42–44 Sackville Street Explained

42–44 Sackville Street, known originally as Sackville House with originally two separate entrances, 42 and 44 Sackville Street, is a four-storey over basement Grade II listed building in Manchester, England. It is situated in the City Centre ward, and is delimited by Sackville Street to the East, the Rochdale Canal and Canal Street to the North, and Brazil Street to the South. It is adjoined on the West side by Amazon House, and faces Sackville Gardens.

It was built during the expansion of the city, after the Rochdale Canal was opened in 1804, which it is alongside. Its purpose was rental by several company offices.

It is the first Manchester 19th-century warehouse to have been converted into New York-style residential loft apartments in the 20th century.^{[1] [2]}

Style

It was designed in 1870^[3] by Pennington and Brigden,^[4] architects and surveyors, of Essex Chambers, 8 Essex Street, Manchester M2 (at the crossing with King Street), in a rectangular and symmetrical late Georgian style, and made of brick and sandstone. Twin front doors each have a Roman head keystone, probably of Janus, the god of doorways.

Unlike many other buildings of the time, it did not have its name or the date of construction featuring on the building itself.

There was a goods entry on the South side and metal tracks leading into the building, where the car park entrance now is. The ground floor had hoists for lifting and moving goods, some of which still remain. Goods could be brought and collected by barge on the Rochdale Canal.

It is not known who owned the building and how funds were raised to build it.

Chronology of uses, occupiers and ownership

Nature of businesses

The street index archives at Manchester Central Library show the building being occupied from 1876.

By 1969, 153 firms had been in the building, for periods ranging from one year to the longest standing company, Greatorex & Co. Ltd., present for 94 years from 1876 and still there in 1969, with an ongoing Companies House listing as Greatorex (Manchester) Ltd after that. The second longest standing company was there for 46 years, Pickering and Berthoud. For the first 10 years, there were typically six companies in the building, then 10 until 1932 onwards when the norm was 15.

The companies mostly named after their owner, show origins in countries including Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Portugal, Germany, Italy, with several names of Jewish descent. Markets served were specific by company, including the Levant, Constantinople, India, the United States, and normally the one from which the head of the firm was from.

Looking at the variations in the names of the businesses, it is possible to see how they included or were handed over to sons, partners appeared and disappeared or took over, and new branches were started so as to diversify.

Although the great majority of firms were connected to the textile industry, exceptions included the Portuguese Vice-Consulate from 1896 to 1922, and in later years the North West Arts Association. Possibly the most famous company name is the Singer sewing machine company.

Table of businesses, and dates up to 1969 (ordered by start date of occupancy)

Note: Archive records show data by address up to 1969 only, making later data compiling very difficult.

