|
Commercial Union
Now the home of Vivienne Westwood's boutique this building at 47 Spring Gardens was built by Charles Heathcote in 1881. Heathcote's client was the Commercial Union Assurance Society.  The Commercial Union has a
history that can be traced back to the 1600s
involving a union of a number of fire insurance companies. Among its
customers over the years have been a young Winston Churchill and the
White Star Line's Titanic.
 The "Time Out Manchester" web
site says of the Vivienne Westwood
boutique at 47 Spring Gardens, "Viv is from nearby Glossop, so it's
only right that she should have a dedicated boutique here. And it does
her justice. Carved mahogany display cases reveal glittering Westwood
orb jewellery, the latest collections are hung beside huge gilt mirrors
and there's a chaise longue on which to try the latest shoe ranges. The
pricey but stunning main collection sells alongside the diffusion line
T-shirts and every self respecting Manc fashionist owns a tartan
Westwood bag."
|