Third phase of £16m town hall restoration lodged

Plans for the third phase of a multi-million pound restoration of Rochdale’s Grade One-listed town hall have been revealed.

Often described as a ‘neo-gothic masterpiece’, Rochdale Town Hall is considered to be one of the finest municipal buildings in the country.

Designed by William Crossland, it opened in 1871 as a symbol of the town’s industrial might – its ornate stylings rivalled only by the Palace of Westminster according to Historic England.

A £16m restoration of the Victorian building, part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has been fully underway for the past two years.

The council said the historic icon on The Esplanade needed ‘extensive work’, which would allow it to be fully opened to all residents the first time, complete with exhibition rooms and a new hall for community events.

“The building was falling into a poor state of repair and it had become vital that it was preserved for generations to come,” the council stated. “The interior was starting to become damaged and the building’s roof needed replacing.”

Two phases of work have already begun in 2021, which included major structural work and a new Town Hall square – the second phase  of which is now ‘nearing completion’.

Now the proposals for third phase have been been lodged. These concern the west wing, and the repair and restoration of the circulation space, and restoration of the existing council chamber.

The works also include a new balcony access to the Porte Cochère Shell, and core repair to the Fire Station, as well as specialist repair and restoration of decorative interiors, and the installation of a lift and toilets.

The proposals are fundamentally around making the building accessible for everyone in the borough, the heritage report states.

The total revamp will restore many period features within the building and create a new permanent exhibition as well as boasting a heritage skills studio where local people can train in sought-after conservation skills.

“Given the changing nature of public buildings and how they are used and occupied, it is inevitable that some interventions are required to enable the principal objective of creating a truly accessible building,” supporting documents add.

“As part of the Phase Three works these are largely focused on providing egalitarian access into the building through the alterations to the entrance doors, proposed lift, and accessible WCs, with the elements of greatest intervention focussed in areas of lower significance.

“These works are set within a scheme of works which otherwise seeks to ensure that significant fabric and the finest spaces are restored and protected.

“Within the West Wing, this is principally focused on the Council Chamber and Viewing Gallery, whilst alterations would also be undertaken to enable these spaces to be truly accessible to the community they serve for the first time.

“Establishing the continued and viable use of this building of unquestionable significance to a standard of design and quality worthy of its status both internally and externally is essential, rather than allowing the building to deteriorate over time or permitting many small-scale, piecemeal and detrimental alterations to facilitate a series of failed ventures.

“This is the foremost and critical benefit offered by the scheme and cannot be undervalued.”

It comes as the foundations of a Victorian corn mill and a public weighing station were unearthed at a major archaeological dig behind Rochdale Town Hall.

More than 450 Volunteers, trainees and residents from across the borough joined archaeologists from the University of Salford as part of the ‘Big Dig 2’, which took place on the Broadfield Slopes earlier this month.

 

Read more: Big Dig 2 unearths fascinating findsPublished: 04 August 2023

 

The Slopes and the surrounding area played a key role in the development of Rochdale town centre, and the team on-site have already discovered the foundations of the ‘Charles Kershaw Central Corn Mill’, thought to date from the mid 1800s, alongside a public weighing station.

The dig has supported the training of five local people, as part of a ten week archaeology course, which will enable them to potentially embark on a career in the field.

The council wants to see the Slopes redeveloped in the future with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Proposals for the Slopes include the restoration and repair of the Grade Two-listed Packer Spout fountain and the installation of new lighting and landscaping.

A decision on the third phase of the Town Hall restoration is expected later this summer.

Charlotte Green, Local Demcoracy Reporting Service