The Towers

The Towers is a Victorian mansion in Didsbury with pronounced Gothic features adorning its exterior. The building displays pointed arch windows, ornamental tiles, marble accents, and multiple spires that rise across different levels of the structure.

Daniel Adamson acquired the mansion in 1874 and hosted a pivotal meeting in its drawing room in 1882 that sparked the creation of the Manchester Ship Canal. This event connected the building to one of the city's most significant infrastructure projects.

The building became the home of the Shirley Institute from 1920 onward, where researchers developed new textiles and industrial processes that shaped Manchester's manufacturing reputation. Visitors can sense how this work connected the mansion to the city's economic identity.

The building sits at the rear of Towers Business Park on Wilmslow Road with limited public access to the entrance hall only. It is best to check access conditions beforehand as the site remains primarily a working business location.

The building earned the nickname Calendar House for its remarkable numerical pattern: 365 windows, 52 doors, and 12 chimneys that mirror the days, weeks, and months of a year. This intentional design choice makes the mansion a hidden architectural puzzle for observant visitors.