London Road Fire Station, Manchester

The fire station on London Road opened in 1906. It had a compliment of 30 men, 10 horses and 6 fire engines. The first motorised fire appliance did not appear until 1911.

In addition to a fire station with accompanying workshops, stables and control room, the site also housed a police station, an ambulance station, a bank, a Coroner's Court, and a gas-meter testing station as well as housing for the fire chief and his deputy and apartments for 32 firemen's families who were provided with a gymnasium, laundry, children's play area and a billiard room. The doors above were for the ambulances. The door below was the entrance to the deputy's house.

The premises began a gradual wind-down in 1974 and closed as a fire station in 1986 when it was sold to Britannia Hotels who proposed turning it into a luxury hotel but no plans have actually materialised.

The building was Grade II* listed in 1974 and in 2001 was placed on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register.

In 2013 the group Friends of London Road Fire Station was formed. It is a community trust working to bring the London Road Fire Station in Manchester back into positive use through a sympathetic, multipurpose redevelopment for the benefit of the community – as soon as possible.

A contribution to Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors and Our World Tuesday.