Page 6 - Real Rochdale Issue 21 Spring 2024

Multi-million-pound revamp of
Rochdale Town Hall
Rochdale Town Hall is one of the North West’s
finest historic buildings. Built in 1871, the
iconic Grade I Listed building closed in 2020 to
allow for extensive restoration.
The project, which was supported by a £8.9m
grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund,
has restored many of the building’s historic
features and created brand new community
spaces in rooms which were previously out of
bounds to the public.
Some of the most dramatic changes have taken
place in the Great Hall, where specialists used
a variety of equipment to painstakingly restore
the 350 panels which cover the room’s ceiling.
Staircase to the Great Hall
REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2024
Decades of grime has been removed,
unveiling hundreds of intricate red and gold
designs, featuring imagery, including the
English lions and Scottish thistle.
In the Exchange, the main entrance to the
building, Minton floor tiles, which depict a
hanging fleece and other insignia of Rochdale,
have been repaired. The elaborate vaulted
ceiling and sweeping staircase in granite and
marble have been cleaned and restored.
Stained glass windows, painted surfaces and
wood panelling and furniture throughout the
building have also been brought back to their
former glory.
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Delicate work on painted surfaces
On the first floor, a room which was previously
used as office space has had years of
unsympathetic additions – including
partition walls and a mezzanine floor –
removed to reveal a double-height ceiling,
angels along the walls and a previously hidden
window with views directly down into
the Great Hall.
This room, named the ‘Bright Hall’ after the late
Rochdale-born MP and social reformer, John
Bright, will be used by community groups and
for events.
The Great Hall
Angel on the ceiling of the Great Hall
A former council meeting room on the ground
floor has been transformed into a permanent
exhibition space, known as the Welcome
Gallery, which tells the story of Rochdale, its
people and its past, through objects,
interactives and imagery.
In addition to experts, over 500 volunteers
got on board with the project, with Rochdale
residents from the ages of 15 to 82,
supporting with everything from historical
research to cleaning and conservation.
Photos above right, below
and left: Gregory Couzens
REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2024