An empty former bank and building society in Eccles town centre has sold at auction for £86,000, some £9,000 over the guide price.
116 Church Street went up for public auction with Pugh at Old Trafford on 9 June.
The older generation may know the area as Miller’s Corner, named for Miller’s drapery store.
The impressive building, which dates from the late 1800s, has lain vacant for over 12 months but could now come back as a retail premises.
Its architecture is of “red-pressed brick dressed in Portland stone; a typical Edwardian baroque bank, tailored to fit this location.”
Only the ground floor (1,710sq ft) and basement (828 sq ft) were on offer in this sale: the upstairs space has already been turned into four one-bed flats being leased to City West Housing Trust for affordable rent.
More: Flats plan for 1930s post office and Polish Hell Club
So what does Eccles need?
The town is seeing a resurgence in empty office buildings being turned into leisure businesses including cafes and restaurants.
And while the nearby Town Hall pub – itself bought out at auction for £160k last year – has not been open as often as some might like, there are other moves to recreate the bustling market town that Eccles could quite easily accommodate.
Read: New market for Eccles town centre
Historically the building has been used for a number of professions.
There is distinctive ‘Bank Chambers’ wording engraved in stone over the door.
In 1889 surgeons Edwin H Roe and William Race, plus dentist George H Anderson had office space there.
By 1923 it was occupied by solicitor Wilfred Hollinrake and The London County, Westminster & Parrs Bank Ltd. The bank was eventually taken over by National Westminster Bank in 1970.
By 1991 Leeds Permanent Building Society had moved in, merging with Halifax Building Society in 1995.
Signing a 250-year lease on the property are Middleton-based William Developments Great Ducie Ltd, a property development and management company who boast of studio apartment developments in Manchester city centre and Liverpool.
Eagle-eyed residents are keeping a close watch on the building to see what turns up – and if any planning applications come our way, we’ll let you know.
With thanks to Antony Mills
