India House, Manchester
{{Short description|Listed building in Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = India House
| image = India House 5.JPG
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = India House, showing the listed wrought-iron gateway
| coordinates = {{coord|53.4750|-2.2394|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| architectural_style = Edwardian Baroque
| address = Whitworth Street, Manchester, England
| years_built = 1906
| material =
| architect = Harry S. Fairhurst
| website =
| references =
| footnotes =
| designations = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
| designation1_offname = India House (including attached wrought iron gateway linked to Lancaster House)
| designation1_date = 3 October 1974
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1254836|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
India House on Whitworth Street in Manchester, England, is a packing and shipping warehouse built in 1906 for Lloyd's Packing Warehouses Limited, which had, by merger, become the dominant commercial packing company in early-20th century Manchester. It is in the favoured Edwardian Baroque style{{sfn|Hartwell|Hyde|Pevsner|2004|p=335|ps=}} and is steel-framed, with cladding of buff terracotta and red brick with buff terracotta dressings.{{NHLE |num=1254836 |desc=India House (including attached wrought iron gateway linked to Lancaster House) |access-date=1 October 2012 |mode=cs2}} It is a Grade II* listed building as of 3 October 1974.
Background
The building was designed by Harry S. Fairhurst, "the leading expert in the design of these advanced warehouses".{{sfn|Hartwell|2002|p=207|ps=}} Fairhurst was also responsible for Bridgewater House which stands opposite India House, and the neighbouring Lancaster House.{{sfn|Hartwell|Hyde|Pevsner|2004|p=335|ps=}}
Fairhurst's huge buildings are "steel-framed and built to high-quality fireproof specifications".{{sfn|Hartwell|2002|p=207|ps=}}
It was constructed for Lloyd's Packing Warehouses Limited and like many warehouses was built to a common design with steps to a raised ground floor with showroom and offices, and the first floor contained more offices and waiting rooms for clients and sample and pattern rooms all decorated to impress customers. The working areas above were plain with large windows to allow in natural light. Orders were packed there and sent to the basement on hoists powered by Manchester's hydraulic power system and packed into bales using hydraulic presses before dispatch. The warehouse was lit by gas.{{citation|url=http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/whymace/civil/trail/xml/Features/warehouses.html |title=Warehouses Whitworth Street |publisher=School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering Manchester University |access-date=1 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311224311/http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/whymace/civil/trail/xml/Features/warehouses.html |archive-date=11 March 2012}}
India House is part of a conservation area in Manchester city centre that reflects the historical importance of the textile industry in the city. The conservation area was designated by Manchester City Council in September 1974, and was bounded by Oxford Street, Portland Street, Abingdon Street, Bloom Street, Chorlton Street, Cobourg Street and the Piccadilly to Oxford Road railway viaduct. It was extended in June 1985 to include an area bounded by Whitworth Street, London Road and the above viaduct.{{Cite web |title=Whitworth Street Conservation Area|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/511/conservation_areas/970/whitworth_street_conservation_area |access-date=6 October 2022|website=Manchester City Council}}
Conversion to apartments
In 1989 Northern Counties Housing Association, now known as The Guinness Partnership converted India House into 100 residential apartments available for rent.{{cite journal|last=Hindle|first=Paul|year=2002|title=The Influence of the Gay Village on Migration to Central Manchester|url=http://urbed.coop/sites/default/files/Book%20part%203%20chapter%205-8.pdf|journal=North West Geography|volume=1|issue=2001|pages=54–60|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite book |title=Building the 21st Century Home: The Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood |date=2 January 1999 |publisher=The Architectural Press |url=http://urbed.coop/sites/default/files/Book%20part%203%20chapter%205-8.pdf |access-date=29 August 2024}}
Former residents
Noel Gallagher lived in flat 47 in 1989–1993 and says "India House is literally ground zero in the story of my musical life." Gallagher wrote "Live Forever" and songs for the first two Oasis albums Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory? while in residence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ladbible.com/news/music-definitely-maybe-turns-25-20190828|title=Definitely Maybe at 25: Inside the Manchester Flat Where Noel Gallagher Wrote the Epic Album|first=Amelia|last=Ward|publisher=Lad Bible|date=29 August 2019|access-date=8 October 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/noel-gallagher-pictured-old-manchester-28325421|title=Noel Gallagher pictured at his old Manchester flats where the Oasis story began|work=Manchester Evening News|date=20 December 2023|access-date=29 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Oh Manchester, so much to answer for! |url=https://www.beyond-the-grooves.co.uk/blog/oh-manchester-so-much-to-answer-for |website=Beyond the Grooves |access-date=29 August 2024}}
Ian Brown, the lead singer of The Stone Roses, was another famous resident.{{cite web |title=S01 E12: Living in India House |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah3hOYoQ6AY&list=PLxRnvcexoCyVGf7A7S_cGtY2HfzShv-fX&index=12 |website=YouTube | date=9 April 2020 |publisher=Digital Blanket |access-date=29 August 2024}}
See also
{{portal|Greater Manchester}}
References
Notes
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{citation |last1=Hartwell |first1=Clare |last2=Hyde |first2=Matthew |last3=Pevsner|first3=Nikolaus|title=The Buildings of England: Lancashire: Manchester and the South East |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-300-10583-5}}
- {{citation |last=Hartwell |first=Clare|title=Manchester |series=Pevsner Architectural Guides|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-14-071131-8}}
{{refend}}
External links
{{Manchester B&S}}
Category:Commercial buildings in Manchester
Category:Office buildings in Manchester
Category:Warehouses in England
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Manchester
Category:Grade II* listed commercial buildings
Category:Grade II* listed industrial buildings