Commercial Union Offices - Albert Square



The Commercial Union Offices building sits between Tasle Alley and Brazennose Street on the west side of Albert Square.  This red-bricked building has sandstone-looking concrete window frames. 




An arcade runs at street level along the Albert Square and Brazennose Street sides.




The building was designed by the architectural practice of Kingham Knight and built in 1983.







The "Brasserie Chez Gerard" occupies the arcade.




The site was prevously occupied by two buildings.  On the corner of Tasle Lane and Albert Square was St. George's Chambers.  Beside it and running around onto Brazennose Street was the Scottish Provident Building.  You can see them in the image below.  The Scottish Provident Building had a stone tower near the corner.  It was built in 1883.



Shops ran along at street level.  One of those shops was occupied, in 1883, by "Morris & Co, Art Decorators, Art Furniture Manufacturers & Designers".  This marked the venture of William Morris into the Manchester market, which proved to be a short-lived enterprise.  The shop is listed in the 1884 commercial directory but an entry in the catalogue for the Royal Jubilee Exhibition in Manchester, in 1887, describes Morris' entry as belonging to Morris & Co of 449 Oxford Street, London whose Manchester agent is Kendal Milne & Co.

The sketch below is based on a map dated 1886.



The aerial photograph below was taken in the 1950s.  It shows the Scottish Provident Building and St. George's Chambers to the north of Brazennose Street.