If you’re a fan of the Night At The Museum films, you’ll be interested in this. How about a long weekend stay at one of the Museum of Science and Industry buildings, Station Agent’s House, that was actually the site of theworld’s first passenger railway?
During a time of industrial revolution, this handsome property in the heart of Manchester became home to the Station Agent of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station. Now the Landmark Trust has carefully restored The Station Agent’s House to meet the needs of our own time, creating an environmentally sustainable and accessible eight-bed Landmark.
In 1828, the property’s site was identified by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway as being well placed for what would be Liverpool Road Station. The house became the dwelling of the first Station Agent, Joseph Green and was the hub around which Liverpool Road Station was developed. Here, so much that would characterise train travel was first seen, such as waiting rooms, signals, tickets, ticket offices, and the Station Agent’s house.
The small station at Liverpool Road couldn’t keep up with the huge popularity of passenger travel and the line was soon extended. By 1844 it existed solely as a goods and freight station and later simply a goods depot. When the station closed in 1975, the significance of the site was already understood and in 1983 it was converted into the Science and Industry Museum as part of a globally significant industrial heritage site, with the Station Agent’s House becoming museum offices.
Now, in partnership with the Science & Industry Museum, the project to make the Station Agent’s House accessible to the public and be used as a residence for the first time in over 100 years, marks a key milestone in the Museum’s plans to enable visitors to experience every part of the globally significant industrial heritage site’s seven acre footprint.
The Landmark Trust has restored the Grade I-listed Station Agent’s House into vibrant self-catering holiday accommodation for up to eight guests. The sensitive adaptation includes accessibility features and the latest environmental measures, and breaks cost from just £24.38 per person per night.
The Station Agent’s House is now welcoming visitors for short stays plus regular free public open days. The Landmark Trust’s revival has seen extensive external repair, including re-roofing and repointing the original brickwork with traditional lime mortar. Internally, step-free access has been introduced and there are fully accessible bedrooms and bathrooms, with a lift to the spacious first floor living area.
Ill-fitting 1980s single-glazed sash windows have been replaced with bespoke double-glazed sash frames and chipboard floors have been replaced with parquet flooring. At the heart of the house, a specially made oval skylight to a period design enhances the original staircase, whilst furnishings combine the best of the Arts & Crafts ethos with a touch of the 1930s Jazz Age, when rail travel was in its heyday − it really is like stepping back in time.
Dr Anna Keay OBE, director of the Landmark Trust, said: “The Landmark Trust is proud to be able to give a new future to this Grade-I listed building, part of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station. Its extensive repair and renovation has been a labour of love, made possible by many generous donations. It is our first building in Manchester and will make a wonderful base from which to explore this peerless industrial city.”
Sally McDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum, adds: “The Landmark Trust has brought expertise in sensitively restoring this incredible heritage building, meaning Station Agent’s House can now be experienced in a new way by the public. It’s a spectacular transformation that has breathed new life into the building while complimenting its historically significant status.”
The Station Agent’s House is now available to book, and you can book a stay and keep up to date with events here.
The Landmark Trust will open the Station Agent’s House for free public open days each year, and there’s even a bookable late night event taking place on May 23 from 5pm as part of The Poetry Takeaway for an interactive evening experience.