Glamorous 1930s Streamlined Moderne House in Salford Listed Grade II
A striking 1930s house in Salford has been given Grade II listed status, in recognition of its rare Streamlined Moderne design and probable connection to notable Manchester architect Joseph Sunlight.
26 Old Hall Road in Broughton Park, Salford, has been added to the National Heritage List for England at Grade II by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), on the advice of Historic England. The listing recognises the special architectural interest of the building.
Built in 1935, the house is a striking example of the international Streamlined Moderne style and is thought to be the work of notable Manchester architect and developer Joseph Sunlight. Its largely intact 1930s interior includes a dramatic double-height entrance hall, sweeping staircase and balconied gallery.
26 Old Hall Road is a notable regional example of the international Streamlined Moderne style, which was made popular through architectural journals and exhibitions such as the 1934 Empire Exhibition.
A glamorous interior
Internally, the house is organised around a dramatic double-height entrance hall, overlooked by a sweeping staircase and a balconied landing and gallery. Wide, arched sliding doors open from the hall into the dining room and lounge, allowing the main rooms to be combined into a single space, in keeping with the free-flowing planning associated with the Modern Movement.
The interior still has a wealth of original decorative features, including lavish wall panelling, coved ceilings, parquet and inlaid veneer floors, and coloured geometric glazing.
Many original features of domestic life also survive, including bell pushes and a service bell board in the butler's pantry, which once summoned staff to different rooms of the house.
A likely connection to Joseph Sunlight
Joseph Sunlight (1889 to 1978) was a Manchester-based architect and property developer whose family emigrated to England from Belorussia. He designed hundreds of houses in the nearby Sedgley Park estate, as well as the South Manchester synagogue in Fallowfield (1913) and the Art Deco office block Sunlight House in Manchester city centre (1932). Although the architect of 26 Old Hall Road is not formally documented, its design quality and Sunlight's dominant local presence make him the most likely candidate.
26 Old Hall Road is a rare and glamorous survival of the Streamlined Moderne style in a suburban setting that has changed remarkably little since the 1930s. Its listing recognises both its outstanding design and its probable connection to one of Manchester's most inventive inter-war architects, Joseph Sunlight.
We are supportive that Historic England has granted 26 Old Hall Road Grade II listed status. It will help to ensure that its unique character is protected for future generations.
Also of interest
