester (part 1 of 2)". A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 10 February 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ Atkins, Philip (1976) Guide across Manchester. Manchester: Civic Trust for the North West ISBN 0-901347-29-9; pp. 26–27, 30–31
^ "A–Z of Listed Buildings in Manchester". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^ ^a ^b Sharp, Dennis, ed. (1969) Manchester. (City Buildings Series.) London: Studio Vista; pp. 20–21
^ Atkins; pp. 26–27
^ Atkins; pp. 26, 28
^ Atkins; p. 28
^ Stewart, Cecil (1956) The Stones of Manchester. London: Edward Arnold; pp. 101–03
^ Historic England. "Circus Tavern and Attached Railings (Grade II) (1247057)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 May 2018.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Street in Manchester, United Kingdom}}
-{{Notability|date=September 2011}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
-[[File:View along Portland Street, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 1450713.jpg|thumb|right|Looking towards the [[Beetham Tower, Manchester|Beetham Tower]] with Portland Street below: buildings on Portland Street (west side) are (right) a former warehouse on the Princess Street corner and to the left a modern redbrick hotel]]
+{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
-'''Portland Street''' is a street which runs from [[Piccadilly Gardens|Piccadilly]] at its junction with Newton Street southwards to [[Oxford Road, Manchester|Oxford Street]] at its junction with Chepstow Street. The major buildings of Portland Street include the largest former warehouse in the city centre, Watts Warehouse (grade II* listed), the former [[Bank of England]] Building and other former warehouses on the corners of [[Princess Street, Manchester|Princess Street]].
+{{coord|53.4775|-2.2406|display=title|region:GB|format=dms}}
+[[File:Portland Street, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 489269.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Aerial view of Portland Street at night]]
+[[File:Watts Warehouse Manchester.jpg|thumb|220px|right|[[Watts Warehouse|Britannia House]], one of Manchester's most imposing buildings]]
+[[File:Portland Tower, Portland St, Manchester.jpg|thumb|220px|right|[[Manchester One]] (formerly Portland Tower) is among the city's tallest buildings]]
+'''Portland Street''' is a street in [[Manchester]], England, which runs from [[Piccadilly Gardens|Piccadilly]] at its junction with Newton Street south-westwards to [[Oxford Road, Manchester|Oxford Street]] at its junction with Chepstow Street. The major buildings of Portland Street include the largest former [[Manchester cotton warehouses|warehouse]] in the city centre, [[Watts Warehouse]] (grade II* listed), the former [[Bank of England]] Building and other former warehouses on the corners of [[Princess Street, Manchester|Princess Street]].
+==Location==
-Portland Street was a name given to a new street on the site of a lane called Garrett Lane after a 14th century hall, Garrett Hall; like some others it was borrowed from the street of the same name in London by wealthy Manchester men in the early 19th century.<ref>Bradshaw, L. D. (1985). ''Origins of Street Names in the City of Manchester''. Radcliffe: Neil Richardson. ISBN 0-907511-87-2; p. 39</ref> It became Victorian Manchester's showpiece: until the 1850s it ended at David Street (afterwards renamed Princess Street). From the 1840s this part of the town began to be taken over by warehouses and during the 1850s and 1860s they predominated in Portland Street. Its parade of impressive buildings was reduced by bombing during the second World War and some later development ignored the old building line.<ref>Atkins, Philip (1976) ''Guide across Manchester''. Manchester: Civic Trust for the North West ISBN 0901347299; pp. 26-27, 30-31</ref>
+Portland Street was a name given to a new street on the site of a lane called Garrett Lane after a 14th-century hall, Garrett Hall; like some others, it was borrowed from the street of the same name in London by wealthy Manchester men in the early 19th century.<ref>Bradshaw, L. D. (1985). ''Origins of Street Names in the City of Manchester''. Radcliffe: Neil Richardson. {{ISBN|0-907511-87-2}}; p. 39</ref> It became Victorian Manchester's showpiece: until the 1850s, it ended at David Street (afterwards renamed Princess Street). From the 1840s, this part of the town began to be taken over by [[Manchester cotton warehouses|warehouses]] and during the 1850s and 1860s they predominated in Portland Street.
