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Broadcasting House, Salford Quays & TVC

(September 2010)

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FN
FromtheNorth
Quote:
Fairly dull fifties building whose most interesting feature formed part of a Granada Studios Tour and which is iconic as the most famous street in the North, but the Quay St studios are too dull from the outside.


Dull maybe, but important. Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?
Obviously other ITV contractors at the time used converted theatres, such as ABC in nearby Didsbury.

I'd heard, but can't confirm the accuracy, but one of the reasons the water tower and original Granada signs were removed was to avoid listed status.

It should be a listed building, given its importance to the TV industry.
AM
amosc100
FromtheNorth posted:
Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?


Yep, definitely the first purpose built TV studios in the UK. So I would say more iconic than Television Centre!
NU
The Nurse
FromtheNorth posted:
Obviously other ITV contractors at the time used converted theatres, such as ABC in nearby Didsbury.


Now flats! Sad
A6
Aylett 67
FromtheNorth posted:
Quote:
Fairly dull fifties building whose most interesting feature formed part of a Granada Studios Tour and which is iconic as the most famous street in the North, but the Quay St studios are too dull from the outside.


Dull maybe, but important. Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?
Obviously other ITV contractors at the time used converted theatres, such as ABC in nearby Didsbury.

I'd heard, but can't confirm the accuracy, but one of the reasons the water tower and original Granada signs were removed was to avoid listed status.

It should be a listed building, given its importance to the TV industry.


The Coronation St should be listed too, as at times 20 million people have seen the comings and goings on this street, but Granada I suppose is an icon being the first purpose built studios and the first for Independent Television. Ideally I would have loved to have Lime Grove saved in the same way, but like Quay St it's not of any great architectural merit. Still some kind of plaque should be erected or a statue featuring a Granada ident.
KE
kernow
Aylett 67 posted:
FromtheNorth posted:
Quote:
Fairly dull fifties building whose most interesting feature formed part of a Granada Studios Tour and which is iconic as the most famous street in the North, but the Quay St studios are too dull from the outside.


Dull maybe, but important. Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?
Obviously other ITV contractors at the time used converted theatres, such as ABC in nearby Didsbury.

I'd heard, but can't confirm the accuracy, but one of the reasons the water tower and original Granada signs were removed was to avoid listed status.

It should be a listed building, given its importance to the TV industry.


The Coronation St should be listed too, as at times 20 million people have seen the comings and goings on this street, but Granada I suppose is an icon being the first purpose built studios and the first for Independent Television. Ideally I would have loved to have Lime Grove saved in the same way, but like Quay St it's not of any great architectural merit. Still some kind of plaque should be erected or a statue featuring a Granada ident.

It's a shame that nothing ever came of this, as it would have resulted in Granada staying on site, and the current Coronation Street set maintained:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/198/198462_historic_move_for_granada_tv.html
AM
amosc100
kernow posted:
Aylett 67 posted:
FromtheNorth posted:
Quote:
Fairly dull fifties building whose most interesting feature formed part of a Granada Studios Tour and which is iconic as the most famous street in the North, but the Quay St studios are too dull from the outside.


Dull maybe, but important. Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?
Obviously other ITV contractors at the time used converted theatres, such as ABC in nearby Didsbury.

I'd heard, but can't confirm the accuracy, but one of the reasons the water tower and original Granada signs were removed was to avoid listed status.

It should be a listed building, given its importance to the TV industry.


The Coronation St should be listed too, as at times 20 million people have seen the comings and goings on this street, but Granada I suppose is an icon being the first purpose built studios and the first for Independent Television. Ideally I would have loved to have Lime Grove saved in the same way, but like Quay St it's not of any great architectural merit. Still some kind of plaque should be erected or a statue featuring a Granada ident.

It's a shame that nothing ever came of this, as it would have resulted in Granada staying on site, and the current Coronation Street set maintained:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/198/198462_historic_move_for_granada_tv.html




To be fair, ITVGranada would have moved no matter what (or as is case at moment will be moving) but I just hope that the Museum of Science and Industry try to save Coronation Street set - although, as we know, it cannot be listed as, primarily, the current set is under 30 years old! If they can save it, and possibly the Bonded warehouse, it would make a great expansion for the museum and a great additional feature alongside part of the worlds original passenger railway line and station!
DJ
DJGM
amosc100 posted:

To be fair, ITV Granada would have moved no matter what (or as is case at moment will be moving) but I just
hope that the Museum of Science and Industry try to save Coronation Street set - although, as we know,
it cannot be listed as, primarily, the current set is under 30 years old!


If memory serves me correctly, the current Corrie exterior set was officially opened by HM The Queen on 5th May 1982,
which would actually mean it's now a little over 30 years old. A quick Google search would seem to confirm this.

According to a recent article ... snipped to show the relevant bits:
Quote:

BBC News - 11th June 2012 - Coronation Street set refused listed status.

Listed status is given to buildings of special architectural and historic interest,
but a building has normally to be at least 30 years old to be eligible.

" The oldest buildings are just less than 30 years old - and most do not have
interiors and therefore exist as facades, most of which have been altered.

Last edited by DJGM on 10 July 2012 9:57pm - 5 times in total
GE
Generic
amosc100 posted:


Yep, definitely the first purpose built TV studios in the UK. So I would say more iconic than Television Centre!

They are quite different. TVC was a total factory in television production. Chefs use the phrase "nose to tail". Well that describes TVC in television form and what it could produce totally in house.
AM
amosc100
Generic posted:
amosc100 posted:


Yep, definitely the first purpose built TV studios in the UK. So I would say more iconic than Television Centre!

They are quite different. TVC was a total factory in television production. Chefs use the phrase "nose to tail". Well that describes TVC in television form and what it could produce totally in house.


So are/were the 3sixty media/Granada facilities. Completely built to house everything of Granada from bottom to top.
GE
Generic
I don't want this to degenerate in to a granada/tvc tit for tat thread......my point was that TVC was built as a concept from the beginning although the earlier built Granada was added to and enlarged modularly as and when need necessitated. Two great buildings, both with a history and both should be maintained in some form rather than demolished and lost.
CA
Cando
amosc100 posted:
FromtheNorth posted:
Aren't they the UK's first purpose built TV studios?


Yep, definitely the first purpose built TV studios in the UK. So I would say more iconic than Television Centre!


Really? Really? More Iconic Rolling Eyes Buy a dictionary.
VM
VMPhil
Cando, please.

Personally I think the Granada studios are just as iconic as TVC - especially in Granadaland of course. The mere fact that a report on the signage being removed was shown as part of Granada Reports itself should display some of that - and of course it was the central focus of the drama Road to Coronation Street .

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