Derelict eyesore or civil jewel? What next for Swinton’s Lancastrian Hall
"What makes a community? It's a lot of things, but it's also the spaces you share across generations. A sense of belonging..."
In this week’s newsletter, we ask what is to be done with Swinton’s Lancastrian Hall – a building that some love and others hate.
Plus this week’s top news and sport from Salford – and what’s on in the city over the weekend. We’re eyeing up Cheese Sunday at The Grocer’s Micropub…
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Derelict eyesore or civil jewel? What next for Swinton’s Lancastrian Hall
What would you say if you heard that Swinton was getting a 500-seat performance venue that doubled as a library and events hall? There’d be a licensed bar, cafe and space for lectures, learning and exhibitions. Musical acts would perform there; it would host theatre, art and even wrestling shows. A bright new star in Salford and Swinton’s cultural and entertainment offering.
There is one. It’s Swinton’s Lancastrian Hall, built in 1969 and closed in 2015, It’s nearing ten years since the vast brutalist/modernist building was last used; it's seven years since Salford council spent £200,000 asking its then partner Urban Vision to create the 'Swinton Transformation Plan', which has never been published.
As of 2024 Salford City Council says there are no imminent plans for its reuse. The Hall is the centrepiece of an unpublished masterplan for Swinton. It says: “[T]he council considers that future decisions regarding the building will be guided by a comprehensive plan for the area, guided by the vision and developed with the community,” but adds that there is “overwhelming support for the demolition of the Lancastrian Hall”.
How did it come to this? Fans swoon at the bold, angular building ('one of the best examples of late sixties brutalism in north-west'; 'a magical structure of stairways, undercrofts, elevated walks and majestic concrete clad volumes'); architects lead walks to the building to admire it, despite its dereliction. It’s even inspired a typeface (‘the blocky shape of the glyphs matches the imposing blocks of concrete’) and been conceptualised as a living museum ('the innovative forms, materials and spatial qualities of Brutalism should be celebrated and treated as valued heritage assets').
But – on the whole – residents don't share the love for Lancastrian Hall. "Lancastrian Hall is a disgrace and opposite the Town Hall give a bad image of the area," read one typical response on social media. "This eyesore has to go," reads another.
They're likely to get their way. The Swinton Vision document canvassed opinion from locals and found that regenerating Swinton town centre would require "removing the Lancastrian Hall, rethinking the shopping centre, and repurposing the Civic Centre and the spaces around it".
Yet the building still has its defenders. Sue Morris had her wedding reception at the Lancastrian Hall decades ago and remembers the building fondly.
“I'm from a poor working class background and back then the Lancastrian Hall was a bit 'posh' for us," says Sue. "The council provided the buffet and staff were friendly and helpful, all wearing black t-shirts. The room itself was decorated nicely, again a bit posh – flock wallpaper we were used to the good old woodchip! I recall looking around the room and smiling thinking ‘this was nice’.”
Those views are echoed by Dr Tanja Poppelreuter, Director of Postgraduate Research Studies in the Built Environment and a Lecturer in the History and Theory of Architecture at the University of Salford. She says the building has architectural, soceital and financial value that should be explored, before being condemned.
"It's actually a very interesting and very good building," says Tanja, "but it is very much born out of that mid-century brutalist movement in that it shows very clearly what the material it's made of. You see immediately the finish of the concrete, the green windows, the shape of rooms and stairs."
Tanja says that the building came from an era where buildings were designed to show what their use was – and how bold, new structures could help Britain out of its post-war austerity.
"They were pushing this type of modernist architecture as a means of reinvigorating the economy... trying to base architecture on technological advancements. They're nitty gritty on purpose but we live in an age where we celebrate shallowness and we celebrate superficiality. We want to have the illusion of glamour and this architecture was doing the opposite. It was trying to explain to us that life after the war is rough and was trying to embrace the ordinary rather than the heroic... we should try to find some beauty in that.”
