A historic building in Hale collapsed during Storm Eowyn, leaving onlookers shocked as debris filled the air and a cordon was set up.
Hale: A historic building just couldn’t take the pressure from Storm Eowyn. It collapsed, and the whole thing was caught on camera. The red-bricked structure, which has been around since the 1900s, was on Ashley Road.
Last week, cracks started showing up in the walls, and things got worse when the storm hit on Friday. The three-storey building had been empty for about two years, with the last tenant being Atticus bar.
Michael Haworth, who owns a nearby hair salon, filmed the collapse on Saturday. In the video, you can see the wall peeling away before debris crashes down, sending dust flying everywhere. It was quite a sight for the folks watching from the village.
Michael shared, “I was lucky to get a good angle from a little alleyway. The building was already condemned by Thursday. The hairdressers next door had been complaining about cracks in their floor, so the building regulations team got involved.”
After the collapse, Trafford council quickly cordoned off the area, closing The Knot Hair Studio and the Mouse House Print Shop as a safety measure. They were planning a controlled demolition for the site.
Michael mentioned that the building was bought by an Indian doctor who intended to turn it into a medical practice. There had been a lot of work done, including digging out the back, which made it seem like they were planning to extend the basement.
He added, “Watching it come down was pretty intense, especially being so close. I was worried it might fall right on me. Apparently, the building had been creaking for a while.”
Now, the road is completely closed off, and it looks like they’ll have to carefully take down what’s left of the building. A planning application from Trafford Council mentioned that the renovations were supposed to keep the main entrance and add a separate staff entrance.
They were also planning to create several consultation rooms and a waiting area, along with a new accessible bathroom and a courtyard at the back. It’s a shame to see such an old building go, but safety comes first.
