Quay Street Tower

Quay Street

Quay Street, Manchester city centre
Length	0.3 mi (0.5 km)
Coordinates	53°28′44″N 2°15′08″W / 53.4788°N 2.2523°W / 53.4788; -2.2523
east end	A56 road
west end	Water Street

Quay Street is a street in the city centre of Manchester, England. The street, designated the A34, continues Peter Street westwards towards the River Irwell and Salford. It is the northern boundary of Spinningfields, the city's business district and Castlefield, the historical area of the city lies to the south. Quay Street was created in the 18th century for access to a quay on the river and is lined by several listed buildings.

Edward Byrom built a quay on the River Irwell in the 1730s and the street was built to link it to Deansgate which was then known as Aldport Lane. In 1794 it was extended eastwards to Mosley Street.Richard Cobden's red brick townhouse, built in the Georgian style was the first home of Owens College and afterwards Manchester County Court. It is a Grade II* listed building. In the 1840s Harry Stokes, Manchester's 'female husband', ran a beerhouse at numbers 3 - 5 Quay Street. The Hospital for Skin Diseases was in Quay Street. The Opera House, formerly the New Theatre, was built in 1912 by Richardson and Gill with Farquarson in the Classical style.

Architect Joseph Sunlight, built the Grade II* listed Sunlight House. He had planned to build the Quay Street Tower, a 360-foot (110 m) highrise art deco building behind Sunlight House but was refused planning permission. Had it been built, it would have been not only Manchester's tallest building, but the tallest in Europe.