Molineux stadium plans under the hammer
Original architects' plans and drawings for the 1990s redevelopment of Molineux will go under the hammer at a Wolverhampton auction house.
With Wolves on the brink of financial ruin and relegation into the non-leagues during the mid-1980s, Sir Jack Hayward's 1990 takeover of the club and subsequent investment both on and off the pitch spurred the club on to successive promotions and eventual stability in what would become the Championship.
Pivotal to this success was the rebuild of the club's home stadium, which officially opened following the work in December 1993.
The lot at Cuttlestones comprises original drawings, together with printed copies, stamped upon date of receipt and bearing the copyright mark: 'Associated Structural Consultants
Limited St. John's Cloisters, St. John's Square, Wolverhampton, WV2 4BQ'; with the official project name: 'Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Molineux Redevelopment'.
Each technical drawing bears a title and number – for example: 'Waterloo Road Stand General Arrangement of T.V. gantry, Drawing no. 263/37591/72'
The sale of the plans comes with another redevelopment of Molineux under way, although the project has stalled amid two relegations which will see Wolves ply their trade in the third tier next season.
Wolverhampton Auction Room Manager Tom Waldron, a lifelong Wolves fan, said: "For any Wolves fan this has to be a fascinating lot. It is symbolic of the fact that the rebuilt Molinuex stadium – one of the most advanced in the country when first built – was meant to demonstrate Wolves' intention to return to the top tiers of English football."
The plans will sell on Friday. Viewing will be from 10am to 7pm on Thursday and the morning of the sale, with the catalogue available online at www.cuttlestones.co.uk
