Gatehouse and Chapel. Bishopscourt, 443-445 Bury New Road, Kersal, Salford

When James Fraser became Bishop of Manchester, he immediately set about set about replacing Mauldeth Hall (home of Bishop Prince Lee) as the Episcopal House. For his new official residence, he acquired Broughton Hall, on Bury New Road, Kersal, situated less than two miles from Manchester Cathedral on high ground with extensive views over the Irwell valley. The hall had previously been in the occupation of Murray Gladstone, India merchant, (Gladstone, Latham and Company of Manchester) a cousin of the prime minister W E Gladstone.

Bishop Fraser took residence in December 1872. Two extensions were said to have been added to the Hall, during his occupation. One containing the chapel with a room under for the examination of Ordination Candidates and the other a Bishop’s study. According to Dobbs, “A monstrous gatehouse was also built, designed in the shape of a mitre.” Both the chapel and gatehouse are shown on the 25-inch OS map of 1889-1893. However, the study extension only appears only on later OS editions.

In 1947, Bishopscourt was requisitioned by Salford Corporation and converted into eleven self-contained flats. It was finally returned to the church in 1961 in a derelict condition, fit only for demolition. A new Bishopscourt was erected on the site in 1962-1964, and first occupied by Bishop Greer and his family in June 1964.  In 2022 it remains the residence of the Bishops of Manchester.

Reference        Pevsner: South Lancashire (1969) page 394
Reference        Rev A Dobbs: Like a Mighty Tortoise page 256-7 with plan and illustrations
Reference        Anon: Ewan Christian, Architect. 1896 page 68
Reference        Journal of RIBA Third Series vol 18 1911 pages 711-730 Included as “Manchester Palace. Chapel, Examination Rooms, and Gateway.”