Through the doors of one of Stockport’s iconic historic buildings used as a set in Netflix ‘Missing You’ series  

Through the doors of one of Stockport’s iconic historic buildings used as a set in Netflix ‘Missing You’ series  

Tucked away behind hoardings on Greek Street is a beautiful old building jam packed with original features and plenty of stories.  

If you’ve never ventured through the doors of Stockport’s iconic Cheers and Smith building, this absolute giant has been part of the town for generations. A proper head turner for those taking a stroll down Greek Street it forms part of the new Stopford Park regeneration site and it’s packed with tales – from the war effort to Netflix, it’s safe to say this is one of Stopford’s most important buildings and it still maintains its original features. 

With new developments popping up left, right and centre, the Cheers and Smith building keeps Stockport grounded, flying the flag for restoration.  

Originally built in 1909 and designed by architects Cheers and Smith of Blackburn and Twickenham, the building was a municipal secondary school for girls, later becoming a girl’s grammar school.  

Back in the day, this was a massive moment- marking a big step forward for state schools after the 1902 Balfour Act let local councils finally set up secondary schools across the country. The building represents a pivotal shift in education equality for the working class.  

It still reflects the heritage of its time with a strong renaissance style and many of the original fixtures and fittings, relating to its function as a school. These include the original built in, timber panelling bookcases, a corner fireplace with moulded timber chimneypiece and a mirror, and a series of hardwood blackboard frames.  

Not long after, in 1915, the building was taken over by the War Office, being used as a military hospital, right up until the end of the war in 1919, when it returned to being a school. Despite surviving through two World Wars, the building is in near perfect condition with many of its intricate details still intact.  

There are a series of colourful mosaic artworks throughout the building featuring art Nouveau tiles, created by local legends Pilkington and known for their distinctive stylised floral designs, and cross beams with decorative corbel doted through the structure. 

In 1970, the school merged with the Technical School, which subsequently became Stockport College of Further and Higher Education and it was used as the Art College for a number of years. Old sinks where students washed brushes and artwork on the wall all help to tell this charming building’s story. 

Its external features make a statement on the streets of Stockport thanks to its red engineering brick work, decorative stone dressings and banding, stone lintels, terracotta mouldings, Westmoorland slate roof and red terracotta ridge tiles. 

When the building was closed to the public some five years ago while the site went through planning, location experts for Harlen Coben series Missing You picked it out as one of the hero buildings for the show. It features as the police station for the protagonist Detective Kat Donavan played by Rosalind Eleazar. Actor Richard Armitage, who played DCI Ellis Stagger, said that it was one of his favourite locations to work in.  

Currently the building is restricted to the public, but in late 2026, it’s due to re-open as a co-working hotspot for start-up businesses to grow, the old-school sports hall is being transformed into a 400-capacity auditorium, complete with an outdoor dining area, a double-height library that feels straight out of Hogwarts, and an event space will all be part of the mix, while the classrooms will act as bookable meeting rooms and private office space, allowing the building to continue to serve the people of Stockport for generations to come, creating new stories along the way.