Iconic club in conservation plea

The club was made famous by The Smiths

Salford Lads Club and the real Coronation Street could soon be given conservation status.

The area they are in, known as the New Barracks estate, was built in the early 1900s and was Salford City Council's first local authority housing scheme.

The authority now wants to protect the area, as it says it has "maintained much of its original architectural appearance and character".

A formal conservation scheme will go out to consultation later this year.

Coronation Street, which gave its name to the soap opera of the same name, lies at the centre of the estate.

Salford Lads Club, immortalised in an iconic photograph of Manchester band The Smiths, is at the end of the street.

The picture was used on the inner sleeve of the 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, and has been the site of a rock pilgrimage for many fans ever since.

It is important we do all we can to preserve key parts of the fabric of our city Councillor Derek Antrobus

But the club's owners are now trying to raise £1m for repairs to the building, which has listed status.

It was built by brewers JG and WG Groves and was designed by Manchester architect Henry Lord.

Lord was also responsible for the former Salford Royal Hospital and Salford Museum and Art Gallery.

Councillor Derek Antrobus, said: "It is important we do all we can to preserve key parts of the fabric of our city.

"Now we will work on the detail of this scheme before we ask local people for their input."