53 King Street, Commercial Grade II listed building in Manchester, England
53 King Street is a Grade II listed commercial building in Manchester, standing at the corner of King Street and Cross Street and built from Portland stone. The structure rises four floors, features a chamfered corner, double attics, and a basement, with seven bays facing King Street and eight facing Cross Street.
Charles Heathcote designed the building in 1915, at a time when Manchester's commercial centre was actively being rebuilt and expanded. It was listed as Grade II in 1974, protecting it as a surviving example of Edwardian commercial architecture in the city.
The Portland stone facade is most visible at the chamfered corner where King Street meets Cross Street, giving the building a presence on both streets at once. People passing by often stop to look up at the upper floors, where the Edwardian detailing is clearest.
The building stands in central Manchester where two main shopping streets cross, making it easy to find on foot. The ground floor is used as a restaurant, so visiting during a meal is the most straightforward way to see part of the interior.
The site where the building now stands was once home to Manchester's old Town Hall, before it was relocated in the early 1800s. This means the current commercial block sits on ground that once served as the city's main administrative centre.
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