Rylands Building
{{Distinguish|John Rylands Research Institute and Library}}
{{Short description|Listed building in Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Rylands Building
| image = Debenhams Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 1070537.jpg
| caption = The Rylands Building from Piccadilly Gardens
| mapframe =
| former_names =
| building_type = Warehouse (1932–1957)
Department store (1957–2021)
| architectural_style = Art Deco
| location = Manchester,
Greater Manchester,
England
| address = 109–127 Market Street, M60 1TA
| completion_date = 1932
| floor_count = 10
| floor_area = {{convert|500,000|sqft|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/gallery-sneak-peek-of-manchesters-rylands-revival/|website=Place North West |title=Gallery: Sneak peek of Manchester's Rylands revival |date=3 April 2023 |accessdate=4 April 2023}}
| architect = Fairhursts (Harry S. & P. G. Fairhurst)
| designations = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Rylands Building (Debenhams)
| designation1_date = 5 June 1994
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1219831|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
The Rylands Building is a Grade II listed building and former department store on Market Street in Manchester, England.{{Cite web |title=Rylands Building (Debenhams), Manchester |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-388312-rylands-building-debenhams- |work=British Listed Buildings}} It is situated in the Smithfield conservation area, which was known for its markets and textile warehouses,{{Cite web |title=Smithfield Conservation Area - History |url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/511/conservation_areas/1156/smithfield_conservation_area/2 |website=Manchester City Council}} close to the Piccadilly area of Manchester city centre.
History
=Warehouse=
The building was originally built as a warehouse by J. Gerrard & Sons of Swinton for the Rylands textile company (Rylands & Sons Ltd) which was founded by the entrepreneur John Rylands. That firm had occupied warehouses in High Street ever since 1822; its west-facing side is on High Street.Farnie, D. A. (1993). John Rylands of Manchester. Manchester: John Rylands University Library of Manchester. {{ISBN|0-86373-116-3}}; p. 83 The building was designed by the eminent Manchester architects, Fairhursts (Harry S. & P. G. Fairhurst), in an Art Deco style. It is clad in Portland stone and features a decorative corner tower and eclectic 'zig zag' window lintels. The work was completed in 1932. Hartwell, Clare (2001), Manchester, (Pevsner Architectural Guides.) Penguin Books, pp. 11, 253, {{ISBN|0-14-071131-7}}; pp. 169, 171
=Department store=
Following a fire in 1957 which destroyed the premises of Paulden's Department Store in All Saints, the company acquired the Rylands warehouse building and converted it to a store. (However at that time the topmost floor remained in the possession of Rylands & Sons Ltd., which was sometime later acquired by Great Universal Stores.) This was then a direct rival to the Lewis's store, on the opposite side of Market Street. In 1973 Debenhams, the owner of Paulden's, rebranded the store in their name. It remained Debenhams until its closure in 2021, outlasting other Manchester department stores including Lewis's, Affleck & Brown and C&A.{{Cite web |title=Debenhams Manchester |url=http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/tours/tour4/area4page6.html |website=Manchester History |access-date=2012-11-20}}
=Redevelopment=
In 2023 the developer AM Alpha published plans to redevelop the Rylands Building to provide office, retail, and leisure spaces, as well as a four storey roof-top extension. The plans by Jeffrey Bell Architects were approved by Manchester City Council in May 2021{{Cite web|url=https://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QG0RJ7BCIG400&activeTab=summary|title=Planning – Application Summary |website=Manchester City Council |access-date=4 April 2023}} and construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
In popular culture
The Rylands Building can be seen in the background of L. S. Lowry's 1954 painting, Piccadilly Gardens.{{cite web |title=Piccadilly Gardens {{!}} Art UK |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/piccadilly-gardens-205463 |website=Art UK |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en}}{{cite book |last=Bradburn |first=Jean & John |title=Central Manchester Through Time |date=15 January 2016 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4456-4954-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4RqtCwAAQBAJ&dq=lowry+piccadilly+gardens&pg=PT143 |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en}}
See also
{{portal|Greater Manchester}}
References
{{commonscat|Debenhams, Market Street, Manchester}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Manchester B&S}}
{{coord|53.4823|-2.2386|region:GB-MAN_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Commercial buildings in Manchester
Category:Department store buildings in the United Kingdom
Category:Towers in Greater Manchester
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Manchester