For more the 50 years it was the most famous TV street in Britain. But today the former home of one of the UK’s best-loved soaps lies derelict and abandoned.
Coronation Street’s iconic cobbled road set, which was built in the 1960s, is now a gravel path overgrown with weeds four years after filming moved to a new site.
Well known local the Rovers Return Inn has been stripped and breeze blocks can be seen piled up at the entrance.
Meanwhile, the sight of huge weeds growing up the side of Rita Sullivan’s Kabin newsagents, which stands empty with nothing on display in its windows, will come as a sobering sight to many fans of the show.
The images, which also capture Kevin Webster’s auto garage in the background, were compiled by an urban explorer who snapped the decaying set ahead of its demolition.
In March demolition crews moved in to begin tearing down decades of TV history by bulldozing parts of the set, but the new images cast doubt on how far the project has progressed since then.
No return: Incredible images capture the sad decay of the iconic former home of Coronation Street. The famous Rovers Return, above, has been stripped, with breeze blocks shown stacked at the entrance
Iconic: The pictures show the alarming decline of the famous street. Rita Sullivan’s Kabin newsagents, above, was once one of the best known shops in the country but is now in a state of disrepair, with bare windows and weeds growing outside
Happier times: The Rovers Return Inn during its heyday. The pub became famous as the local of Coronation Street’s colourful residents down the years. It now stands derelict as the old set is prepared for demolition
The famous Kabin newsagents used to be one of the most well known sights in Coronation Street. It now lies in a state of disrepair with nothing in the windows and huge weeds growing outside
Doors and windows have been removed from many of the set’s structures, which stand boarded-up and derelict. The cobbled streets are now no more than gravel paths
It’s been four years since ITV bosses moved the nation’s favourite soap to a brand new set at Trafford Quays.
After a stint as a tourist spot for TV fans, the old studio site is due to be bulldozed for new development.
Even walls have been stripped.
A piece of chipboard is shown propped up against the side of one house on the old set and breeze blocks are shown stacked at the entrance of the iconic Rovers Return pub.
The fascinating images revealing the set’s demise were captured by urban explorer Mark Andrew.
Mark, 23, said: ‘It looks really old and there’s been a dramatic change. It looked a right state – dirty and run down. There are no cobbles there and I am not sure what is being done with it.’
Kevin Webster’s former auto repair shop can be seen in the background. Trees are overgrown on the street, which will be demolished to make way for a new development
The pictures show the famous street is now almost entirely gravel and stones, with masses of weeds growing up from cracks in the adjoining pavements and from walls beside the set’s structures
In March demolition crews moved in to begin tearing down decades of TV history by bulldozing parts of the set, but the new images cast doubt on how far the project has progressed since then
The old set behind Granada Studios off Quay Street in Manchester was built in the 1960s but in 2015, bosses moved to MediaCity in Salford, where the soap is now filmed.
The pictures show the famous street is now almost entirely gravel and stones, with masses of weeds growing up from cracks in the adjoining pavements and from walls beside the set’s structures.
In March demolition crews moved in to begin tearing down decades of TV history by bulldozing parts of the set, but the new images cast doubt on how far the project has progressed since then.
The original cobble streets from the old set haven’t been discarded and are believed to be being kept in storage. Soap bosses said they could also make a welcome return as part of the new set
Flats, offices and three hotels are set to be built on the site as part of the new St John’s Quarter development after the 13-acre plot was sold by ITV in 2013
Images revealed at the time showed walls has been knocked down and roof tiles removed from some of the soap opera’s most famous stores and homes – the Rovers Return pub was seen windowless and completely empty without its iconic sign above the door.
The original cobble setts from the old set haven’t been discarded and are believed to be being kept in storage. Soap’s bosses said they could also make a welcome return as part of the new set.
Flats, offices and three hotels are set to be built on the site as part of the new St John’s Quarter development after the 13-acre plot was sold by ITV in 2013 to Manchester Quays Ltd, a joint venture between Allied London and Manchester City Council.
The iconic former Granada House, designed by Ralph Tubbs in 1962, is set to be converted into a 210-room hotel with restaurant and bar areas on the ground floor and rooftop, according to plans for the development revealed in May.