| Designation date | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Area | 3.03 hectares (7.50 acres) |
| Listed building entries | 0 |
The Radcliffe Park Road conservation area lies close to the Irlams o' th' Height village and is bounded by Radcliffe Park Road, the Oakwood Nursing Home, Swinton Park Road and Park Lane. A map showing the boundary of the conservation area is available to download at the bottom of the page.
The Radcliffe Park Road conservation area is characterised by the large detached and semi-detached properties set in extensive gardens and dating from the late 19th century. The properties are located on a sweeping tree lined avenue, with broad pavements and areas of grassed verge.
Oakwood Nursing Home is a large mid 19th century house, almost mansion sized, built in the renaissance style, of brick and Derbyshire stone. Known locally as "Teapot Hall", the property was originally built for Thomas Binyon, a member of the well known tea merchanting firm of Binyons and Robinson. The properties to the south of Radcliffe Park Road when first built between 1881 and 1885 were surrounded by fields and open farm land.
These properties were all designed by the Manchester-based architect, Henry Goldsmith. A fellow of the Manchester Society of Architects and a member of Manchester Surveyors Society, Goldsmith's works include numerous residences, places of worship, public and philanthropic institutions and business premises.
In 1895 he published the first edition of his book "Economical Houses" which expounded the author's experience and philosophy in the design and building of individual residences which would be better than "the ordinary uniformity of suburban villas, both as regards plan and elevation".
Goldsmith believed that the plan, form and orientation of any dwelling was very important and should reflect the concerns for light, warmth and functionality. His use of specific materials and cavity walling were designed to improve the running of the properties. He was forward looking in expounding ideas on the rationalisation of the layout of houses, ideas which would not come fully to prominence for a further 30 years.
Although some alterations have been made to the properties in the conservation area, they continue to present an interesting collection of period dwellings characteristic of the living conditions at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.
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This page was last updated on 7 April 2016