Emergency work needed to address safety issues at Hopwood Hall

Photo: Jimmy Carter

Hopwood Hall

Rochdale Council has said that 'emergency work' is set to be carried out at Hopwood Hall in Middleton.

In a statement, the council said that 'urgent repairs needs to be made inside the historic Grade II-listed building', according to a structural survey it commissioned. It comes after the council took over control of the property last year – following the end of an exclusivity agreement with Hopwood DePree and the Hopwood Foundation.

Under the terms of the agreement, which began in 2017, the council-owned historic hall would have been sold for a nominal sum on receipt of a viable business plan with secured planning permissions. The council opted not to renew the agreement after seven years, during which time the agreement had been extended four times. 

It is hoped the emergency works will allow volunteers to return to Hopwood Hall, which dates from the 12th Century, in the near future and continue their work.

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Hopwood Hall is an important part of Middleton, and the wider borough’s, heritage, and we want to get on and continue to move its restoration forward, with the support of existing partners, like Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as exploring new funding and partnership opportunities.   

“These recent developments are important milestones for Hopwood Hall and reaffirm our commitment to this historic asset, which has seen almost £1.7m of public investment over the past seven years. 

“The emergency work will help shore up the building, so that our community, including the volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time, can safely re-enter the site and continue their incredible work, should they wish to do so. In addition, the roof repairs are a huge part of the wider restoration effort and, with the support of Historic England, this year we will be investing more than £700,000 into this part of the project.”

The council is also carrying out a feasibility study, to determine possible future uses for the building. Roof repairs, funded by the council and Historic England, are also moving forward, with a contractor set to be appointed by the end of February. 

The repairs will start in April, once bat roosting season is over, and are expected to complete in the autumn.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter