For many students in Salford, Castle Irwell and 'The Pav' were an "iconic" part of the university experience.
A former horse racing track, in the 1960s Castle Irwell was sold to the University of Salford and Salford council. It was turned into playing fields.
But by the early 1970s, it became a student village - welcoming an estimated 40,000 students over half a century.
Read More: An open-air mass at Heaton Park and the Popemobile on Manchester's streets in 1982 photos
Many memories were made on the site as well as the old racecourse members stand, which was converted into the infamous Pavilion bar and nightclub, known as ‘The Pav.’ Operated by the students’ union, it closed in 2009. But on its website, the university said that the Pavilion was a "huge part of our identity and history’ and ‘the catalyst for many student memories."
After almost 50 years, Castle Irwell closed in June 2015. That year, a huge farewell party was thrown to mark the village’s closure, with more than 600 former and then current students attending.
But the following year, decades of students’ memories "went up in smoke" as the Castle Irwell village in Salford was destroyed in a huge blaze.
Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.
In July 2016, fire crews worked through night to tackle the huge fire at the former student flats in Salford. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to the blaze and at its height, more than 50 firefighters were at the scene of the two storey building using water pumped from the nearby River Irwell.
The operation was scaled down to three fire engines and between 15 to 20 firefighters overnight. Police later confirmed that the fire was arson, as aerial images captured by a drone revealed the full extent of the damage caused by the blaze. The university, which owns the land, said the Pav would be demolished.
At the time, M.E.N. readers shared their memories of The Pavilion and spoke of their sadness at the old building’s loss. Hashtags including #ThePav and #Pavmemories were also used on Twitter.
Pilar Gomez wrote: "So many memories of nights spent partying there in the 80s #thepav."
David Judic said: "Many many memories going up in smoke tonight." On Facebook, Debra Fretwell posted: "RIP The Pav. Had some fantastic nights there."
And Natalie G Johnston tweeted: "The Pav is no more. Sad end to an iconic part of Salford Uni’s history."
What are your memories of the site? Let us know in the comments section below.
In 2018, it was reported that the former Castle Irwell student village could be transformed into a new housing, apartments and shops, with University bosses later tabling plans for a huge new 500-home neighbourhood in Salford. By 2020, the public got a first look at the family homes that will form part of Salford's new £120m neighbourhood and construction began.
In July last year, another 106 houses were approved in a second phase of the former Manchester Racecourse plan.
