Rose Hill, Northenden

Rose Hill is an Art Nouveau brick villa in Northenden featuring red brickwork with stone trim and a Welsh slate roof across two storeys. The main entrance is framed by Tuscan columns, and the windows have mullion divisions typical of the period's craftsmanship.

Built in the mid-1800s as a residence for Sir Edward Watkin, a railway businessman and influential figure in British transport development, it served the family for decades. The building underwent conversion to flats in 2003, marking a shift from private mansion to shared accommodation.

The stained glass windows depict roses and birds, reflecting the Victorian fascination with nature that inspired the building's name. The ornate interior woodwork and decorative details show how the original residents displayed their wealth and refined taste.

The villa sits on Longley Lane and is surrounded by private residential properties, so exterior viewing is possible but interior access is typically restricted. The location is reachable by public transport, making it easy to explore the area on foot as part of a neighborhood walk.

In 1979, workers discovered a lost painting called 'The Icebergs' by Frederick Edwin Church hidden in the villa, forgotten since the owner bought it decades earlier in the 1860s. This American landscape artwork had been unknowingly preserved within the walls for over a century.

Location: Manchester

Architectural style: Art Nouveau

GPS coordinates: 53.40170,-2.24880

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05