However Tanja acknowledges that not everyone feels the same way and concedes that concrete 'doesn't age with dignity', though she says an air blast would do wonders for the facade. She adds that tearing the building down is less sustainable – and ponders the hidden value of the Lancastrian Hall's civic worth.
"Landmark buildings have a value that is not easily quantifiable – and be careful what you wish for. If you have new architecture, are you really sure that you can stimulate the economy to bring in office buildings, offices?"
"It could be better to retain something that has been part of the makeup of Swinton; that people remember as children going to and reading their favourite books; people who got married there. If you systematically take these points of reference away, what does that do to a community? What does it do to your feeling of belonging also responsibility for a place? We cannot underestimate landmark buildings and what they do to the communities.
"Our politics are so quick to use the word community, but they never really fill it with any meaning. What makes a community? It's a lot of things, but it's also the spaces you share across generations. A sense of belonging, a place attachment. We call it in architecture."
So what next? The privately-owned Swinton Square shopping centre that adjoins Lancastrian Hall will likely be part of a wider regeneration of the area – and poses a significant barrier to redevelopment. But while many locals might decry the building and its complicated legacy, Sue Morris hopes for a new lease of life.
She says: "There are so many rooms in that building it could be a great opportunity to establish maybe community activities, artist studios/classes, small businesses; something to create local job opportunities or a drop-in centre for health.
"It's so central and accessible for the locals it seems such a shame to think of it being demolished."
Salford City Council award nearly £4 million to transform local streets
Chapel Street and New Bailey will undergo radical changes prioritising pedestrians and cyclists as the council earmarks cash for their transformation. Read more here.
Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey abstains on vote to cut to Winter Fuel Payments
Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey says she could not support the proposals to means test Winter Fuel Payments ‘as they stand’ and so did not vote in favour of them.
She said: “8,400 people in my constituency are set to be affected by these cuts, whilst 1,800 older people are already missing out on the Pension Credit they are entitled to.”
The Salford MP went onto add in her statement that she has “urged the Government to pause, work collaboratively with colleagues to reconsider these plans in time for the Budget. and provide the support so many pensioners needed.” Read more here.
Ex-Salford Academy player hopes to raise £10,000 for charity
A team led by ex-Salford Academy player Nick Ryan will be set to take on the GB Police Rugby Team with the aim of raising £10,000 for The Christie Charity. Read more here.
Landmark new youth centre set to create 70 new jobs in Salford
Salford Youth Zone (SYZ) is set to open its doors in early 2025 and hopes to create up to 70 full-time and part-time jobs.
The site will be adjacent to Belvedere Road and Broadwalk in Pendleton, and provide opportunities such as health and wellbeing support, outdoor education, and a climbing wall. Read more here.
Salford City slip to spirited defeat at Wrexham
Salford City’s Bristol Street Motors campaign looks set to end at the first hurdle after an agonising late 2-1 defeat by Wrexham in Wales. Read more here.
What’s On in Salford this weekend
🥾 Join the Salford Ranger team for a 5-kilometre stroll through Worsley Woods down the Loopline to Dukes Drive and Bridgewater Canal. Click here for more.
⚔️ Every fancied yourself as a budding medieval sword-wielder? Historia Normannis Salford’s medieval combat session could be for you. Click here for more.
🧀 It’s Cheese Sunday at The Grocer’s Micropub – serving cheeses alongside cask ales and more. Click here for more.
🎸 Dust off your combat boots and leather. It’s Manchester Rage Fest - with plenty of ‘thrash, metal core and more’ at the Old Pint Pot this Sunday. Click here for more.
Our photo of the week: Peel Park Inn
Dating back to 1862 – and possibly earlier – the Peel Park House Refreshment Rooms offered real Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, chops, steaks and Burton ales, according to the Pubs Of Manchester site. It adds that pub was nearly closed in 1913 when the police included it on a list of pubs where customers could enter and exit via the back door without being seen. Pints were finally poured in 1999 when the owners, Nomura, sold the building. It was demolished in 2012.
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