Think of a time when medical breakthroughs changed lives. The Stopford Building stands before us a testament to Manchester’s contribution to medical science. It is a place where future doctors, nurses and scientists learn their craft.
The Stopford Building is the second largest building at the University of Manchester. Only the Sackville Street Building is bigger. The building’s story began in 1969. Construction finished in 1972. H. S. Fairhurst & Son were the architects who designed it. In 1999, the Biotech Building was added and linked to the Stopford Building.
Back in the early 1970s, this building cost £12.5 million. People called it the largest and most up-to-date facility in Europe. The medical school here was producing more medical professionals than any other in Britain. They trained doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, biochemists and psychiatric social workers.
The Stopford Building got its name to honor Lord Stopford. He was a former Vice-Chancellor and a well-known anatomist. Inside, you’ll find six lecture theaters. The Stopford Library is also housed within. This library caters to medical scientists and students. It was originally known as the Medical Faculty Library.
You’ll notice the Stopford Building on Oxford Road. It sits on the corner of Ackers Street. The Church of the Holy Name is just to the north. Opposite the Stopford Building is the Manchester Academy near the University of Manchester Students’ Union.
Look up and you can see the concrete frieze. Antony Hollaway designed it to run around the top of the Stopford Building.
Lord Stopford, the building’s namesake, became Professor of Anatomy at Manchester University in 1919. He was only 31 years old. Later, he became the Vice-Chancellor. He was a leading scientist. Stopford was the first medical graduate to become a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was knighted. He was given the freedom of Manchester. In 1958, he received a life peerage.
The Stopford Building opened in 1973. It welcomed 200 medical students, 60 dental students and 20 nursing students. Additionally, 75 medical students from the University of St Andrews joined for clinical training. This made Manchester one of the world’s largest medical schools.
The Stopford Building continues to be a hub of medical education. It links to the Biotech Building since 1999. It is a place of learning and discovery. The Stopford Building continues to shape the future of medicine.