Shena Simon Campus
| Shena Simon Campus | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Greater Manchester | |
| 53°28′38″N 2°14′17″W / 53.47715°N 2.23804°W | |
| Location | Whitworth Street, Manchester |
| History | |
| Built | 1901 |
| Site notes | |
Architectural style | French Renaissance style |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Designated | 6 June 1994 |
| Reference no. | 1270607 |
The Shena Simon Campus, formerly the Central High School and the Shena Simon Sixth Form College, is an educational facility on Whitworth Street, Manchester, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The building was designed by Potts Son and Hennings and was officially opened by the Duke of Devonshire as the Central Higher Grade School in 1901.[2] During the First World War, the building was requisitioned by the War Office to create the 2nd Western General Hospital, a facility for the Royal Army Medical Corps to treat military casualties.[3]
It became the Central High School in 1920, the Central High School for Boys in 1960 and then the Shena Simon Sixth Form College (named after Shena Simon, the politician and feminist) in 1982.[4] It was absorbed into City College Manchester in 2001[5] and became a campus of The Manchester College in 2008.[6]
In May 2025, the businessman, Oliver Cookson, acquired the building and announced proposals to convert it into a hotel.[7] The Manchester College relocated its educational services from Shena Simon to a new building at the college's City Campus on Great Ducie Street in September 2025.[8]
Alumni
Central High School for Girls
- Carol Birch, novelist[9]
- Arlene Phillips CBE, choreographer, known for Strictly Come Dancing[10]
- Vivian Tierney, operatic soprano, married to Alan Woodrow[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Historic England. "Shena Simon Sixth Form College (1270607)". National Heritage List for England.
- ↑ Harwood, Elain (2010). England's Schools: History, architecture and adaptation. Historic England. p. 47. ISBN 978-1848020313.
- ↑ "Second Western General Hospital". Archives Hub. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑ "Whitworth Street". About Manchester. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑ "Shena Simon College". Gov.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑ "Shena Simon Campus". The Manchester College. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑ "CERT, Cookson family office to convert Manchester's Shena Simon campus into hotel". Place Northwest. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "Historic college campus building acquired - plans to bring forward new Manchester hotel". InsiderMedia. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "Turning back home". Big Issue North. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Arlene Phillips, choreographer and creator of Hot Gossip". The Independent. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑ Adam, Nicky (ed). "Tierney, Vivian." In: Who's Who in British Opera. Scolar Press, Aldershot, 1993.