Multi-million pound revamp of Rochdale Town Hall unveiled

The restoration of one of the North West’s finest historic buildings has been unveiled, with Rochdale Town Hall set to reopen to the public in a matter of weeks.

The project, which was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with an £8.9m grant, has transformed the iconic Grade I Listed building, which has stood proud in Rochdale town centre since 1871.

The scheme, which has restored many of the building’s historic features and created brand new community spaces in rooms which were previously out of bounds to the public, began in 2020 when the town hall closed its doors to allow experts to get to work. Now, with just weeks to go until the building will reopen to the public on Sunday 3 March, images of the spectacular spaces can be revealed for the first time.

Some of the most dramatic changes have taken place in the Great Hall, where specialists used a variety of equipment, including cotton wool buds, to painstakingly restore the 350 panels which cover the room’s ceiling.

In the Exchange, at the main entrance to the building, Minton floor tiles, which depict a hanging fleece and other insignia of Rochdale, have been repaired. The elaborate vaulted ceiling and sweeping staircase in granite and marble, have been cleaned and restored. Stained glass windows, painted surfaces and wood panelling and furniture throughout the building have also been brought back to their former glory.

One of the standout features of the restored town hall is the creation of brand-new community spaces in areas of the building which were previously completely closed from public view.

On the ground floor, a room which was previously used for council meetings has been transformed into a permanent exhibition space, known as the Welcome Gallery, which tells the story of Rochdale, its people and its past, through objects, interactives and imagery.

Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Neil Emmott, said: “Rochdale Town Hall is probably one of the finest examples of neo gothic architecture in the country, but like many buildings this old, it was showing its age. Now, after four years of painstaking work, it looks incredible, just as it would have done when it first opened its doors well over a century ago.”

In addition to experts, over 500 volunteers got on board with the project, with Rochdale residents from the ages of 15 to 82, supporting with everything from historical research to cleaning and conservation.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “As the UK’s largest funder of heritage, we believe in the power of historic buildings, like Rochdale Town Hall, to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place.”

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for Equity, Safety and Reform at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Rochdale Town Hall’s transformation is about so much more than how it looks, as impressive as that is.

“It’s about opening it up and making it more relevant to the public than ever before, with guided tours, increased opening hours and new exhibition and community spaces, so everybody knows this place is for them. It’s so much than a piece of our history, thanks to the support of National Lottery players, it’s now an important part of our future as well.

“The sheer number of people who have given their time to help make this restoration project a success shows how beloved this place is to the people of our borough and I cannot thank our volunteers enough for their incredible efforts.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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