1. Site Analysis.

Manchester + Ancoats.

Pollard Street, Manchester, M4 7JA

Ancoats is located to the east of Manchester, just past the Northern Quarter, and is known as the “world’s first industrial suburb”. Its name derived from the Old English ana cots, meaning “lonely cottages” and the first recorded name of the settlement is Elnecot in 1212. While undergoing significant change in the recent years, the mills and factories remain unmoved, but are now converted into offices and elegant apartments. The southern part of Ancoats has been rebranded as New Islington by property developers Urban Splash. In recent years this area has undergone significant regeneration which has acted as a ‘buffer zone’ between the city centre and the areas of deprivation and run down industrial units beyond.

Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA.

This map provides a closer look of Ancoats’ location in Manchester, highlighting key locations nearby. It shows how the site is located in New Islington and how the Ashton canal runs alongside it. From the size of the buildings on the map, it is clear that site is near a residential area, as it is made up of smaller buildings, compared with the bigger blocks in the city centre.

Meso Context.

Zooming in

This map shows the site with a closer look at the direct context. This site is surrounded by Ashton Canal, Pollard Street and Beswick Street. The main access is from Pollard street, but there are opportunities to create greater connectivity, such as via the canal.

The Site.

A closer look at the surroundings

The site borders Ashton Canal and two old repurposed mills. Weeds grow up the side of the bank, making the site border look overgrown and uncared for. Further along the canal you can see the new apartment blocks by Urban Splash, and opposite the site are the newest townhouses. This has created quite a contrast in building type.

The Site in Volumes.

1:500 site model

The making of the physical model means you can view the space right in front of you and see how each building fits together into the surroundings. Volumetric studies then begin to develop, considering the sun paths and shadows from the tall buildings surrounding the site. From making this model, I fully analysed the form of the site from the exact shape of the canal to the roof pitches to the varied building heights in the area.

Site Photos.

Exploring the site visually

I have mapped some key photos around the site such as the neighbouring hope mill theatre. The meanwhile use of the site is as a car park; for theatre guests and people working in the buildings on the site.

Serial Vision.

Gorden Cullen inspired analysis

As I travel around the site it is clear that there is a huge mix of building typology; from mills to abandoned sites to council housing to the urban splash new builds. Ancoats and New Islington is an area of huge contrast and divide. When walking, the streets were virtually empty of both cars and people. There is a feeling of abandonment in the air. The area feels as if it needs to refind its sense of community.

of the Past.

Site History.

1200

Elnecot

In 1212, the first recorded mention of the settlement as Elnecot; meaning ‘lonely cottages’. The first market is recorded in 1282.

Ancoats Hall

In 1596, Ancoats Hall is erected by a rich family called The Mosley’s. It remains in the family for the next two centuries.

1780

1500 Trade boom

Ancoats remains as fields and cottages until the family eventually leave the old hall. A trade boom and population increase begins.

1800

Industrial suburb

In 1804 the Rochdale canal opens which leads to the rapid development of mills and industry in the area. Ancoats becomes the “world’s first industrial suburb” as thousands of workers move to the area - a new urban working class.

1890

Little Italy

Ancoats starts to be known as “Ancoats Little Italy” as over 2000 Italians move in. The area becomes the home to the manufacturing of Domenico Antonelli & Sons pianos in 1895 and they pioneer the British ice cream industry with the arrival of their gelato recipes.

1900

Decline + depopulation

Industry peaks and the area suffers decline following the start of WWI. Depopulation happens after WWII, particularly during the slum clearances of the 1960s.

2000

Urban Splash invasion

Regeneration by Urban Splash begins, and in 2022 it is home to young professionals and an abudance of growing independent businesses. It’s voted 13th coolest place to live in the world, yet there is still much divide and deprivation.

This 1794 map of Manchester is by William Green and shows a series of open fields divided by Shooters Brook (a tributary of the Medlock). The faint dotted lines represent the proposed infrastructure to compliment the planned Ashton Canal. The plot of land the site is located on has yet to be arranged.

Rapid industrialisation is shown by the densely packed buildings near the Ashton canal such as mills, a hydroelectric plant, a galvanising factory and a wire works. The south section of Ancoats has been developed into the large Ancoats Hospital complex. The site itself is occupied by the Beswick Street Silk Mill.

The site is still surrounded by mills (predominantly cotton) however, the mill on the site is now called Medlock Printing Works. Some of the housing on the neigbouring greenspace has been removed.

1794

1890

1920

Changing Land Use.

Historic mapping

A visual analysis of how the site and its surroundings have changed through time from an area of fields and cottages in 1700 to an industrial area in 1800.

A lot of the housing has been removed and replaced with cul de sacs council estates, with more open space. The site is still occupied with the mill but now has the name Hope Mill, which is the name it has in present times. The late 1900s saw unreconisable changes with the area developing into the Cardroom: canals became disused.

1950

Land Use Map.

What building uses make up Ancoats?

Ancoats and New Islington are heavily made up of residential areas. Urban Splash have regenerated a lot of abandoned/run down areas in Ancoats and built a mixture of townhouses and apartments. There are also many old mills which have either been abandoned or converted into private workspaces. Restaurants and bars are dotted about as well as religious spaces and schools to compliment the residential areas.

Key.

Where are the theatres near the site?

Typologies On Site

1. Hope Mill Theatre

2. Play Fire Studios

3. Hope Mill Comminity Club

4. Hope Mill Recording Studios

5. White Bear Recording Studios

Analysis

Mapping Typologies. Key.

In mapping exisisting infrastructure for performers in Manchester, I have learnt that the site in Ancoats is adjacent to many creative studios. The Northern Quarter, a neighbour to Ancoats, also houses many performance and practice venues. Ancoats’ art scene is up and coming, highlighting the importance of a project such as this to house these performers.