+The 1911 [[Victoria County History]] refers to "a very fine vista of unbroken line" of warehouse buildings "chiefly constructed in brick and terra cotta".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41409 |title=Townships: Manchester (part 1 of 2) |author=William Farrer & J. Brownbill (editors) |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1911 |work=A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4 |accessdate=10 February 2014 }}</ref> Its parade of impressive buildings was reduced by bombing during the [[Manchester Blitz]] of the [[Second World War]] and some later development ignored the old building line.<ref>Atkins, Philip (1976) ''Guide across Manchester''. Manchester: Civic Trust for the North West {{ISBN|0-901347-29-9}}; pp.&nbsp;26–27, 30–31</ref>
 ==Buildings==
+[[File:Behrens Building.jpg|thumb|The Behrens Building on the Oxford Street corner]]
-One building is grade II* listed (Watts Warehouse) and four are grade II listed, including the Pickles Building).<ref>Grade II buildings are at nos. 3-9 (Portland Hotel), 101 (Pickles Building), 127-133 and 42 (on Charlotte Street corner): ''Manchester's Architectural Heritage''. Manchester: City Planning Department, 1985</ref>
+One building is grade II* listed (Watts Warehouse) and many are grade II listed, including the former Pickles Building at no. 101, the Portland Thistle Hotel at 3, 5 and 9, Nos. 74–80 (including the Grey Horse public house) and many old Victorian textile warehouses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1908&pageNumber=15 |title=A–Z of Listed Buildings in Manchester |publisher=Manchester City Council |accessdate=8 May 2018}}</ref>
-*Watts Warehouse (1851), now Britannia House, at nos. 35-47 between Minshull Street and Chorlton Street. The architects were Travis & Mangnall and each floor is built in a different architectural style, none of which are Gothic or Classical but "a licentious bit of confectionery in stone, iron, timber and glass".<ref>Sharp, Dennis, ed. (1969) ''Manchester''. (City Buildings Series.) London: Studio Vista; pp. 20-21</ref> At the top are four roof pavilions with wheel windows. It was converted to a variety of new uses in the mid 1970s.<ref>Atkins; pp. 26-27</ref>
-*St Andrew's House (1962), between Chorlton Street and Sackville Street, architects Leach, Rhodes & Walker, and Telephone House (1961), between Sackville Street and Abingdon Street, are tall slabs set back from the original building line.<ref>Atkins; pp. 26, 28</ref> St Andrew's House was built by a technique which was new at the time: the core of the 21-storey building was cast continuously using a climbing shutter and the precast external panels fixed using a tower crane thus dispensing with scaffolding. Thus tenants were installed on the lowest floors before the upper seven storeys had been built.<ref>Sharp, Dennis, ed. (1969) ''Manchester''. (City Buildings Series.) London: Studio Vista; pp. 20-21</ref>
+*Watts Warehouse (1851), now Britannia House, at Nos. 35–47 between Minshull Street and Chorlton Street. The architects were Travis & Mangnall and each floor is built in a different architectural style, none of which are Gothic or Classical but "a licentious bit of confectionery in stone, iron, timber and glass".<ref name="Sharp">Sharp, Dennis, ed. (1969) ''Manchester''. (City Buildings Series.) London: Studio Vista; pp.&nbsp;20–21</ref> At the top are four roof pavilions with wheel windows. It was converted to a variety of new uses in the mid-1970s.<ref>Atkins; pp.&nbsp;26–27</ref>
+*St Andrew's House (1962), between Chorlton Street and Sackville Street, architects Leach, Rhodes & Walker, and Telephone House (1961), between Sackville Street and Abingdon Street, are tall slabs set back from the original building line.<ref>Atkins; pp. 26, 28</ref> St Andrew's House was built by a technique which was new at the time: the core of the 21-storey building was cast continuously using a climbing shutter and the precast external panels fixed using a tower crane thus dispensing with scaffolding. Thus tenants were installed on the lowest floors before the upper seven storeys had been built.<ref name="Sharp" />
-*Bank of England building (1971), between York Street and Charlotte Street, architects Fitzroy, Robinson & Partners, consists of a solid podium topped by two contrasting blocks.<ref>Atkins; p. 28</ref> Having been vacated by the bank it has been converted to other uses.
+*[[Bank Chambers|Bank of England building]] (1971), between York Street and Charlotte Street, architects [[Fitzroy Robinson & Partners]], consists of a solid podium topped by two contrasting blocks.<ref>Atkins; p. 28</ref> Having been vacated by the bank it has been converted to other uses.
-*Pickles Building (1870) on the east side, at no 101 on Princess Street corner, a former warehouse, the architects were Clegg & Knowles.<ref>Stewart, Cecil (1956) ''The Stones of Manchester''. London: Edward Arnold; pp. 101-03</ref>
+*Pickles Building (1870) on the east side, at no. 101 on Princess Street corner, is a former warehouse; the architects were Clegg & Knowles.<ref>Stewart, Cecil (1956) ''The Stones of Manchester''. London: Edward Arnold; pp.&nbsp;101–03</ref>
+*[[Westminster House, Manchester|Westminster House]] (1970s), was built as the County Hall (head office) for [[Greater Manchester County Council]], an administrative body covering the region from 1974 to 1986.
+* The [[Circus Tavern, Manchester|Circus Tavern]] claims to have the smallest bar in Europe. It is a Grade II listed building.<ref name="NHLE1247057">{{National Heritage List for England| num=1247057  |desc=Circus Tavern and Attached Railings |grade=II |fewer-links= |accessdate=8 May 2018}}
+</ref>
+==Transport==
+The northernmost section of Portland Street is close to the [[Piccadilly Gardens bus station|bus]] and [[Piccadilly Gardens tram stop|Metrolink]] stations at [[Piccadilly Gardens]] and the Metrolink line towards [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Piccadilly railway station]] crosses Portland Street to get into Aytoun Street. There are bus stops for southbound services near Sackville Street and northbound services near Dickinson Street. [[Manchester Chorlton Street coach station|Chorlton Street coach station]] is nearby south of Chorlton Street next to the [[Canal Street (Manchester)|gay village]].
 ==See also==
@@ Line 19: / Line 34: @@
 ==Further reading==
-*Hartwell, Clare (2001) ''Manchester''. (Pevsner Architectural Guides.) London: Penguin ISBN 0 14 071131 7; p. 191-194
+*Hartwell, Clare (2001) ''Manchester''. (Pevsner Architectural Guides.) London: Penguin {{ISBN|0-14-071131-7}}; p.&nbsp;191–194
+{{Manchester A&S}}
+{{Commons category|Portland Street, Manchester}}
 [[Category:Streets in Manchester]]
-{{England-road-stub}}

v t e Areas and streets of Manchester
Public areas	Albert Square Cathedral Gardens Exchange Square Mayfield Park Piccadilly Gardens Sadler's Yard Shambles Square St Peter's Square
Streets	A5103 road (Princess Parkway) Canal Street Cheetham Hill Road Corporation Street Deansgate Great Ancoats Street King Street Kingsway Market Street Mosley Street New Cathedral Street Oldham Street Oxford Road Peter Street Portland Street Princess Street Quay Street Sackville Street Spring Gardens Whitworth Street Wilmslow Road