Building Name

Rylands Warehouse, High Street Market Street, Tib Street, Manchester

Date
1929 - 1932
Street
Market Street
District/Town
Central, Manchester
County/Country
GMCA, England
Client
Rylands and Sons Limited
Work
New Build
Listed
Grade II
Contractor
J. Gerrard and Sons

 

NEW MANCHESTER BUILDING OF RYLANDS AND SONS LIMITED - The new building of Messrs. Rylands and Sons, Ltd., at the junction of Market Street and High Street has a commanding air of dignity about it which is appreciated by ordinary persons who, knowing little about the art and technique of architecture, are responsive to beauty and harmony, whether in the works of man or of nature. Another symbol of Manchester's commercial enterprise, it is also an expression of the faith of the house of Rylands in the future—visible and encouraging to the multitudes of passers-by, said to be greater in number than at any other place in the country. Covering about 2,300 square yards, the building is the first section of new warehouses and offices - ultimately to extend to 6,000 square yards—and stands on an island site between Market Street High Street, Bridgewater Place, and Tib Street. Above the ground are six storeys; and there is a basement and sub-basement. The construction is of steel framing, concrete, and brickwork with Portland stone to all facades. Straight lines and plain surfaces dominate the exterior. An advantage of the absence of over-hanging cornices and projections will be the tendency to produce a more even weathering of the stone. Good window space is a feature on every side. Mr. Harry S. Fairhurst. the architect. designed the building not in any of the strict traditions, but rather as an expression of modern usage, with a particular intention to use Portland stone in a way fitting to the Manchester atmosphere. Frontages the ground floor in Market Street and High Street are to be occupied chiefly as shops. The main entrances in Tib Street and High Street lead to a spacious hall to be used a saleroom. An island  staircase and four passenger lifts connect this hall with the floors above. Running nearly the whole length of the building at the back in Bridgewater Place, a loading bank has been specially constructed to be suitable for dispatching traffic in a narrow street.

 

Specially familiar to Lancashire, the name of Rylands is well known throughout the world by reason of the firm's immense trade in a great variety of textile products. The founder, John Rylands, a Lancashire man born in 1801, opened a small warehouse in New High Street, Manchester, 107 years ago with six employees, after some experience as a manufacturer of cotton yarns in Wigan. With the co-operation of his brother Joseph, mills were established for the businesses of spinning, weaving, bleaching, and dyeing. The subsequent story of the firm is an astounding record of initiative and progress. They have mills at Manchester, Wigan. Chorley, Swinton. Heapey, Gorton, and Appley Bridge, warehouses at Manchester, London. Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Wellington, N.Z., Cape Town. and Lagos. and a clothing and shirt factory in Manchester. They are general textile merchants, cotton spinners and manufacturers, bleachers, dyers, and finishers. wadding and floor-cloth manufacturers, and clothing, underclothing, and furniture warehousemen. Consequently, in many districts many persons are dependent upon the activity of Rylands for their welfare. So vast an organisation produces expert craftsmen of all kinds. At the Swinton mills, for instance, they are engaged in the manufacture of shirtings, Oxfords, Harvards, flannelettes, dyed drills, blue, brown, and drab jeans, sateens, and other coloured woven specialities. At the Longford works, Manchester, they are busy with clothing, furniture, furnishings, wadding and down quilts, the wadding being provided from the firm's own works at Gorton. And so the numerous branches of Messrs Rylands could be mentioned to indicate in detail where the tremendous quantities of finished goods that are sent all over the world are produced. The business capacity and knowledge of markets of the directors and staffs keep the firm always in the forefront, and even in the difficult conditions of today - as is proved by the building extensions in Manchester - courage and optimism are basic factors in the Rylands creed. Colossal as is their export of merchandise to other countries, Messrs. Rylands are also importers. From all parts of the world come the china, silverware, and jewellery which is displayed in their fancy goods departments. while their toy department, the largest out of London, is famous in the trade. Many other articles are included in the output of Rylands—leather goods. fibre suitcases, cycles, boots and shoes. There seems to be no limit to the march of the firm.

 

Notes on Contractors' Work- The general contractors for the building and the foundations are Messrs. J. Gerrard and Sons Limited, Swinton, who have been prominent for many years in the construction of large premises In Manchester and throughout the country generally. In addition to their chief work as general contractors, they have special departments organised for various branches of the building trade, and are thus able to contribute in several ways to the finished structure, which is a distinct help toward efficiency and economy. They have put the concrete floors in the building and are responsible for the plumbing work, the fine woodwork of the staircase and the office screens, affording another example of their ability undertake various kinds of contracts. In Manchester, Messrs. Gerrard have built the Ship Canal House; Blackfriars House, owned by the Bleachers' Association; the Atlas Assurance Company's offices , King Street; Midland Bank House, Cross Street; the Fire Station; Bridgewater House; the Telephone Exchange, between Victoria Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge; the Nurses' Home at Crumpsall; and the Paramount kinema house. Some of the buildings erected outside the city are the Barton-upon-Irwell Union's infirmary at Davyhulme; a silk factory at Leek for Joshua Wardle Limited; laboratories and offices at Northwich for Brunner Mond; and offices at Billingham for the Imperial Chemical Industries. The firm was founded in 1864 by Mr Jonathan Gerrard as a carpentry and joinery business.

