Ellenroad Engine House - the region's second least popular attraction but volunteers hope to change that

Ellenroad Engine House Steam Engine

Ellenroad Engine House received 3,000 visitors last year making it Greater Manchester’s second least popular attraction.

The steam museum, which was established in 1985 to ensure the preservation of the Ellenroad Engine House and engines, can currently only open once a month and is staffed entirely by volunteers without any outside funding.

Zoe Burtonwood, a volunteer at the steam museum, said: “It can be difficult because we are only open once a month and a lot of people don’t know we are here. I have spoken to people from Milnrow who say they have lived in the area for 20 years and they never knew we were here.”

Volunteers are now aiming to attract more visitors.

For those who do visit the museum they can see the world’s largest steam mill engine as well as different attractions every month.

“We try and do something different every month to attract different people. We had Oakenhoof Dancers last month and this month we have a classic car show,” said Zoe.

Despite the efforts of the volunteers, they still find it hard to bring in more people.

Zoe added: “We do see a dedicated group of people coming every month but it is about attracting those extra people to come along. At the minute we don’t get any outside funding so can't really open at any other time and we would need more volunteers to get involved to do that.”

Ellenroad Engine House came second in the poll after Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Tameside which received only 147 visitors in 2013 and was
followed by Bolton Steam Museum which received 3,063 visitors in 2013.

“After the Town Hall we are a significant building in Rochdale and are a scheduled historic monument,” added Zoe.

Ellenroad Engine House is currently open on the first Sunday of every month.

Forthcoming events:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchtype=text&searchvalue=Ellenroad+Engine+House