The Hotspur Press (Percy Brothers Ltd) - Manchester.
The Hotspur Press building is one of the City center's most distinctive industrial relics.
Originally known as Medlock Mill; formerly a cotton mill the complex was originally built on the banks of the River Medlock in 1801.
The mill had also been built to follow the shape of the river. On one side of the building, the walls curved outward, meaning the inside of the rooms were unusual shapes.
According to a map published in 1888, the building had by this point ended the first phase of its life making cotton, and was now a printing works, circa. 1901 owned by the Percy Brothers Ltd.
Even surviving a direct hit during the Blitz, Percy Brothers remained in operation until 1996. The building still bears it's fantastic signage.
Since this time, the building was used as a printing shop until 2011, by John Sherratt & Son.
Shortly after it was occupied by squatters until they were finally evicted on 6th July 2017.
The building now lies empty and derelict and is in a poor structural state of repair.
There has been many residential plans put forward for the re-purpose of the building, including a compulsory purchase order as part of Network Railās extension works, none of which have ever come to fruition.
It's been a while since I poked about in a soggy derp, thought I'd stick summat half decent up as it's been a while..
I'd always had high hope for this place, but having seen pics from after the squatters departed it wasn't to be unfortunately.
Despite it's appealing exterior (you could forgive anyone for expecting anything less than epic), there isn't much of merit left behind, it's largely stripped and the printing presses have long since been weighed in.
I'm glad to have finally seen inside the place and had a good rake around, however it's not something I'd shout about sadly.
Also, no camera just some trusty iphone-tastics (sorry not sorry)
Ground/1st Floor and loading areas
2nd Floor
The curved section of the building had been partitioned off here unlike the others, probably when it was briefly rented out to 'Artists' in the mid noughties.
I guess someone likes pigeons
The second floor was also home to the offices of "Hotspur House"
Here, the original entrance from the street below
Again partitioned off, a corridor leads of to a number of smaller rooms.
Although I did takes pics, I haven't shared largely down to lack of natural lighting and also being trashed by squatters, however I've attached a few interesting bits I did stumble on..
I nipped (ripped my pants) getting out onto the lower roof to admire the building
3rd Floor
Crack Den
Views looking into town
4th Floor
Again I nipped out on the upper rooftop for a butchers, I didn't rip my pants further.
Lastly I decided to nip down to the basement where the printing presses once resided.
It's more Lower Ground floor than basement tbh the way the floors are positioned, between what was essentially 2 buildings.
The best bit here was the workshop area, although small was also pitch black and dickhead here didn't fetch a torch, I had to arse about going back to the car and getting back in again, but was worth it.
One room which was clearly more modern was home to some long work benches and an electric drill
Another older room around the corner and was slightly more epic contained a lathe, more work benches/gubbins and also another drill (I think it is).
These were all belt driven from a large motor and a line shaft which ran across the top of the room
Finally a couple of externals of the Western elevation (rear) of the building as the River Medlock winds around it, including me stood on top of the long since demolished Birley's weir many moons ago
The Hotspur Press building is one of the City center's most distinctive industrial relics.
Originally known as Medlock Mill; formerly a cotton mill the complex was originally built on the banks of the River Medlock in 1801.
The mill had also been built to follow the shape of the river. On one side of the building, the walls curved outward, meaning the inside of the rooms were unusual shapes.
According to a map published in 1888, the building had by this point ended the first phase of its life making cotton, and was now a printing works, circa. 1901 owned by the Percy Brothers Ltd.
Even surviving a direct hit during the Blitz, Percy Brothers remained in operation until 1996. The building still bears it's fantastic signage.
Since this time, the building was used as a printing shop until 2011, by John Sherratt & Son.
Shortly after it was occupied by squatters until they were finally evicted on 6th July 2017.
The building now lies empty and derelict and is in a poor structural state of repair.
There has been many residential plans put forward for the re-purpose of the building, including a compulsory purchase order as part of Network Railās extension works, none of which have ever come to fruition.
It's been a while since I poked about in a soggy derp, thought I'd stick summat half decent up as it's been a while..
I'd always had high hope for this place, but having seen pics from after the squatters departed it wasn't to be unfortunately.
Despite it's appealing exterior (you could forgive anyone for expecting anything less than epic), there isn't much of merit left behind, it's largely stripped and the printing presses have long since been weighed in.
I'm glad to have finally seen inside the place and had a good rake around, however it's not something I'd shout about sadly.
Also, no camera just some trusty iphone-tastics (sorry not sorry)
Ground/1st Floor and loading areas
2nd Floor
The curved section of the building had been partitioned off here unlike the others, probably when it was briefly rented out to 'Artists' in the mid noughties.
I guess someone likes pigeons
The second floor was also home to the offices of "Hotspur House"
Here, the original entrance from the street below
Again partitioned off, a corridor leads of to a number of smaller rooms.
Although I did takes pics, I haven't shared largely down to lack of natural lighting and also being trashed by squatters, however I've attached a few interesting bits I did stumble on..
I nipped (ripped my pants) getting out onto the lower roof to admire the building
3rd Floor
Crack Den
Views looking into town
4th Floor
Again I nipped out on the upper rooftop for a butchers, I didn't rip my pants further.
Lastly I decided to nip down to the basement where the printing presses once resided.
It's more Lower Ground floor than basement tbh the way the floors are positioned, between what was essentially 2 buildings.
The best bit here was the workshop area, although small was also pitch black and dickhead here didn't fetch a torch, I had to arse about going back to the car and getting back in again, but was worth it.
One room which was clearly more modern was home to some long work benches and an electric drill
Another older room around the corner and was slightly more epic contained a lathe, more work benches/gubbins and also another drill (I think it is).
These were all belt driven from a large motor and a line shaft which ran across the top of the room
Finally a couple of externals of the Western elevation (rear) of the building as the River Medlock winds around it, including me stood on top of the long since demolished Birley's weir many moons ago
