There were two pubs on that site. The Byrom aka the pie shop fronted onto Byrom street and was a plain 60s type buidling only two storeys high. This was surrounded by a works called D. Evans/Tapley. The corner of the block that became Imperial Halls student residence was originally the Dart public house and was incorporated into the residence in the 1990s.
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As for the local houses being out of place. We have to remember who was here first. There has been housing in this area for donkeys years, first with the courts/slums - then the Fontenoy Gardens tenements blocks and the coffin blocks up on Standish Street/Marybone. It's only fair that these residents were given new homes but just a few years later, big multi story student accommodation was lumped right behind them overlooking their gardens etc etc.
I believe another high rise is sheduled for the corner of Gt Crosshall st/Fontenoy St too.
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