Former derelict warehouses restored to former glory

New images show transformation of two of Manchester’s Grade-II listed Victorian shipping warehouses.

Warehouse and Minto & Turner have been restored into loft apartments by developers HBD & Capital & Centric.

Part of Kampus, Manchester’s vibrant new garden neighbourhood, Minshull Warehouse played a starring role in Manchester’s Industrial Revolution-era textiles boom.

Later, clothing company Baracuta fell for it, using the warehouse as the manufacturing home of its iconic Harrington Jacket.

The neighbouring Minto & Turner is a Grade II-listed canal warehouse that was built to store cotton transported on the Rochdale Canal.

One of the apartments at Kampus

Both the Victorian wonders have been brought back to life at Kampus, sensitively restored with loft-style apartments – now available to rent – retaining many of the buildings’ historic features, including original cast iron columns and brickwork.

The ground floors will feature commercial spaces peppered with items from the buildings’ past, including a cast iron hydraulic packing press, an ornate cast iron weighing machine and cast iron maker’s plate, all dating to the 1860s.

The reborn Little David Street, a long forgotten street closed off for decades runs between the two buildings.

It is thought to be one of the only untouched cobbled streets in Manchester and is now reopen to the public and set to be a bustling, alfresco hang out with bars, cafes, shops and restaurants.

Little David Street

Adam Brady, at HBD said: “Out of all our plans at Kampus we’re asked the most about the restoration of these Victorian warehouses.

“There’s something so powerful about them, their former life and the history their bricks hold. These buildings were once derelict and at real risk of being lost forever.

“It was so important we took time to sensitively restore them and preserve as many original features for the next generation of Mancunians. These amazing buildings were a key part of Manchester’s industrial history and people now have the chance to call them home.”