During the 15 years of the Salford Star, one particular Salford City Council statement of heritage abuse summed up the state of the city. It was the destruction of the blue Salford Quays cargo cranes, the worst act of cultural vandalism in the city's recent history.
The cranes were a landmark and a symbol of Salford's history. But while other cities were embracing such heritage, Salford Council decided that the cranes were "clutter" and, despite pleas and a campaign, decapitated them very publicly on a Saturday afternoon. It felt like a statement that nothing from 'old' Salford was sacred...
This was epitomised when the old Salford University art building, previously Cromwell School, was being demolished, including a priceless ceramic mural from renowned 20th Century modern artist Alan Boyson called the Tree of Knowledge.
The bulldozers were poised to destroy the huge mural the following morning but an urgent community campaign, featured via the Salford Star, saw the demolition paused and the artwork Grade II listed within weeks. It is now to be centrepiece of a new affordable housing estate created by the Broughton Trust.
Salford Council has never been big on proper culture, and when artists from all over the region came to Ordsall to enhance a long wall alongside the River Irwell, the Council decided it didn't fit its 'aspirations' of a posh walkway to Media City – and covered it in anti-vandal paint! There were two legal walls left in private ownership but it was never the same. It could have been one of the most original outdoor galleries in the country...but, hey, this is Salford. We only do corporate culture.
What also didn't survive was Salford Central Mission, a massive historic building that the Council bulldozed over one week to make way for some flagpoles at Oasis Academy; the old Salford Market at the Precinct, which didn't fit with the new aspirational 'shopping city', and loads of pubs, from the Wellington, to the Flat Iron, Black Horse and Ye Olde Nelson. The one that did survive, The Black Friar, is now to be a 'gastro restaurant and pub'.
Meanwhile, along with dozens of streets and some highrises, schools were also being demolished as the Council decided there were too many spare places in the primary sector, which they got completely wrong and a decade later had a school places crisis. Schools in Langworthy, Seedley and Tootal Drive were shut and demolished, with shiny but smaller schools put in their place.
What began some of the biggest scandals seen in Salford over the last decade and a half was the decision to move Salford Reds rugby team out of The Willows, with 'creative' financial deals sorted to help the club out. Next door's Willow Variety Club joined the rugby stadium under the wrecking ball but the Crown Theatre in Eccles looks like it's to be converted into flats with a saved facade.
The last iconic structures to be demolished in Salford were the two giant gas holders featured in Ewan McColl's Dirty Old Town. Again, despite pleas to save the heritage site and re-purpose the gas holders, they were slowly taken apart for scrap.
Salford Council insisted on saving the wall next to the structures, which was never in the original lyrics of the song. It now has a little board telling people what was there. Monuments have also been erected to the Irwell Valley miners, at the site of the former entrance to Agecroft pit, and to the Chartists at Kersal Moor.
The Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton is currently rising from the ashes after a horrendous fire, and something looks to be happening to Buile Hill Mansion after 21 years of neglect from Salford Council... which leaves Salford's current cause celebre as the campaign to save the Victoria Theatre in Lower Broughton...
While the Save Victoria Theatre Trust (SVTT) commissioned a viability study* for the theatre that concluded it had a viable use as an events centre and community hub, the Theatres Trust has submitted an application to Historic England for an upgrade to the Victoria Theatre's listing from Grade II to Grade II Star in recognition of its early use as a cinema...
...But in February the building was sold again to a mystery new owner who has made some improvements to the outside of the building, and apparently is poised to submit a planning application...
"We're not giving up, we're building the campaign again slowly as we come out of lockdown" says Sam Kelly of the Save Victoria Theatre Trust "If you would like to support the campaign to bring the Victoria back in to use as a theatre and community hub, please write to the Council, the Mayor and your local MP to express your concern for this much-loved historic building and the benefits a restoration could have for local regeneration and encourage them to work with the SVTT in the nicest possible way!"
* The full viability study report and executive summary are available on the website www.salfordvictoria.co.uk For more information see Save the Victoria Theatre Salford, and Friends of the Salford Victoria on Facebook. And to donate to the campaign – click here
Previous articles on the Salford Star Closure...
Salford Star To Close After 15 Years – click here
The Star Is Born – click here
Alice's Story: Injustice From South Africa to Salford – click here
Salford Stars – Part 1 – click here
Salford Stars Part 2 – click here
The Battle of Barton Moss – click here
Nigel Pivaro Looks Back Over 15 Years of the Star – click here
Planning Scandals and the Affordable Housing Crisis - click here
Campaigns, demos and protests – click here
Guy Griffiths on the Pathfinder Demolitions - click here
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