Manchester City Surveyors Plans 1900-1910 photocopy held at GMP Museum & Archive: Old Police Buildings.
Cheetham: B Division
Willert Police Station
The station is unique as very early on in its design inception a request was made by the St Michael’s Ward Committee for the provision of a public meeting room. Due to the urban sprawl of very poor housing in this area no such facility existed. To save costs some the bricks salvaged from the building site on clearance were utilised for the Free Library in Harpurhey and the remainder were used for the actual build.
It had become desirable by the 1870's to increase local but suitable recreation for the working class and council land was sought out for this purpose. Of many plots considered the provision of a small recreation ground locally alongside the station was agreed. This was provided even though two of Manchester’s and England’s first and largest public parks were situated within a mile at Phillip’s Park [opposite the Etihad Stadium 2012] and the Queen’s Park in Harpurhey just north of Queen’s Road.
The plan of the Willert St complex reveals that three quarters of the very large plot was taken over by the recreation ground with Willert Street Police Station controlling a narrow strip along the entire street. Due to increased public health demands by the 1870's a mortuary was built into the design of the station. Of note is that the entrance was directly behind the swings in the park as seen by the photograph of the mortuary in 1939.
The Station was first referred to as Groome St or Churnett Street due to the surrounding roads, but by 1877 on its opening the side street is renamed Willert Street after the senior member of the Watch Committee - Alderman Willert. He died in 1879. The meeting rooms take on the name of Churnett St at the opposite end of the plot.
The building tender from Mr Hershaw was initially £7,364 and by 1886 the station and fittings were valued at £10,682. A comprehensive list of all the Watch Committee minute entries for the station from the last quarter of the century has been attached below.
The Station was in service right up to the 1970’s but was then demolished to permit the redevelopment of the whole area with modern council housing.
The station is unique as very early on in its design inception a request was made by the St Michael’s Ward Committee for the provision of a public meeting room. Due to the urban sprawl of very poor housing in this area no such facility existed. To save costs some the bricks salvaged from the building site on clearance were utilised for the Free Library in Harpurhey and the remainder were used for the actual build.
It had become desirable by the 1870's to increase local but suitable recreation for the working class and council land was sought out for this purpose. Of many plots considered the provision of a small recreation ground locally alongside the station was agreed. This was provided even though two of Manchester’s and England’s first and largest public parks were situated within a mile at Phillip’s Park [opposite the Etihad Stadium 2012] and the Queen’s Park in Harpurhey just north of Queen’s Road.
The plan of the Willert St complex reveals that three quarters of the very large plot was taken over by the recreation ground with Willert Street Police Station controlling a narrow strip along the entire street. Due to increased public health demands by the 1870's a mortuary was built into the design of the station. Of note is that the entrance was directly behind the swings in the park as seen by the photograph of the mortuary in 1939.
The Station was first referred to as Groome St or Churnett Street due to the surrounding roads, but by 1877 on its opening the side street is renamed Willert Street after the senior member of the Watch Committee - Alderman Willert. He died in 1879. The meeting rooms take on the name of Churnett St at the opposite end of the plot.
The building tender from Mr Hershaw was initially £7,364 and by 1886 the station and fittings were valued at £10,682. A comprehensive list of all the Watch Committee minute entries for the station from the last quarter of the century has been attached below.
The Station was in service right up to the 1970’s but was then demolished to permit the redevelopment of the whole area with modern council housing.
Watch Committee Minutes: Willert Street
May 16th 1872 Another station required btw Livesey St and Harpurhey for a station house and drill yard.
Oct 24th 1872 LUSC to locate site btw Rochdale Rd – Oldham Rd 250yds from Collyhurst St from Mr Hershaw for £3,667.2.6d.
Nov 21st 1872 St Michael’s ward Committee request large room for public meetings within new station.
Request for a portion of the building materials (from site clearance) for the erection of the new Free Library near Harpurhey.
Nov 27th 1873 B Div Station Collyhurst final payment of £3,708.15.0d for the land
Dec 31st 1873 The Treasurer of the Committee reports he paid £20,000 into the ‘New Stations Account' of the LUSC.
Feb 19th 1874 B Div Sub Station Groome St Rochdale Road to prepare new plans.
