Hotspur Press fire: historic Manchester building damaged amid developer controversy

Helen Clarke

Hotspur Press before the fire

The derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street, near Oxford Road station in Manchester, was engulfed in flames yesterday evening, triggering evacuations and forcing the closure of local transport routes.

Fire crews from Greater Manchester and twenty fire‑engines battled the blaze for hours, with dense black smoke spreading over a wide area and alarms raised as nearby residents were moved to safety.

Despite the shock of the fire, the building itself has a rich and storied history dating back to the early 19th century.

Originally part of Medlock Mills, the structure was built around 1801 on the banks of the River Medlock as a cotton mill - the beating heart of Manchester’s industrial era.

By the late 19th century, its purpose had shifted, becoming home to Percy Brothers Ltd printing works, better known by its mid-20th century name, Hotspur Press.

Locals still recall the canteen, snooker tables, and camaraderie that once filled its floors, and artists later occupied the building as studios, giving it a distinct place in Manchester’s creative community.

Following decades of use and later a period of dereliction, the building was purchased in 2015 by a developer with plans to preserve the façade and add a new residential tower behind it.

However, these plans never fully materialised, and Manchester City Council has since received a petition to grant listed status to the building, recognising its industrial heritage and importance to the city’s cultural fabric.

This fire raises serious concerns - not only for the immediate safety of residents and commuters but also for the future of a structure deeply woven into Manchester's urban narrative.

As the flames are extinguished and investigations begin, the petition to protect the Hotspur Press building gains fresh urgency.

Whether this fire becomes the catalyst to preserve the structure - or accelerates plans for redevelopment - remains to be seen.

But for many Mancunians, it is unquestionably a chapter closing on a shared piece of the city’s identity.