Birchfields Road Tram Car Depot

Occupying a roughly triangular site bounded by Birchfield Road, Mossley Road, and the railway, the foundation stone of the tram depot was laid by Alderman A W Chapman in July 1926 . Officially opened on 24 July 1928 by Councillor W Davy JP, Lord Mayor of Manchester, the car shed covered 17,000 square yards and provided accommodation for 230 trams. Trams entered through an arch at the centre of the Birchfields Road frontage 2.5 miles of track much of which was supported on iron columns Almost the entire floor was constructed 4 feet 6 inches below the track level for inspection purposes.  Facilities included offices and stores, its own telephone exchange and entertainment hall where music was performed live.  In 1947, conversion to a bus garage began. Birchfield Road formed the terminus for the last four trams to run in ceremonial procession from Piccadilly on 10 January 1949. The depot continued in use as a bus depot until 1986. Following its sale a few years later the building was demolished and the site redeveloped as a retail park.

The opening plaque tn the form of a bas relief of the front of a tram is now in Manchester Museum of Transport