Appleby Lodge

Appleby Lodge is an apartment building from the 1930s comprising eight three-storey red brick blocks arranged in a U-shape around central gardens. The complex sits opposite Platt Fields Park on Wilmslow Road and contains 102 apartments, each with high ceilings, spacious entrance halls, and balconies that residents share with landscaped communal spaces.

Construction began in 1936 under architects Gunton & Gunton with Peter Cummings, establishing the first apartment scheme in the Moderne style within the city. This project represented a new approach to residential living in Manchester during the interwar period.

The building gained recognition when conductor John Barbirolli made it his home for two decades, leaving a mark on Manchester's musical heritage. Today a commemorative blue plaque marks his presence there.

The site offers adequate green space and designated parking for residents, positioned conveniently near public transport links on Wilmslow Road. Its location opposite the park provides easy access to outdoor areas while remaining within reach of the city center.

The building displays distinctive features of Streamline Moderne architecture including curved balconies and steel-framed windows punctuated by stair towers with full-height small-paned glazing. This combination of functional design and visual interest sets it apart from other residential projects of its era.