 

The Portland stone in the Rylands building was supplied by F. M. and H. Nuttall, Limited, Manchester. who were also contractors for the stonework on Blackfriars House, the Atlas Assurance Company's offices, Ship Canal House, Royal Mail House, Manchester and County Bank, Piccadilly, and Woolworth's Building, Piccadilly.

 

An important factor in the construction of the building - with time-saving advantages - was "Vitocrete," the super-hardening Red Triangle cement used in the structural work. The proved dependability and the high-grade quality of "Vitocrete," which far exceeds the British standard specification for Portland cement, give a wide margin of safety to the work and enable the contractor to be certain of completing the job well within the time-limit of the contract.

 

"Seigniorife," the plastering cement used in the building, is the product of the Carlisle Plaster and Cement Company, for whom D. Roberts and Company. (Manchester), Ltd. are the agents in Manchester and district. Two of several advantages claimed for this cement are that It can be used in frosty weather and the work can be completed the same day. Manchester buildings where its utility can be noted include the Piccadilly Picture House, Metropolitan-Vickers's extension. St. James's Buildings (C.P.A.), and Lever Brothers' offices.

 

The Crittall Manufacturing Company, Limited, whose headquarters are at Braintree, and who have branches in many of the important towns In England, supplied and fitted the steel windows. Among the large buildings, recently erected or in course of erection, in Manchester which have Crlttall steel windows are Lewis's new premises, the Tootal Broadhurst Lee building. Arkwright House, Colony House, and St. James's House. The new India building at Liverpool and Leeds University are being equipped with Critall metal windows.

 

Electric light and power equipment is the work of William Anderson and Co. Ltd. Broughton, Manchester, the installation possessing many interesting features. An advanced method of power factor rectification is incorporated. The supply is taken from high-tension sub-station on the premises. Messrs. Anderton are also Installing an automatic telephone system throughout the building.

 

The building is heated by means of the invisible radiant heating system, the heating coils being embedded in the ceilings of the rooms. Hot water is circulated through these coils by an electrically driven accelerator. The heat is obtained from boilers of tubular type using oil fuel, and the whole apparatus is automatic in action. Purity of the air is  secured by mechanical apparatus with air washing and warming plant. G. N. Haden and Sons Ltd, Manchester, designed and installed these equipments.

 

Painting and decorating was carried out by Jones and Jackson Ltd, Oxford Road, Manchester. Some of the large contracts secured by this firm in recent years include work at the Manchester Ship Canal House, Arkwright House. Partington Gasworks, Abergele Sanatorium, and the new Manchester Grammar School.

 

The service stair in the building is of pressed steel on the Braby unit system, and was supplied anderected by F. Brabv and Co., Ltd, Glasgow.

 

Travelling by lift in the building will be swift, easy, and pleasant owing to the excellence of the Waygood-Otis installation, which contains the first flying-stop control lifts in Great Britain. The installation consists of five unit multi-volt gearless lifts, with main motor micro, operated on flying-stop control at a speed of 400 feet per minute. Four of the lifts are divided into two pairs. having connected illuminated indicators, thus enabling operators to study passengers' demands and ensuring speedy service. Illuminated Indicators on the ground floor show the position of each lift. In the flying-stop control the car switch is moved to the start position and, after the car starts, moved back anywhere from five to 80 degrees from the start position. At the proper point the car slows down and stops level at the floor. Landing doors are closed automatically and without slamming when released by the operator. There are also four micro operated goods lifts fitted in addition with emergency micro switches. permitting the operator to move the car in the event of an interruption of the landing circuit. [Manchester Guardian 31 October 1930 page 4]

Reference        Builder 14 June 1929 page 1099 - plans approved
Reference        Manchester Guardian 25, June 1929 page 13
Reference        Builder 2 August 1929 page 207 – tenders
Reference        Manchester Guardian 31 October 1930 page 4
Reference        Manchester City News 10 January 1931 - feature report with illustration
Reference        Builder 10 January 1930 Page 161
Reference        Builder 13 January 1933. Page 100-101 notes (index describes as shops, Manchester)
Illustrations     Builder 13 January 1933 including ground floor plan and staircase detail Page 813