Blossom Iron When I visited Ancoats in December of
2017 there was a new mixed-use development under
construction on George Leigh Street across from Victoria
Square. This is Blossom Iron, a project of
Manchester Life to fulfil the demand in Manchester for
rental accommodation. The development involves the
construction of two parallel blocks, .....
 ..... one facing on to George Leigh
Street ....
 ..... and the other on to Blossom
Street.
 The space between the blocks corresponds to what was a section of Loom Street.  The https://www.mpb.co.uk
website explains that Blossom Iron will provide, "...
well-located, high quality homes with
comprehensive facilities, helping to fulfil
Manchester’s demand for rental accommodation and
supporting the emergence of Ancoats as a
desirable residential neighbourhood within easy
reach of the city centre’s employment, amenities
and transport networks. .... The development
will provide: 62 one bed apartments 116 two bed
apartments 7 three bed apartments 14 town houses
with front doors on George Leigh Street 4
commercial units located along Blossom Street
providing floor space for retail, office or café
/ restaurant use."
*****************************
In the 1840s, the site was
home to two blocks of houses arranged around a
number of courts. The only other feature
was the Black Smith's Arms Public House.
Apparently, it started life in the late 1700s as
a private house and wasn't converted into a pub
until 1820.
 The aerial photograph below
shows the area in 1949, It isn't easy to
see but the houses can be seen (indicated by a
red arrow) just beyond the tower of St Peter's
Church.
 The image below wasa taken in 1953. The site of Blossom Iron is indicated by the red rectangle. As you can see, at that time a number of the houses had been demolished. The arrow indicates the position of the pub.  The pub has been closed for more than 20 years and for much of that time it and the former Express Motors garage building have been the only occupants of an otherwise derelict plot of land,  As you can see below, over
time, the pub's name changed from the Black
Smith's Arms to Smith's Arms.
   Some of the early plans for Blosson Iron involved retaining the pub and integrating it into the development. It was pointed out that the building was probably the oldest structure remaining in the area. However, in the end the decision was to demolish it. Close Window |