Middleton secures £2m to restore its heritage

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £1,975,800 to the Middleton & Edgar Wood Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

Their North West Regional Committee approved the detailed plans for the repair and restoration of Middleton’s historic buildings last week.

The award will help to protect Middleton’s unique Edgar Wood heritage and to repair and restore other important historic buildings in the Conservation Area.

Councillor Peter Williams, Rochdale Borough Council Cabinet Member for Corporate Management and Economic Regeneration, said: “Middleton has a unique and incredibly valuable heritage that is not fully recognised or appreciated. This award is very welcome as it will not only go a long way to restoring some of our most valuable buildings but will also create opportunities to develop community pride and to bring jobs into Middleton through tourism.”

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund is proud to be playing a key role in helping to revitalise these once thriving towns across the North West. This project has huge potential to rejuvenate Middleton and have a real impact on the local economy by restoring and celebrating the town’s heritage, particularly the architecture of Edgar Wood. This will create long-lasting benefits for the community for many generations to come.”

A list of potential projects was submitted to the HLF following consultation with owners. This included the Edgar Wood buildings in the town centre, as well as Middleton Jubilee Library, Spring Gardens Silk Mill and Providence Chapel. The centre piece of the THI will be the Edgar Wood Centre (formerly the Long Street Methodist Church and Schools). Rochdale Borough Council is working with the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust, which took over ownership in 2010, to conserve and establish it as a Visitor Centre. It will also act as the THI Office.

The council will carry out complementary projects to enhance Middleton Gardens and the Old Burial Ground. Work on Middleton Gardens is scheduled to start in May and will focus on improving the setting of the buildings around the gardens, including the Edgar Wood buildings ‘White-City’ (33-35 Middleton Gardens) and Amigos Café. Proposals for the Old Burial Ground include improving access, restoring monuments and reopening views to the Sam Bamford Monument and St Leonard’s Parish Church.

The THI will start this spring and continue for five years.

Over the last few years, the work of local people has been invaluable in preparing for the THI and researching the local history. The THI will encourage more people to get involved and help people learn about their heritage. Each year there will be a programme of community events based around a theme. In the first year, 2011/12, it will be ‘Middleton History through Education;’ celebrating Middleton’s school history and architecture from the Medieval to modern times.

Training events in traditional building skills for contractors and home owners are also planned to help care for Middleton’s historic buildings. This is just one of a number of proposals to ensure the benefits of the THI are continued after 2016. Further information about the proposals can be found in the Conservation Area Management Plan on the planning pages of the council’s website: www.rochdale.gov.uk/planning.