‘HIDDEN GEM’ CAN NOW SEE THE LIGHT
MANCHESTER’S famous church, ‘The Hidden Gem,’ is no longer obscured from the public’s view – as the buildings around it have been torn down.
St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church earned its nickname from its location tucked away among the tall structures on Mulberry Street in the city centre.
It meant it was a nightmare to find for visitors keen to explore its beautiful 18th century architecture.
But developers, who are regenerating the area around Lincoln Square, decided the Catholic church should instead be shown off to the public, which is why work has started to demolish the buildings around it.
Photos from the construction site show diggers have reduced the premises around it to piles of rubble, with the church standing proud in the background.
The firm behind the designs, 5plusarchitects, said the exposed backdrop will provide an ‘improved setting for the listed church.’
The buildings are being torn down as part of a £4m masterplan to regenerate the area around Lincoln Square.
Manchester council invested £1.2m to create a new peace garden as part of the plans.
It will see trees planted from the Ginkgo tree damaged by the Hiroshima bomb, which represents regeneration after disaster.
The major redevelopment project, overseen by CDP, also included plans to refurbish buildings like Brazennose House, Commercial Union House and Heron House, which is expected to create about 2,000 jobs.
Speaking to the M.E.N. in May, Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “The council’s investment of £1.2m towards a £4m-plus scheme to improve the public spaces of Lincoln Square and Brazennose Street, with landowners contributing the other almost £3m, will help make this a more welcoming and vibrant place for Manchester people – a high-quality link between Albert Square and Deansgate/Spinningfields as well as a place to spend time in its own right.”