Former Ridings Store and Showroom, Higher Road, Urmston
Location/Address
5 - 7 Higher Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 9SB.
Type
Description
This building is a former carpet and furniture showroom in Urmston town centre. The Art Deco style and location of the building highlight its importance to the definition and character of this part of the area.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
This is a large three storey former showroom building which is sited on the corner of Higher Road and Station Road, near the station bridge, at the heart of Urmston town centre. The building design curves around the plot near to the junction of the two roads which adds to its interest and impact on the character of this part of the town.Age
Circa 1932Architectural and Artistic Interest
This building is designed in a striking Art Deco style with curved frontage which follows the alignment of the roadways where it is located. The building has a flat roof appearance, with square features adding to its unique quality, and marking out its status as an expression of the Art Deco style, popular during the period of its construction. Differences in the colour of the brickwork also add further depth to the style and character to the building. Additionally, the property has many windows, adding to its features and overall impact. The architect for the building was William Harry Longworth, who also produced designs for several other buildings in the area. The building's design has some similarity with that of the Clubhouse of Davyhulme Park Golf Club - for which Longworth submitted a design proposal (see separate entry). This is a good quality design - incorporating features which today would be unusual in a property devoted to retail furniture sales.Group Value
The building has strong group value given its curving style and location near the centre of Urmston. Additionally the building compliments the nearby former Crown Post Office Building (constructed 1939), which is now a pub/bar/restaurant.Historic Interest
Operating from the early 1930's Ridings was a popular carpet and furniture retailer, with a number of stores located in Manchester and its outlying districts. Its position at the centre of Urmston shows how the store was designed to offer modern conveniences to a growing affluent suburban community. Later in its existence one of the ground floor units was turned into a cycle store - also managed by Ridings. The complex later accommodated 'H. T. Burt' a high quality menswear shop. Not only did Ridings have a range of up to date goods at reasonable prices for its local customers, but it also offered a range of early credit arrangements, allowing customers to buy now and pay later. By the 1960's however Ridings appears to have declined in popularity, and also in the quality of the products stocked for sale. Like many such businesses the company eventually disappeared from the high street. After the closure of the Ridings store, the building accommodated a number of different local businesses, and remains an important and defining building in the centre of the town.Landmark Status
The location of this building and its design mark this out as a local landmark in this part of Urmston town centre.Images and Documents
Date Listed
01 Apr 2023
Last Updated
31 Oct 2021
Find Out More
Find out more about this Asset in Greater Manchester Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/greater-manchester/asset/5587
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/greater-manchester/asset/5587