Plans to demolish part of an historic Salford mining rescue station for 17 residential buildings have been welcomed by English Heritage.
Crofter Developments Limited and P. Casey Developments Ltd requested to build fifteen townhouses and two apartments on the Lancashire Mines Conservation site on Ellenbrook Road in Salford this September.
The commercial and residential development firm got approval to construct a mezzanine floor and provide an additional storey to Boothstown Mining Rescue Station in March but have since had to apply to make further alterations due to the station’s infirm structure.
English Heritage, who appealed last week for volunteers to help identify Grade II listed buildings in Manchester, pledged to support local campaigns to save historical sites but has approved plans to demolish part of the now dilapidated Mining Rescue Station.
A spokesman said: “Any harm to the building caused by the works is outweighed by the public benefit of bringing the building back into viable use.”
Built in 1933, the station now known as Orchard House was the base for rescue teams who risked their lives to assist in underground emergencies in the surrounding Lancashire Coalfields.
After it closed in 1994, it was given Grade II listed status and Salford Council issued a direction under Article four of the General Development Order to safeguard the building’s frontage, the only time it has issued one to any of Salford’s 16 conservation areas.
However, most of the station’s interior was ripped out when it was converted to a hat manufacturing business and for the last few years the vacant building has attracted looters who have taken copings, lead flashing and other fabrics from the premises.
Ken Howarth has worked in museums, archives and local history libraries for more than 40 years and visited the station when before it closed.
He said: “I am shocked that the developers are allowed to take it down. It’s an unbelievably important building. I thought was protected.
“I suspect the mining community will be appalled at the news.”
The Station itself included laboratory and a training gallery which could be filled with smoke or heated to simulate the conditions that might be encountered in an emergency. A superintendent, two instructors and two teams of six rescuers lived on the two hectare site, which included houses and allotments.
“Up until these mining rescue stations were built in Cumbria, North Wales and the North West no rescue services had been developed,” Mr Howarth said.
“Boothstown Rescue Station has quite literally saved thousands of lives.”
Former Salford resident, John Martin, remembers when the rescue station was in service in the 1990s.
He said: “The Crews at Ellenbrook Road were superb and so hospitable. It was a pity they closed this Station.”
Crofter Developments Limited and P. Casey Developments Ltd have said that they aim to create an ‘economically viable conversion that is ‘saleable to the local residential market’. Their Heritage and Planning application state their designs will allow for ‘a full appreciation of the history and architecture of the original building’.
They added: “Engagement has constantly been undertaken with the local community. It is understood that the approved scheme has broad based local support.”
The firm intend to commence work on the heritage site in the near future as detailed design work has already been undertaken. Plans were submitted on September 26 and are pending approval.
Image courtesy of Leo Reynolds via Flickr, with thanks.
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