Midland Hotel

This grand Edwardian baroque style hotel dating from 1903 has been a much loved and iconic part of Manchester welcoming visitors from all over the world. The hotel was designed by Charles Trubshaw who was renowned for railway buildings on the London, North Western Railway and the Midland Railway Company.

The building is a steel frame, with cladding of brown polished granite, red brick and glazed terracotta. The front elevation which faces Peter Street is split into symmetrical bays of 2:4:2. Timber windows are all fronted with either brown granite or wrought iron balcony railings.

The Grade II listed building has many elaborate details none more so than the four lions that adorn the corner of Mount Street and the Wyvern, the chimerical dragon, in a roundel above the arches of the main entrance. Lower Mosley Street Elevations boast four compositions which represent art, architecture, literature and sculpture.

The rooftop historically was the place to be for the city’s elite. Afternoon tea would be served on the terrace to men and women dressed in their finest. A full band would play music to the audience who made the climb of the many flights of stairs. The terrace was only enjoyed for the relatively short time of seven years when it was closed down in 1910 due to the smoke and soot that the many chimneys emitted.

Now the roof terrace is only enjoyed by maintenance personnel and the kitchen personnel who collect fresh herbs from the roof garden.

Stephen Buxton & Associates have been instructed on many various aspects of the buildings maintenance such as:

• Condition surveys using drones and abseilers
• Repairs to the main flat roof terrace.
• Repairs to the slate covered roofs and lead work.
• Repairs to the elevations.
• Damp and water ingress diagnosis and remedial measures to individual rooms.
• Restoration and preservation of the architectural details.
• Exposure and examination of the steel frame to ascertain degree of corrosion.
• The preparation of proposals for cathodic protection
• Refurbishment of many of the rooms.