Sir Albert Richardson speaks out about Manchester
Sir Albert had travelled from London to give an address at the B.B.C.’s 51 Society. The distinguished septuagenarian was recently knighted and is known for his love of Georgian architecture.
He was taken on a tour of Manchester. Ever enthusiastic, waving his umbrella in characteristic style, he expressed some strong opinions. Here is a selection:
On the recently-completed interior of the FREE TRADE HALL he had this to say: “A Brilliant conception. Quite brilliant. A contemporary design on a classic basis.” He did however recommend replacing the green colour scheme with red.
The OPERA HOUSE, which Sir Albert designed himself in 1911: “Not bad for a boy of thirty, eh ? The first theatre in England without pillars. Never got paid for it of course.”
RYLANDS LIBRARY: “You’re looking at the last of the very great buildings, my dear boy! Where are they all, those budding young architects ? Go out into the street. Bring them in before it’s too late!”
ST ANN’S SQUARE: “Don’t ever change the colour of Manchester. Black velvet it is and always should be. Let us have no more whited sepulchres”.
In front of Strangeways Prison, stand the remains of the war-damaged ASSIZES COURTS. When told they were to be demolished, he replied: ” Blasphemy! All it wants is a roof. You must save that façade. You’ll never get anything so good again.”
PICCADILLY: “Good heavens boy, do you know what you’ve got here? A piazza! The greatest open space, the biggest city square in Britain! A great civic forum.”
Sir Albert was not impressed with the telephone exchange on the south side overlooking the blitzed site between York Street and Parker St Bus Station. “And that hideous red building? What is it? A telephone exchange? Get rid of it. Build a new one. Tack the post-office onto it, if you like. But give it a graceful colonnade. This is the city centre boy! A place for walking and talking!”
He a sktech of his plan for a new Piccadilly – A wide European style piazza with statues, a new GPO stretching the full length of York Street and the bus station moved underground.
Summing up what needs to be done, his comments were as follows:
- Tidy up the mainfront of Central Station
- Re-roof the Assizes Courts
- De-pedestal the statues to pavement level and above all…
- open up Piccadilly Gardens into the great piazza it should be. Plant it with fountains and groups of statuary by local artists.”
Comments taken from the article by John Alldridge in the Manchester Evening News March 1 1956.