Oct 22nd 1874 Tenders received Mr S Warburton £7,634 cheapest and approved.
Jan 20th 1876 Building delayed due to street works but now 3/5th complete.
March 23rd 1876 LUSC request the condition of the streets around Churnett St.
Sept 27th 1876 Repairs to Groome St and Albert St yard by paving.
22 Feb 1877 PS Groome St Mr Warburton completed same in Nov 1876 but delays in paving outside his control. Seeks final payment of £1,600 with £50 retention for defects.
‘ Want of additional police accommodation in that district has long been felt by the police who in the conveyance of prisoners...are roughly handled by persons anxious to rescue the captives’.
Description within British Architect & Northern Engineer 3rd August 1877, reproduced in
Mary Turner, A History of Collyhurst Manchester to 1900 (Certificate of Extra Mural Education, Manchester University 1975).pp.335-348
2 Aug 1877 Recommend to call street in front of new station ‘Willert Street’ [After Alderman Willert of the W.C who dies later in 1879.
29 Sept 1877 HMIC Inspection report: Sub-station has been completed and contains, charge room, offices and 6 cells for prisoners, and a large drill-ground attached.
4 April 1878 New station requires 6 officers under an Inspector.
17 Oct 1878 Churnett Street Public Room at a chief rent of £40
9 Oct 1879 Repairs to defect roof flashing and gutters.
May 20th 1886 Valuation of LUSC properties in accordance with the resolution of the Committee Standing Order of the Council. £10,682
May 23rd 1889 Income Tax demand for inhabited station for £250. Appeal in law lodged as exempt and later Surveyor of Taxes withdraws demand.
Sept 5th 1889 Survey of Stations owned outright for insurance purposes £3,000.
Nov 27th 1890 Repairs to Lock-ups inspection:
Jan 8th 1891 Alterations to tenders now £73.
April 30th 1891 Painting of the stations: £69.
July 23rd 1891 Twinquennial valuation of properties owned by the W.C only: £11,252.
Feb 4th 1892 A hut required in yard of Willert St to house the Sanitary Insp. as complaint from officers that he is bringing disease back to Crumpsall St on his 12pm visit. Risk denied by the Medical Officer of Health for W.C.
17th Oct 1893 A resolution to approve an application by the Independent Labour Party of North Manchester to hold a meeting in the yard at Willert St PS, was carried by eight votes to seven.
17th Jan 1895 Paving to be completed £100
25th April 1895 Willert St wall around the parade ground repairs required Offer to lower the wall and include an iron railing on the Cheltenham St side. Tenders show £39 for a brick rebuild, £96 for a 2’6” wall coping and iron railing £96. Wc resolution to rebuild wall in brick for £39. [Significant re security v cost]
21st May 1896 LUSC report: to abolish the present closet and ash pan in the lavatory adjoining the charge office and connect it to the small room [lavatory system]. The two windows in the tailor’s room on the first floor to have the sills lowered to improve the light on the cutting table.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£11,741.0.0 £103.8.3.
19th May 1898 City Surveyor to be instructed to obtain an estimate of the cost of fixing of glass fanlights instead of perforated iron ones at the various police stations. [believed this is to the cell doors such as Fairfield St PS] Tender £126.
1st Feb 1900 LUSC: Gateway repair John Allisons and Sons £23.0.0d
29th March 1900 LUSC: The substitution of a self acting w.c in lieu of those provided in the cells of the various police stations.
15th May 1901 Quinquennial Valuations: £11,844.
15th Aug 1901 Drilling of Post Office messengers at Cavendish St, Willert St, Fairfield St and Broughton Town Hall Salford agreed for one hour a week.
July 1977 Building closes for operational police work. It is utilised as a film set in an episode of Brideshead Revisited . [Pers Com: ex PC Ian Consterdine of GMP 'B' Division present in 1977]
Oct 24th 1872 LUSC to locate site btw Rochdale Rd – Oldham Rd 250yds from Collyhurst St from Mr Hershaw for £3,667.2.6d.
Nov 21st 1872 St Michael’s ward Committee request large room for public meetings within new station.
Request for a portion of the building materials (from site clearance) for the erection of the new Free Library near Harpurhey.
