Parkers Hotel, Corporation Street, M4 4DX
If you’re reading this at home (or in a record shop), grab hold of your copy of ‘Strangeways Here We Come’ and take a close look at the rear cover. There is the famous road-sign directing locals to Piccadilly, St Peters Square, Ancoats, Strangeways and Salford. Now if you look in the background you will see Parkers Hotel. Most of this area has been redeveloped but Parkers remains much the same as it was when it was built in 1906. It was originally the Cooperative Society Insurance Headquarters and then became a hotel. It kept the hotel name and was converted into apartments in the nineties. The building is now a mix of business and residential units. It was Grade 2 listed in 1994. If you visit the location you will notice that the famous road sign photographed by Stephen Wright isn’t there. Shortly after the release of the ‘Strangeways…’ album it disappeared, believed stolen. I’ve read that the council replaced it and that one went as well. Wherever it is, I do hope it’s being looked a...