Door Number	Name	Activity	From *	Until *	Years of presence *
42	Berger C. & Co (late G. Roy & Co)	Merchants	1876	1881	6
42	Greatorex & Brothers	Packers	1876	1876	1
42	Meyerhof & Nathorff	Merchants	1876	1879	4
44	Nördlinger S. & Co	Merchants	1876	1886	11
42	Pinto-Leite & Brother.	Merchants	1876	1883	8
42	Sutherland James & Co	Merchants	1876	1876	1
42	Ferigao S.	Merchant	1879	1879	1
42	Greatorex & Co Ltd	Makers up and packers	1879	1945	67
42	Campbell Archibald	Commissioning agent	1881	1884	4
42	Pickering & Berthoud	Merchants	1881	1926	46
42	Tannenbaum Brothers	Merchants	1881	1881	1
42	Whiteside James: shipping merchant	Selling yarns to U.S. of America	1881	1916	36
42	Balli G. & Co	Merchants	1883	1884	2
42	Harris Thomas	Merchant	1884	1890	7
42	Povel & Wübbe	Merchants	1884	1893	10
42	Demetriades A. & Co.	Merchant	1885	1892	8
42	Georgiades Athanas & Co.	Merchants	1885	1894	10
42	Leite Pinto & O'Neill	Merchants	1885	1892	8
42	Emmanuel J.P.	Merchant	1886	1886	1
44	Bickham George	Merchant	1889	1897	9
44	Georgiades C. & Co.	Merchant	1890	1892	3
44	Mee E.C. & Co.	Merchants	1890	1905	16
42	Ross James W. & Co	Velvet manufacturers	1890	1890	1
42	Harris Richard Frederick.	Merchant	1891	1896	6
42	Lawton T. & W.	Merchants	1891	1892	2
42	Yanni T. & Co	Merchants	1891	1891	1
44	Amon J. N.	Shipper	1892	1892	1
42	Pinto Leite-Havenith & Co.	Selling General Merchandise & Machinery to South America., Portugal, China & Colonies	1893	1926	34
42	Hockmeyer Otto	Merchant	1894	1895	2
44	Georgiades Athanas & Co.	Merchants	1896	1909	14
44	Greatorex & Co	Makers up and packers	1896	1896	1
42	Hockmeyer & Co.	Merchants	1896	1907	12
42	Portuguese Vice-Consulate (Joaquim Pinto Leite)	Vice-consul for Portugal	1896	1922	27
44	Harris R. F. or Richard Frederick.	Merchant	1897	1897	1
44	Vanvouris, Michael & Co.	Merchants	1897	1900	4
42	Brisk Michael	Merchant	1898	1899	2
44	Luria & Co.	Merchants	1898	1901	4
42	Koecher & Co.	Shipping merchants	1900	1901	2
44	Farah & Kisbany	Merchants	1901	1901	1
42	Ackroyd William	Merchant	1903	1906	4
44	Benvenisti I. J.	Merchant	1903	1904	2
44	Iplicjian Stepan	Merchant	1903	1907	5
44	Secchi A. & Co	Selling Manchester Goods to South American and Eastern markets	1904	1909	6
44	Silvera & Co.	Merchants	1904	1904	1
44	Astardjian B. & s. H.	Shippers	1905	1907	3
44	Lamb W. G. & Co.	Shipping merchants	1906	1907	2
44	Ackroyd William	Merchant	1907	1907	1
44	D. Tchaoussoglou & M. Mouradian	Selling all kinds of Cloth Goods to India	1909	1909	1
42	Frank Sigmund	Shipping merchant, selling cotton goods to the continental market	1909	1914	6
42 & 44	Greatorex & Co	Makers up and packers	1909	1909	1
44	Hoods Limited	Merchants: selling cotton and woollen goods to the Levant	1909	1909	1
44	Joannidi & Co.	Selling cotton & woollen goods to the Levant	1909	1909	1
44	Lea William & Co	Velvet manufacturers	1909	1909	1
44	Tchaoussoglou Theophanes & Co	Manufacturers' agent	1909	1909	1
44	Isaac & Samuel	Shipping merchants	1911	1924	14
44	Tchaoussoglou and Mouridian	Shippers	1911	1914	4
44	Tchaoussoglou Theophanes & Co	Merchants	1911	1917	7
44	Aldridge and Salmon	Shippers	1913	1923	11
44	Braunstein & Schibbye (Copenhagen)	Shippers	1913	1923	11
44	Daredjian Bros.	Shipping merchants	1913	1920	8
42	Salvage S. A. & Co.	Shipping merchants	1913	1918	6
44	Seeger Bros. & Co.	Shipping merchants	1913	1919	7
44	Joyce Bros. Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1918	1919	2
44	Saskissian Abraham	Shipping merchant	1918	1919	2
44	Ascoli E. & Sons Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1920	1922	3
44	Papasian and Saskissian	Shipping merchants	1920	1921	2
44	Tchomlekdjoglou Th.	Shipping merchants	1920	1927	8
42	Rinan S	Shipping merchant	1921	1921	1
44	Fulton, Armstrong & Co.	Shipping merchants	1922	1922	1
44	Saskissian A.	Shipping merchant	1922	1922	1
42 & 44	Ascoli E. & Sons Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1923	1936	14
44	Kyriakides B. N.	Shipping merchants	1923	1923	1
44	Lancashire Textile Ltd.	Merchants	1923	1945	23
42	Dominion Textile Co. Ltd. (Montreal)	Buying agents	1924	1934	11
42	Holiday R. M. & Co. buying agents	Buying agents	1924	1933	10
44	Knowles & Rosher	Buying agents	1925	1927	3
42 & 44	Braunstein & Schibbye	Cotton manufacturers	1927	1931	5