Nov 27th 1873 B Div Station Collyhurst final payment of £3,708.15.0d for the land
Dec 31st 1873 The Treasurer of the Committee reports he paid £20,000 into the ‘New Stations Account' of the LUSC.
Feb 19th 1874 B Div Sub Station Groome St Rochdale Road to prepare new plans.
Oct 22nd 1874 Tenders received Mr S Warburton £7,634 cheapest and approved.
Jan 20th 1876 Building delayed due to street works but now 3/5th complete.
March 23rd 1876 LUSC request the condition of the streets around Churnett St.
Sept 27th 1876 Repairs to Groome St and Albert St yard by paving.
22 Feb 1877 PS Groome St Mr Warburton completed same in Nov 1876 but delays in paving outside his control. Seeks final payment of £1,600 with £50 retention for defects.
‘ Want of additional police accommodation in that district has long been felt by the police who in the conveyance of prisoners...are roughly handled by persons anxious to rescue the captives’.
Description within British Architect & Northern Engineer 3rd August 1877, reproduced in
Mary Turner, A History of Collyhurst Manchester to 1900 (Certificate of Extra Mural Education, Manchester University 1975).pp.335-348
2 Aug 1877 Recommend to call street in front of new station ‘Willert Street’ [After Alderman Willert of the W.C who dies later in 1879.
29 Sept 1877 HMIC Inspection report: Sub-station has been completed and contains, charge room, offices and 6 cells for prisoners, and a large drill-ground attached.
4 April 1878 New station requires 6 officers under an Inspector.
17 Oct 1878 Churnett Street Public Room at a chief rent of £40
9 Oct 1879 Repairs to defect roof flashing and gutters.
May 20th 1886 Valuation of LUSC properties in accordance with the resolution of the Committee Standing Order of the Council. £10,682
May 23rd 1889 Income Tax demand for inhabited station for £250. Appeal in law lodged as exempt and later Surveyor of Taxes withdraws demand.
Sept 5th 1889 Survey of Stations owned outright for insurance purposes £3,000.
Nov 27th 1890 Repairs to Lock-ups inspection:
Jan 8th 1891 Alterations to tenders now £73.
April 30th 1891 Painting of the stations: £69.
July 23rd 1891 Twinquennial valuation of properties owned by the W.C only: £11,252.
Feb 4th 1892 A hut required in yard of Willert St to house the Sanitary Insp. as complaint from officers that he is bringing disease back to Crumpsall St on his 12pm visit. Risk denied by the Medical Officer of Health for W.C.
17th Oct 1893 A resolution to approve an application by the Independent Labour Party of North Manchester to hold a meeting in the yard at Willert St PS, was carried by eight votes to seven.
17th Jan 1895 Paving to be completed £100
25th April 1895 Willert St wall around the parade ground repairs required Offer to lower the wall and include an iron railing on the Cheltenham St side. Tenders show £39 for a brick rebuild, £96 for a 2’6” wall coping and iron railing £96. Wc resolution to rebuild wall in brick for £39. [Significant re security v cost]
21st May 1896 LUSC report: to abolish the present closet and ash pan in the lavatory adjoining the charge office and connect it to the small room [lavatory system]. The two windows in the tailor’s room on the first floor to have the sills lowered to improve the light on the cutting table.
21st May 1896 Quinquennial Valuation and Inventory of Furniture of properties of the WC.
£11,741.0.0 £103.8.3.
19th May 1898 City Surveyor to be instructed to obtain an estimate of the cost of fixing of glass fanlights instead of perforated iron ones at the various police stations. [believed this is to the cell doors such as Fairfield St PS] Tender £126.
1st Feb 1900 LUSC: Gateway repair John Allisons and Sons £23.0.0d
29th March 1900 LUSC: The substitution of a self acting w.c in lieu of those provided in the cells of the various police stations.
15th May 1901 Quinquennial Valuations: £11,844.
15th Aug 1901 Drilling of Post Office messengers at Cavendish St, Willert St, Fairfield St and Broughton Town Hall Salford agreed for one hour a week.
July 1977 Building closes for operational police work. It is utilised as a film set in an episode of Brideshead Revisited . [Pers Com: ex PC Ian Consterdine of GMP 'B' Division present in 1977]
