Barton Arcade, Manchester's only surviving Victorian covered shopping arcade, has been added to SAVE Britain's national heritage at risk register. The 150-year-old Grade II*-listed building, which links Deansgate and St Ann's Square, is feared to be in decline without urgent maintenance and repairs.
Roof in Critical Condition
Of particular concern is the 53-foot-tall steel and glass roof, which campaigners say has long needed refurbishment. Damage from the 1996 IRA bomb remains unrepaired, with cracked and broken glass panes, rusting steel frames, and flaking paint. Scaffolding nets are strung across the ceiling to protect against falling glass.
Ken Moth, spokesperson for the Victorian Society, said: "It is one of Manchester's jewels. It really needs action, and not just tinkering around the edges, it needs a complete refurbishment." The society plans to request an urgent works notice from Manchester City Council, a legal order requiring the owner to carry out essential repairs.
Historical Significance
Inspired by Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Barton Arcade was built in 1871 by Corbett, Raby & Sawyer. Its prefabricated steel frame was cast in Glasgow and transported south. The arcade survived the Manchester Blitz in 1940, which damaged its glass dome, and underwent modifications in the 1970s that removed some original features. A restoration in 1990, reopened by actress Joanna Lumley, revived its ironwork, galleries, and glass roofing.
Covered shopping arcades were once common in northern towns and cities, but Barton Arcade is Manchester's last. Moth noted: "Covered shopping arcades were once quite common in northern towns and cities. Manchester had a few and now we are down to the last one. But it's basically being neglected."
Current State and Ownership
Today, the ground floor has only two vacant units, but the upper three floors are disused. A three-bedroom apartment on the top floor, once among the city's most expensive rentals, is empty. A leak from the flat caused water damage below, closing an office that housed around 200 workers.
Barton Arcade is owned by Singapore-based investment group Vt Manchester Barton Pte. Ltd, which paid £18.25 million for it in July 2018. The parent company, VT Group, also owns the Grade II-listed Eagle Insurance building on King Street and properties in Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The Manchester Evening News attempted to contact the owners but received no response.
One former business owner expressed sympathy: "The roof has always needed something doing to it, but it's very expensive and it's tied up in listed building consent. I imagine they've looked at it and said it's just not commercially viable." He noted plans to turn the arcade into a hotel that fell through.
Council Intervention
City centre spokesperson Pat Karney said the council would write to the owners to inquire about their plans. "Barton Arcade is one of the jewels in Manchester's crown. It's part of our history, so we are not going to lose it. We will make sure all future generations can enjoy it as we have."
