Page 9 - Real Rochdale Issue 14 Summer 2022
P. 9

Rochdale’s ‘gothic masterpiece’ Town  Hall is being restored to its full glory







 Often described as a ‘neo-gothic masterpiece’,   the Small Exchange with its stone angel corbels   and dirty work’ has already taken place, here –   beautiful building that was made – not just for
 Rochdale’s Grade-I listed town hall is considered   – figures that jut out to support the structure   including the removal of a lower ceiling.  the people of Rochdale, but actually for people
 to be one of the finest municipal buildings in   – and decorative floral frieze. From here, it is   across the country if not the world,” she says.
 the country. Designed by William Crossland,   on to the Mayor’s Reception, where careful   Then it’s up to the Great Hall, where York
 it opened in 1871 as a symbol of the town’s   and painstaking work is taking place to restore   Glaziers Trust is restoring the stunning stained   “Its architecture and craftsmanship inside takes
 industrial might – its ornate stylings are rivalled   ornate ceiling panels to their original splendour.  glass windows – depicting an unbroken line   its symbolism and history from motifs across the
 only by the Palace of Westminster, according to   of rule from William the Conqueror to Queen   world, so our aim is that it’s truly representative
 Historic England.  Featuring illustrations of swallows, the panels   Victoria – to their original brilliance. The trust   of everybody. It’s really important because it
 are yellowed with age, with each one taking   has a three-strong team based in Rochdale   allows Rochdale to be put on the map as a place
 While its imposing, quasi-medieval magnificence   around five hours to clean up and remove the   tackling ‘serious structural problems’ with the   of historic interest.”
 marks it out as one of the most impressive   historic layers of varnish before the final finish   windows, before any cleaning-up can take place.
 buildings in the north, the ravages of time have   is applied. Swallows are just one of the creatures   Caroline recalls how the town hall was once
 inevitably taken their toll. Problems blighting the   depicted in some way at the town hall, with the   A tricky job, but Nick Teed, of the trust, says the   likened to an ‘oriental temple of intoxicating
 building over recent years include a crumbling   sharp-eyed sure to also spot the squirrels, eagles   project is ‘now well on the way’. Work on the nine   elegance’. “I suppose what we are trying to do
 drainage system and a leaking roof, while a digital   and even lions among the plethora of species.  ‘enormous windows’ of the Grand Staircase has   is make the building intoxicatingly elegant once
 scan by Salford University revealed a treasure   been completed while the Great Hall is not too   more,” she adds.
 trove of forgotten rooms and obscured features.  Also in-situ are four corbels representing four   far behind.
 local dignitaries from the time of the hall’s                She believes the revitalised town hall will
 Now a £16m restoration of the Victorian gem   opening – including the town mayor and the   “It’s a fantastic project,” says Nick. “It’s great to   make Rochdale a real destination, together
 – part funded by the National Lottery Heritage   designer, Crossland, himself. Next door is the   work on a building like this which is absolutely   with attractions such as Touchstones Heritage
 Fund – is well under way. Around two thirds of   Mayor’s Parlour with its vivid stained-glass   lavish with decorative and architectural detail.”  Library, Fireground and the Rochdale Pioneers
 the Town Hall is being revamped under the first   windows depicting the seasons through the 12   Museum.
 two phases of the project, with a third possibly in   months of the year.  He also enjoys working alongside the
 the pipeline.  other tradespeople and craftsmen who are      She adds: “When we reopen it will tell the story,
 As in the reception room, meticulous work will   rejuvenating the town hall. “It’s a real privilege to   not just of the town hall, but as a lens into the
 Scheduled to reopen in 2023, the revamp will   be needed to return the decorative walls –   work on a building like this,” he adds.  last 150 years of Rochdale’s history.”
 restore many period features within the building   resplendent with songbirds – to their original
 and create a new permanent exhibition as well   lustre. A small area has already been completed,   Those with a head for heights can then climb   Mark Taylor, senior site manager for HH Smith, is
 as boasting a heritage skills studio where local   offering a tantalising glimpse of how the finished   the scaffolding to the upper level of the Great   similarly enthusiastic. “It’s an amazing project to
 people can train in sought-after conservation   version will look.  Hall, where its cavernous scale can be truly   be involved with,” he says.
 skills.  appreciated. Progress here is in its early stages
 Electrics have been stripped out in readiness for   with careful work needed to ascertain how best   “The more we work within the building and work
 Karen Heverin, of Historic England, says the   the volunteers who will soon begin cleaning and   to clean up the delicate roof tiles, before they   around it, the more hidden features we see. It’s
 heritage body is ‘incredibly supportive’ of the   timber panelling under supervision. They will   can be properly restored.  just an amazing space.” A stonemason by trade,
 restoration programme. She said: “It’s brilliant   also play a part in transforming the old council   he describes the restoration as ‘the pinnacle’ in
 to see a project that’s bringing this fabulous   chamber, where a glazed partition has been   A similar approach also needs to be taken before   his eyes.
 building back into community use.   removed, to be ‘repurposed’ further down the   the fine detail can be brought out on the hugely
 line.   impressive angel carvings, fittingly found in the    “I would love to try and rebuild something like
 “It’s an amazing building; it’s got such incredible   town hall firmament. For Caroline Storr, heritage   this but nowadays we just don’t build them like
 craftsmanship and the work you can see is   This room celebrates the textile industry from   engagement manager at Rochdale Council, the   this; it’s one on its own really,” he adds. “It’s a
 really suited to the brilliant architecture and   the cotton fields of Egypt to the Victorian mills   project represents a ‘fantastic opportunity to   pleasure to drive to work to this job. It’s got
 decorative detail we have got in this building.”   of Rochdale – with the decor featuring names   showcase the very best’ of the town.  literally everything this project when you think
 such as James Hargreaves, Samuel Crompton                    about it.”
 Approaching the Mayor’s entrance, visitors   and Lewis Paul. From here it’s through to the   “I think the town hall has been piercing the
 will notice work to install a lift shaft inside the   Welcome Gallery, which is earmarked to become   skyline of Rochdale for the last 150 years and   Nick Statham
 hall’s landmark clock tower. You then arrive in   a new exhibition space. A ‘lot of stripping out   now it’s our opportunity to let people into this   Local Democracy Reporter






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