44	Gordon W. & Co. Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1927	1936	10
42 & 44	Schibbye Niels	Shipping merchants	1927	1931	5
42	Callinfas A. M. shipping merchants	Shipping merchants	1928	1933	6
42	Heathcoat John & Co.	Shippers	1928	1945	18
44	Rosher F.	Buying agent	1928	1929	2
42	Samter & Co. Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1928	1940	13
44	Spruce Manufacturing Co. Ltd	Cotton manufacturers	1928	1945	18
44	Sackville Manufacturing Co. Ltd.	Cotton manufacturers	1929	1932	4
44	Hegginbottom Samuel & Sons Ltd	Cotton manufacturers	1930	1930	1
44	Tipping Jn. D.	Cotton manufacturer	1930	1931	2
42	Whitworth, Wailes & Co.	Artificial silk manufacturers	1930	1932	3
44	Newman Oughtred E. & Co. Ltd.	Cotton dress goods manufacturers	1931	1933	3
44	Whitelegg T. & Co.	Cotton goods manufacturers	1931	1944	14
42	Simpson (The Robert) Co. Ltd. (Canada)	Buying agents	1932	1934	3
42	Rickwood James & Co. Ltd.	Shipping manufacturers	1933	1945	13
44	Taylor T. & E. & Co.	Shipping merchants	1933	1938	6
44	Whitworth, Wailes & Co.	Artificial silk/rayon piece goods manufacturers	1933	1945	13
42	Leon A. & M. J.	Shipping merchants	1934	1940	7
42	Marshall Lawrence	Cotton goods merchants	1934	1935	2
44	Oughtred E. Newman & Co. Ltd.	Cotton dress goods manufacturers	1934	1945	12
42	Shohet Fred	Shipping merchants	1934	1940	7
42	Racy Alexander S. Ltd.	Shipping marchants	1935	1938	4
42	Ascoli E. & Sons Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1937	1951	15
44	Saidi Hassan	Shipping merchants	1937	1940	4
44	Uttley Fred Ltd.	Cotton manufacturers	1937	1938	2
44	Bennett H. R. & Co.	Cotton piece goods merchants	1940	1945	6
42	Gordon W. & Co. Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1945	1945	1
42	Greatorex (Manchester) Ltd.	Makers-up and packers	1945	1969	25
42	Havelock F. W. Ltd.	Cotton manufacturers	1945	1961	17
42	Kenyon Wltr. & Co.	Shipping merchants	1945	1965	21
42	Saidi Hassan	Shipping merchants	1945	1945	1
42	Walton Harry & Sons Ltd.	Cotton manufacturers	1945	1948	4
42	Ydlibi A. & Co. Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1945	1951	7
42	Bennett H. R. & Co.	Cotton piece goods merchants	1948	1961	14
42	Clarendon Textiles Ltd.	Cotton manufacturers	1948	1948	1
42	Craston N. H. & Co	Merchant-converter/cotton piece goods manufacturers	1948	1957	10
42	Craston N. H. Ltd.	Plastic makers	1948	1951	4
42	Kerruish Ltd.	Merchant-converters	1948	1951	4
42	Labadeni Textiles	Merchant-converters	1948	1969	22
42	Lancashire Textile Ltd.	Merchants	1948	1948	1
42	Oughtred E. Newman & Co. Ltd.	Cotton dress goods manufacturers	1948	1959	12
42	Parr, Baker and Co. Ltd.	Merchant-converters	1948	1951	4
42	Spruce Manufacturing Co. Ltd	Cotton manufacturers	1948	1969	22
42	Whitworth, Wailes & Co.	Rayon piece goods manufacturers	1948	1948	1
42	Ydlibi Michl A.	Shipping merchants	1948	1951	4
42	Bilbruck Mark & Co	Merchant-converters	1951	1967	17
42	Hammons Bros.	Merchant-converters	1951	1951	1
42	Saull H. V.	Wood turner	1951	1957	7
42	Ydlibi M. & G. (Exporters) Ltd.	Shippers	1951	1954	4
42	Berry, Pearce & Co.	Shippers	1954	1961	8
42	Gaymay Fabrics Ltd.	Merchant-converters	1954	1954	1
42	Sabbag S. & Sons	Shipping merchants	1954	1954	1
42	Ydlibi Abdulgani Ltd.	Shipping merchants	1954	1969	16
42	Cross C. H. & Sons Ltd.	Merchants	1957	1959	3
42	Hussamy L. & Sons	Shipping merchants	1957	1965	9
42	Thompson G. K.	Manufacturers agent	1957	1957	1
42	Bates Textiles (Manchester) Ltd.	Textile merchants	1959	1961	3
42	Singer Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. (stores)	Manufacturer	1959	1961	3
42	Planned Giving Ltd.		1961	1965	5
42	Botraco Ltd	Merchants	1965	1969	5
42	C. & L. Fabrics	Merchant-converters	1965	1969	5
42	Dalby E. & Co Ltd	Cotton goods manufacturers	1965	1969	5
42	Elletson R. C. & Co Ltd	Merchant-converters	1965	1969	5
42	Emery A. H. & Son Ltd	Merchant-converters	1965	1969	5
42	Morgan & Mellor Ltd.	Wholesale clothiers	1965	1967	3
42	Textile Trading Co. (Manchester) Ltd	Textile merchants	1965	1969	5
42	Thompson & Meredith	Textile agents	1965	1969	5
42	D.M.O. Fabrics Ltd	Merchant-converters	1967	1969	3
42	Ivansons Ltd	Importers	1967	1969	3
42	Goldberg M.	Merchant	1969	1969	1
42	North West Arts Association	Arts organisation	1969	1969	1

