J and N Philips Warehouse 35 Church Street Manchester

WAREHOUSING - There is now a warehouse in the course of erection in Manchester which seems deserving of especial notice on account of its extent, as well as its mode of construction. It is the property of Messrs Philips and Company, the oldest, wealthiest, and certainly the most respectable firm within the borough. Its site is in Church Street and adjoining their present large establishment. Its basement story is equal to that of Messrs Watts, within a few superficial yards. The area of the various floors will be within a shade of a statute acre, whilst the entire concern would cover over two statute acres. The building is to be completely fireproof; not an inch of timber will, it is said, be used in its construction. It is built of the best stock dressed brick, and instead of plastering the inner walls, the inside brickwork will be faced with dressed stock brick, similar to the outside, with this difference, however, that the inside facing will be laid in Roman cement, thus making the inner wall impervious to damp - a great desideratum in a haberdashery concern like this. It is somewhat singular that the Messrs Philips should have been the first to introduce fireproof cotton mills, - the first, too, to introduce gas into a cotton mill, which was effected in 1801-1802, to a large extent, -  and also the first to build a fire-proof warehouse, for the first it will be in Manchester that has been erected for the sale of goods only. [Builder 18 January 1845 page 35]

WAREHOUSES -  An extraordinary energy is at this time displayed in the erection of warehouses in Manchester, and some of these buildings are of such a character and magnitude, that they cannot be passed over without mention. A large warehouse is now near completion in Church Street, belonging to Messrs. J. and N. Philips and Co., of which Mr Whittaker is the architect. This warehouse adjoins one erected some years since by the firm, and the front of the two forms one design. The building is four storeys high, exclusive of cellar: the main front is faced with stone as high as the second floor, where is a dentilled stone cornice running the whole length. The upper part is of stock brick, with a stone cornice and parapet over all. The windows have stone sills, and moulded frames and cornices. The floors are of the construction commonly called fireproof, i. e., having iron beams connected to each other by tie rods, with brick arches springing between them. The inequalities above the arches are filled in level, and a floor formed above. The new part has one room to each story, about the centre of which are three large openings (to each floor), for giving light from the skylight, around which openings will be counters for exhibiting the goods upon. This arrangement suits the requirements of the trade; but in case of a fire it is objectionable, as the openings would allow the fire to spread rapidly to every room. The stock and wood work alone, however, could be burnt, as the brick arches and iron beams could receive little or no injury. [Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal September 1845 page 292-293]

The greatest change in the architecture of Manchester is apparent in the warehouses; in many of which there is much architectural display That of Messrs Philips and Co., in Church Street, is of brick and stone; the windows having architrave and cornice. The whole is of "fire-proof" construction, though its safety interfered with by the central well-hole staircase, adopted for the advantage of light, an arrangement lately much in vogue in that class of buildings. The rapidity with which fire was communicated from floor to floor, by this arrangement, in several instances led the insurance offices to increase the rate for that class of building, and they are now seldom adopted. [Builder 1845 page 546-548]

Reference    Builder 18 January 1845 page 35
Reference    Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal September 1845 page 292-293
Reference    Builder 1845 page 546-548