Official opening ceremony for Rochdale's Fireground museum

Date published: 17 January 2022

Rochdale’s Fireground museum was officially opened in a special ceremony on Sunday (16 January).

The iconic art deco former fire station-turned museum, located near Rochdale railway station, has been open to the public for a few months now, and doing very well.

The opening was carried out on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant for Greater Manchester, by Barry Dixon CBE QFSM MIFireE DL, who is a Deputy Lieutenant. Barry was also the Chief Fire Officer in Greater Manchester until his retirement in 2009. 

Around 50 guests were privy to the ceremony, from the world of fire services and museums, plus some special guests who have historical family connections with either Rochdale fire station or the fire service in Greater Manchester.

Previously located in the rear yard of the fire station, Fireground is found in the main building fronting Maclure Road, and is more than four times the size of the previous Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum site.

The word fireground has been used in the fire and rescue services since World War Two and refers to the scene of operations at an emergency incident – the centre of all activity, as with ‘battleground’ in the armed forces.

Fireground was made possible through a partnership between the Museum Trust, Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency and the building’s previous owners Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, with support from several major funders, chiefly the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Visitors can experience a wide variety of exhibits, view a collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, and a range of vehicles including a 1940 Dennis Pump Escape fire engine and a 1965 Bedford Water Tender fire engine from Wigan.

A new purpose-built library and archive with a vast catalogue of books, documents, periodicals, images, moving images, oral history recordings and other paper items has also been incorporated and can be found in the former control room.

The restoration has also seen many of the fire station’s original architectural features uncovered or re-instated, including the re-fitting of original 1930s doors to the fire engine turnout bays.

Fireground is open from 10am to 4pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets for ages 4 and under will be free, children and concessions £5, and adults £7. Family tickets are £20