* Records were not published each year so start and end dates are subject to this.

In the 1960s, the building was bought by Sunderland Investments Ltd., led by businessman Oussama Lababedi.

The building was Grade II listed in October 1974.^{[5] [6]}

Redevelopment

From 1983, the building then came under the area regeneration efforts of the Manchester Phoenix Initiative.

In 1988, planning permission was granted to change use of the building from offices to a hotel.^[7] This was not implemented.

In 1991, the Central Manchester Development Corporation bought the building for £1 million plus £34,000 transaction costs. Following this, the businesses left the building in readiness for redevelopment.

The Manhattan Loft Corporation won approval in 1994 to convert the building into apartments.^{[8] [9]} An artists' residence under their aegis and referring to the building as the 'Manhattan Loft Building' took place in it from October to November 1994.^[10] A marketing booklet was produced, and living space put for sale. They eventually abandoned the project however.

Artisan Regeneration led by Carol Ainscow, obtained approval in 1995 to convert the building into apartments,^[11] with purchase rights from the CMDC once the work completed. On 31 December 1995, the basement and ground floors were used for a New Year's Eve party.^{[12] [13]}

The conversion work was done in 1996, to a design by the Pozzoni Design Group.^[14] The building was converted into 29 loft apartments with 11 parking spaces in its basement, retaining many of the original interior features such as wooden beams, cast iron pillars, industrial iron features, fireplaces, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings; most of the rooftop chimneys were removed; a 4th floor with vaulted ceilings was created in the previous roof space. Apartments were bought from mid 1996.^[15]

The freehold has been owned since 2009 by the 42–44 Sackville Street RTM Company Ltd,^[16] of which the members are among the owners of the apartments.

Filmography

The building has been regularly featured in shoots for film and TV, including:

• This Life (BBC, 1996)
• Cold Feet (ITV)
• Queer as Folk (Channel 4, 1999)
• Sinchronicity (BBC 3, 2006)
• The Good Housekeeping Guide^[17] (BBC, 2006)
• Kellogg's advert^[18] for Make Time for Breakfast/National Breakfast Week^[19] (2011)
• Cucumber (Red Productions for Channel 4, 2015)^[20]
• Genius^[21] (Summit Entertainment, 2016) starring Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Colin Firth and Jude Law

Former residents

• Simon Nicks a.k.a. Nicksy (deceased) Key 103 / Galaxy Radio Radio DJ
• Martin Hancock, actor, a.k.a. 'Spider' in Coronation Street (ITV)
• Beverley Callard, Coronation Street actress (ITV)
• Damian Lewis OBE, actor
• Carol Ainscow (deceased), Director of building developer Artisan Holdings
• Peter Dalton, Director of building developer Artisan Holdings
• Belinda Scandal,^[22] drag queen

