Altrincham’s County Galleries swaps art for bespoke furniture
The grade two-listed former bank on Railway Street could become a showroom for The Rusland Movement’s handmade artisan furniture, should Trafford Council approve the plans.
Retaining the old bank’s heritage would be done through adaptive reuse of its features, with original façades, fabrics, and architectural details sensitively considered while altering the interior layout to create a functional space.
The Rusland Movement wants to improve the bank’s security with a replacement and upgraded double-glazed door, which would remove the need for an unesthetic sliding shutter and provide a more attractive frontage to Railway Street.
Inside, the wooden parquet flooring and original mosaic floor tiles would be restored, while the long-standing banking desk and top will be kept in the same position but supported by a structure to ensure stability.
County Galleries most recently hosted an art gallery in the old banking hall, which itself features a “high level of craftsmanship and Gothic detailing”, according to planner and heritage consultant Paul Butler Associates.
In 2024, the building was sold for £800,000, according to Land Registry.
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Other more modern external features, such as extractor fans, signage, and single-glazed windows, will be removed and replaced with appropriate alternatives.
The 32-34 Railway Street building was designed by Mills & Murgatroyd and constructed in 1906 to be a Manchester & County Bank, lasting until closure in 1977.
Those interested in the application can view it using the planning reference number 116267/FUL/25 on Trafford Council’s planning portal.
