An iconic Salford youth club has reopened after a £450,000 refurbishment.
Salford Lads Club received funding from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund to carry out essential repairs that will help “secure the long-term future of the much-loved community building.”
The cash was used to replace roof slates and carry out brick and terracotta masonry repairs on the Grade II-listed building.
Historic England, the public body that lists sites and structures of special architectural, historic or archaeological interest, noted the importance of the Ordsall-based inner city youth club.
Salford Lads Club became a worldwide tourist destination after it appeared on the inside sleeve of The Smiths’ third album, The Queen Is Dead.
On Friday, representatives from Historic England joined local leaders Paul Dennett and Rebecca Long-Bailey to mark the institution’s reopening after its major revamp.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE, Co-CEO, Historic England, said: “The restoration of Salford Lads and Girls Club shows how bringing new life to heritage can help build a better future for people and places.
“Through the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we have helped secure the future of an internationally recognised building that continues to provide opportunities for young people and strengthen pride in place.
“Restoration projects often uncover hidden details that connect us directly to the people who built and cared for these places, such as the names of the workers found scribed inside the dome during the roof repairs.”
Founded in 1903, Salford Lads and Girls Club has supported generations of young people through sport, music, drama, fitness and creative activities.
Originally established for boys, the club now welcomes girls and continues to play a vital role in the local community, providing opportunities, skills and support for young people today.
Laura Slingsby, Chief Executive of Salford Lads and Girls Club, said: “This is a really important moment for Salford Lads and Girls Club. The building means so much to so many people, locally, nationally and internationally, but it is also a living youth and community space that still has an important job to do.
Historic England’s support has helped protect the building and given us a stronger foundation for the future. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible, including Historic England, our project partners, volunteers, trustees and supporters.
This project is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about protecting a place of belonging, memory, music, youth work and community pride. The completion of these works marks a major step forward as we continue to build the next chapter of Salford Lads and Girls Club.”
After a photograph of The Smiths outside Salford Lads Club appeared on the inside sleeve of The Queen Is Dead in 1985, fans from around the world began making pilgrimages to Ordsall to visit the site.
The club now features a dedicated Smiths room and an archive documenting more than 22,500 members, commemorated on a five-metre “Wall of Names” celebrating the band’s connection to the venue.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford, said: “Salford Lads and Girls Club is one of our city’s most cherished landmarks, not only because of its remarkable heritage, but because of the generations of young people it has supported since 1903.
This investment is hugely welcome and will help protect the fabric and future of a Grade II listed building that means so much to people in Salford and far beyond. I am delighted to see these vital restoration works completed, ensuring that Salford Lads Club can continue to inspire pride in our city and provide opportunities for young people for many years to come.”
The project forms part of the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, which has so far supported 37 historic sites across England. Salford Lads and Girls Club is one of six projects funded in the North-West, prioritising heritage assets that deliver strong benefits for local communities.
Earlier this year, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed additional funding for the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, enabling Historic England to continue supporting projects that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits across England.
Following the success of the initial £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, the government has committed up to a further £60 million to support at-risk heritage across England.
