Thousands pass by the vacant Debenhams store in Manchester City Centre unaware of the true
beauty within the complex.
In today’s Urbandoned video, we enter the towering structure, hoping to find reason
for its Grade 2 listing over the many floors.
Although the retail store only closed in 2019, we find that there are entire levels in the
higher regions of the property that seem to have been derelict for decades, containing
incredible architecture from a forgotten era.
Join us to see what hidden secrets we discover inside.
Situated in the Smithfield’s area of Manchester, once famous for its markets and textile warehouses,
the building was constructed in 1932 for the Ryland’s textile company in an Art Deco
style.
It has remained totally original since with an iconic exterior appearance that many gaze
up towards impressed from the busy Piccadilly Gardens.
It passed uses since it’s opening, but was last utilised as a department store that closed
down in 2021.
You can still see the branding all over the complex, but the shutters have been down for
months and the windows painted over to conceal the interior.
On a bright day last year, I was passing by the imposing former Debenhams building when
I noticed a temporary opportunity to catch a glimpse of the interior.
Alone but my camera, I slipped within the premises without thinking that I would be
filming.
After a short walk around the lower floors, I did sense some potential and began shooting
a video.
Alistair: Tall escalators going up and down.
Apparently, the menswear was below.
We’re really close to the security’s office here, so we’re just going to keep it down.
Gives that shopping centre vibe, but really it’s just a huge department store.
Development had begun on the lower floors, where there was construction lights functioning.
On a few floors, builders were hammering away and a security guard was positioned on the
ground floor, who thankfully mistook me for a worker.
Alistair: We’re inside the huge six, seven storey Debenhams building in central Manchester.
The nice security guard downstairs just let me up the stairs, just as I was passing by.
Barely anything left, but it’s a cool building so I hope we can see some nice architecture.
Here’s remains of the escalators.
We’re on the third floor now.
I just skipped the two that were quite boring.
Alistair: Some remains of old signs.
We’re smack bang in the middle of Manchester here, so you can hear the buskers outside.
It’s quite strange.
Look at this old window and this room with the clock, and dated light fixtures, too.
This is the type of stuff I wanted to see.
I wasn’t confident whether 1930s details would have survived decades of conversion,
However, these offices were an insight into a grand past appearance for the store.
Alistair: This is floor 3.
Apparently, there would be a restaurant up here.
It’s becoming more and more like a shell.
I don’t even think there’s any nice office rooms like the floor downstairs.
Alistair: Another staircase.
That’s really nice.
You’ve even got some mannequins on the floor at the bottom.
This one’s quite Art Deco.
After a blaze in 1957 that destroyed Paulden’s Department Store in All Saints, the company
acquired the Rylands Building, switching its use from industrial to retail.
Debenhams was the rebranded name of the Paulden’s store’s owner which took place in 1973.
Alistair: The lights are on in this staircase.
We’re going through a cage that would be shut, yet this is definitely another shop floor.
The colours are still left.
Why do I feel like this would have been the children’s section, with all the bright
multi-coloured pillars?
Alistair: Really nice light coming in.
On the next floor up, check this out!
This is really dated.
It’s a shame that the fence is there.
It’s a really nice wooden stairwell with ironwork on the bannister, and again, you
see these pillars with the beautiful details at the top.
Alistair: Found a dated staircase at the top floor.
It’s pitch-black up there but I think I can go up it.
I don’t have a torch on me.
Bare wood, no carpet.
Wow!
This is very different.
Really beautiful.
All the doors have stained glass in them.
Look at the window, too - the main window.
There is little stained glass details in every one.
If I had time, I’m pretty sure I could step out of these windows and go onto the balcony.
Alistair: Can spot an old toilet from any distance.
The little wooden cubicles, there, and in here, the tiles.
You can just tell by the urinals that they’re old.
Alistair: Oh my god!
Wow… okay, I did not expect this coming into this building.
I thought I might find some nice details but nothing this extreme.
That is a beautiful skylight.
Something almost theatre about this.
The top floor has been absolutely golden for anything old.
This room was simply unbelievable, a real relic of the original Ryland’s building
that had been locked away for decades.
The ornate skylight still boasting much of its colour and the intricate coves around
a circular design complimented each other, presenting a time capsule atmosphere in the
space.
There wasn’t much that could make this surprise architectural gem much better, but perhaps
an identical hall?
Alistair: Having been to the one on the opposite side, I think I know what’s going to be
in here.
Wow… slightly faded than the other, but still just as nice.
Really did not expect anything like this coming into this building.
Alistair: This looks like it keeps the same levels of old.
Nice room, this.
Can see it would have had an old clock up there, but it’s been removed.
The woodwork is really nice.
The upper floors were turning out to be a step back in time, with so many rooms that
appeared very dated compared to the vast modernised spaces below.
It was likely that this boardroom would have been used by Ryland’s textile employees
as far back as the 1930s.
Alistair: I think this is the last portion of the building.
Oh wow!
This is quite incredible.
These tiles.
Poking out there through the little circle - I don’t want to bother him.
There he goes… look at these tiles, though.
Really amazing staircase and probably something that you wouldn’t have even seen when this
place was active.
Very old lift shaft.
Alistair: Nice corridor on the roof, but I’m pretty sure, the building over there will
just be empty.
Couldn’t have done this place without coming on here at least for five minutes.
Some day for it, as well.
Can’t complain!
Alistair: Spiral staircase.
Just a small building on top of the roof, but it shows promise from this and there is
also a nice arched window behind me.
This is nice!
These look really old.
I think they would be lift motors.
Debenhams closed in 2021, outlasting other Manchester department stores like Lewis’,
Afleck and Brown’s and C&A.
It has remained abandoned since, yet plans are coming to fruition now to develop the
facility into a large office, retail and leisure space expected to be completed in 2025.
Hopefully, the rare features in the upper portion of the property, as well as it’s
notorious facade, can be protected from the restoration, as now knowing what historical
details still reside within it, it would be upsetting if they were dismantled after they
had lasted so long.
Here are some of our photographs from our Debenhams exploration.
If you like the look of them, check out our Instagram page in the description where we
share images from our explores months before they are seen on YouTube.
Thanks for watching!
We hope you enjoyed a look inside the iconic Manchester Debenham’s store.
If you did, feel free to leave a like on the video.
See you next time!