Further sources of information

• Manchester Library General website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_history
• Manchester Library Booking for archives/special collections: www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries
• Archives Catalogue: www.gmlives.org.uk
• Local Images Collection: www.images.manchester.gov.uk
• Images including Canal Street http://images.manchester.gov.uk/ResultsList.php?session=pass&QueryName=BasicQuery&QueryPage=%2Findex.php%3Fsession%3Dpass&Anywhere=SummaryData%7CAdmWebMetadata&QueryTerms=canal+street&QueryOption=Anywhere&StartAt=321
• Images including Sackville Street: http://images.manchester.gov.uk/ResultsList.php?session=pass&QueryName=BasicQuery&QueryPage=%2Findex.php%3Fsession%3Dpass&Anywhere=SummaryData%7CAdmWebMetadata&QueryTerms=sackville+street&QueryOption=Anywhere&StartAt=321
• Archives+: www.archivesplus.org
• Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus

References

53.4766°N -2.237°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: M.E.N article about Manchester city centre development. MEN. MEN. 17 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015302/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/we-must-cherish-our-city-890015. live.
2. Web site: First Manchester conversion into lofts. Julie Twist. Julie Twist. 17 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805021542/https://julietwist.co.uk/developments/the-village-manchester/. live.
3. archives at Manchester Central Library
4. Web site: Manchester History. ManchesterHistory.net. Manchester History.net. 15 May 2017. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803052136/http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/tours/tour10/area10page43.html. live.
5. [Manchester Central Library]
6. Web site: Slater's Guide, 1909. www.SpecialCollections.le.ac.uk. University of Leicester. 16 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805021233/http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/112435/rec/8. live.
7. Web site: Planning Permission for a hotel. Manchester Council. Manchester Council. 15 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805055728/http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/propertyDetails.do?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=004CDGBCLI000. live.
8. Web site: Manhattan Loft Corporation. Manhattan Loft Corporation. Manhattan Lofts. 15 May 2017. 21 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170521103133/http://www.manhattanloft.co.uk/. live.
9. Web site: The Independent article - ManhattanLoft Corporation scheme for 42-44 Sackville Street. The Independent. 17 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020915/http://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/property-manhattans-latest-transfer-our-industrial-past-is-being-transformed-into-the-lofty-height-1430176.html. live.
10. Web site: 'Diverse City' Architecture Towards a New Manchester – Castlefield Gallery. www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk. 16 December 2004. en-US. 2017-06-02. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805020847/http://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk/event/diverse-city-architecture-towards-a-new-manchester/. live.
11. Web site: 004AFFBCBU000 | 42 - 44 Sackville Street Manchester M1 3NF. pa.manchester.gov.uk. en. 2017-06-02. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805055728/http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/propertyDetails.do?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=004CDGBCLI000. live.
12. Web site: New Year's Eve party, 1995. Manchester City Council. Manchester City Council. 15 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805055728/http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/propertyDetails.do?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=004CDGBCLI000. live.
13. Web site: Party at 42-44 Sackvillle Street. Julie Twist. Julie Twist. 17 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805021542/https://julietwist.co.uk/developments/the-village-manchester/. live.
14. Web site: Pozzoni Design Group website. Pozzoni Design Group. Pozzini. 15 May 2017. 17 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170517025538/http://www.pozzoni.co.uk/. live.
15. Web site: Property details for Flat 44 42-44 Sackville Street Manchester M1 3NF - Zoopla. www.zoopla.co.uk. en-GB. 2017-06-02. 17 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917174314/https://www.zoopla.co.uk/property/flat-44/42-44/sackville-street/manchester/m1-3nf/13915679. live.
16. Web site: Companies House. Companies House. Companies House. 15 May 2017. 5 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805022555/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07172163/filing-history. live.
17. Web site: The Good Housekeeping Guide. BBC. BBC. 15 May 2017. 18 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100118134553/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/08_august/24/comedy_house.shtml. live.
18. Web site: Make Time for BreakfastNational Breakfast Week, 2011. You Tube. National Breakfast Week. 15 May 2017. 22 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170122021036/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BpASuPgEUQ&spf=navigate. live.
19. Web site: National Breakfast Week. Shake Up Your Wake Up. National Breakfast Week. 15 May 2017. 5 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170605043122/http://www.shakeupyourwakeup.com/breakfast-week. live.
20. Web site: Cucumber trailer. YouTube. Channel 4. 13 June 2017. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706063640/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7iP9gA4u9c. live.
21. Web site: Trailer - Genius. You Tube. You Tube. 16 May 2017. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706063641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89aQvamubxI&t=57s. live.
22. Web site: Belinda Scandal Twitter profile. Twitter. Twitter. 16 May 2017. 6 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210706063541/https://twitter.com/belindascandal?lang=en. live.