Report - Manchester Metropolitan University Campus, Alsager - March 2017

[GRONK]

March 2017​

Did this one as a solo visit following an early finish from work one day in March, I was a bit surprised that it hasn't been posted to the forum before but it made for an interesting afternoon. The site is pretty large with most of the buildings just containing empty classrooms with the occasional gem wedged in, the university was part of two campuses that made up the Cheshire branch of the MMU with the other being located in the nearby town of Crewe. The MMU have been struggling for a number of years and in an attempt to save money they decided to close the Alsager site and moved all the students to Crewe.

Unfortunately in late 2016 the MMU announced that due to low attendance the Crewe campus would start to close over the next few years with all students expected to be gone by 2019, so it doesn't look like it will be long before that one is on my hit list.

[A]
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History
During the Second World War a Hostel built of wooden army huts was constructed on the site of the MMU to house workers at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Radway Green, and was called "Heathside". In 1945 it became "Alsager Training College" for the training of teachers which were in short supply at that time. The wooden huts were still in use for the housing of students until the early 1960s. The MMU Alsager was home to the Contemporary Arts and Sports Science Departments of the Manchester Metropolitan University.

The University absorbed the former Crewe & Alsager College of Higher Education, forming the Crewe and Alsager Faculty, now renamed MMU Cheshire. The Alsager Arts Centre was also on campus, and promoted touring contemporary dance, music, theatre, live art, performance writing and visual art events to the public as well as members of the University community.

The university has been transferring staff and departments from Alsager to the Crewe campus since 2006 and the entire Alsager site is now closed. The Arts Centre has also moved to the MMU campus in Crewe, and has been renamed the Axis Arts Centre.

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Cheers For Looking​

 

[raisinwing]

Good to see someone else getting this done, like you say it's fairly knackered and uninteresting but there are the odd few bits worth seeing.

 

[BravodierIII]

One day, when my bike is up for it - I shall travel up north and visit some of these places. Love the pictures man

 

[coolboyslim]

Nice m8ty shame it's pretty gutted but deffo gotta have a mooch when you see something lol.. Good stuff

 

[UrbanFoxCub]

This place is massive how has everyone else missed this!!

No mention of secca??

 

[GRONK]

No mention of secca??

There was secca but all they did was sit in their office, never gave me any trouble when I walked past. haha

As far as I know is has all been flattened now.

 

[UrbanFoxCub]

There was secca but all they did was sit in their office, never gave me any trouble when I walked past. haha

As far as I know is has all been flattened now.

No sign or mention of demo on stuff i have looked at to do with it.

 

[GRONK]

No sign or mention of demo on stuff i have looked at to do with it.

I guess I just made that up then.

 

[Post-apocalyptic Pete]

I went for a look around back in August and demolition was in progress back then; I would be surprised if there is much left now...

 

[Scoobysrt]

I can confirm there is nothing left at all. Most of the land is now a housing estate and what's left is flattened and foundations going in for another estate. Couldn't see any original bits at all.

 

[curiousviewer]

My mum used to work here and as a boy I spent many summer times in the out door pool annoying the students. Alas it has all been raised to the ground as of 2018 to make way for hundreds of houses. The picture of the building with the greenhouse style roof was called the 'Wesley Centre' and that had the canteen etc. I use to love putting money in the jukebox there. Why do certain members of the public feel the need to smash places up? Great work what you do, been visiting the website for many years and the fact that you are recording these buildings in an era where planners are so enthusiastic to knock everything down is amazing. At least we have somewhere to visit to remember!

 

[Alcamp17]

As an ex-student from early 60s...best years of our lives.Believe it or not, we still meet up!
So sad to see its demise.

 

[curiousviewer]

The MMU in Alsager has now all but disappeared and is now an estate full of boring overpriced houses.
The MMU campus in Crewe though is now a Medical college.

 

[Alcamp17]

Yes, have seen recent pictures of Alsager site...nothing like it was in our day. (Nissen huts and water tower!)