Latest news with #PercyBrothers
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Owner wants to save what remains of fire-hit mill
The owner of a mill that was gutted in a major fire has said it wants to see what was left of the building saved. The Hotspur Press building in Manchester suffered massive damage when a blaze broke out last month, with only its outer walls remaining after the fire. Its owner, the MCR Property Group, said it wanted to "retain, reuse and repurpose" what remained" and "assess the building and understand what may be possible in the future". About 100 firefights tackled the fire at the Georgian-era building on Cambridge Street on 23 June. Experts have been unable to carry out a full forensic investigation into the cause of the fire because of site safety fears, and the building has been handed back to the owners. In a joint statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "There is no evidence to suggest anyone was in the building at the time of the fire." Tim Heatley, from development company Capital & Centric, said he tired to buy the Hotspur Press building ten years ago "wasn't able to pay the highest price for it". "I've been round that building, so I was gutted when it burned down. But hopefully it can be rebuilt and fingers crossed its not lost forever," he said. Steeped in history, The Hotspur Press building was built on the site of a previous mill that burned down in January 1801. For nearly 50 years, from 1933 to 1981, it was where the Percy Brothers' boys adventure magazine The Hotspur was printed, with more than 1,100 editions rolling of its presses. Several historic former cotton mills in Manchester have been preserved in recent years by converting them into luxury apartment blocks. Heatley said historic buildings presented "huge logistical challenges". He added: "It is a nightmare bringing these buildings back to life but they are worth it". Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We want the owners of these buildings to work with the council to restore them in ways that work. "We want the Manchester of the future to be a beautiful blend of old and new". The Manchester tour guide Jonathan Schofield said: "I think Hotspur Press is a lesson, and the best thing we can do with our historic buildings is to occupy them". "We need to live in them, convert them and make them into something different," he added. In their joint statement, GMP and GMFRS said: "Due to the extensive damage sustained to the building in the fire, the site remains in an extremely dangerous condition. "It is our joint professional opinion that the building cannot be made safe enough to allow a thorough forensic investigation into the cause of the fire. "Furthermore, any potential forensic evidence is likely to have been destroyed in the blaze." Related stories Fire-hit mill was at centre of preservation battle Northern England's disused mills 'at risk'
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hotspur Press owner wants to save what is left of fire-hit mill
The owner of a mill that was gutted in a major fire has said it wants to see what was left of the building saved. The Hotspur Press building in Manchester suffered massive damage when a blaze broke out last month, with only its outer walls remaining after the owner, the MCR Property Group, said it wanted to "retain, reuse and repurpose" what remained" and "assess the building and understand what may be possible in the future". About 100 firefights tackled the fire at the Georgian-era building on Cambridge Street on 23 June. Experts have been unable to carry out a full forensic investigation into the cause of the fire because of site safety fears, and the building has been handed back to the a joint statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: "There is no evidence to suggest anyone was in the building at the time of the fire."Tim Heatley, from development company Capital & Centric, said he tired to buy the Hotspur Press building ten years ago "wasn't able to pay the highest price for it"."I've been round that building, so I was gutted when it burned down. But hopefully it can be rebuilt and fingers crossed its not lost forever," he said. Steeped in history, The Hotspur Press building was built on the site of a previous mill that burned down in January nearly 50 years, from 1933 to 1981, it was where the Percy Brothers' boys adventure magazine The Hotspur was printed, with more than 1,100 editions rolling of its presses. Several historic former cotton mills in Manchester have been preserved in recent years by converting them into luxury apartment blocks. Heatley said historic buildings presented "huge logistical challenges".He added: "It is a nightmare bringing these buildings back to life but they are worth it".Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We want the owners of these buildings to work with the council to restore them in ways that work."We want the Manchester of the future to be a beautiful blend of old and new". The Manchester tour guide Jonathan Schofield said: "I think Hotspur Press is a lesson, and the best thing we can do with our historic buildings is to occupy them"."We need to live in them, convert them and make them into something different," he their joint statement, GMP and GMFRS said: "Due to the extensive damage sustained to the building in the fire, the site remains in an extremely dangerous condition. "It is our joint professional opinion that the building cannot be made safe enough to allow a thorough forensic investigation into the cause of the fire. "Furthermore, any potential forensic evidence is likely to have been destroyed in the blaze."
ITV News
24-06-2025
- General
- ITV News
Historic Manchester Hotspur Press building destroyed in devastating fire as investigation launched
Aerial footage shows the remains of one of Manchester's oldest buildings after a devastating fire. One of Manchester 's most recognisable and historic buildings has been destroyed by a major fire. The derelict Hotspur Press building, beside Oxford Road station in the city centre, erupted into flames on Monday 23 June, with thick smoke clouds seen for miles. The major incident saw trains cancelled, main roads closed and more than 180 residents evacuated from nearby high-rise buildings as emergency services battled to bring the flames under control. At the height of the fire, more than 20 fire engines, two aerial units and more than 100 firefighters were working at the scene, with some working overnight to extinguish the blaze. During the incident, the fire spread to several balconies at the two tower blocks at number 1 Cambridge Street. All occupants made it out of the buildings safely and there are "no reports of any occupants suffering ill health", a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said. They added: 'Shortly after 9pm, the major incident was lifted. "The occupants of one of those blocks have now been able to return home, while the other remains closed as we work with Manchester City Council and the building owner to make the building habitable again.'Oxford Road station and the railway line have now reopened. Crews are still working on Gloucester Street and the main area around the mill, but the main roads of Whitworth and access off the Mancunian Way have reopened." "Crews will be joined by specialist fire officers to begin investigating the cause of the fire, as well as assessing the extent of the structural damage to the building", they said. The Victorian building was originally built as Medlock cotton mill in around 1801 and is considered Manchester's oldest mill. It was later repurposed as a printing works by the Percy Brothers in the late 1800s, producing comics and journals, but it failed to be redeveloped and modernised like its counterparts. In recent years it had fallen into an uninhabited derelict state. In May 2024, Manner, the company who have owned the building since 2020, had a planning application, to turn the The Hotspur Press into a 37-storey block of student flats, unanimously approved by Manchester City Council. The plans were delayed due to changes in the design, but the company announced in May 2025 that it was planning to submit fresh proposals. Manner, who had vowed to "preserve the iconic Percy Brothers signage" and "restore much of the existing brick exterior," has been approached by ITV News for comment. A full investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire. From the North answers the questions that matter to our region.
