Page 29 - Real Rochdale Issue 09 Winter 2020

Rochdale Town Hall A major refurbishment is due its historic features including Plans for a town hall square
the Magna Carta mural and
to start on the town hall next
include ‘dramatically
improving’ the area around
ceiling panels in the Great
year, with the Gothic-revival
Then and Now style building in need of a Hall, and the stained glass and the building and creating a
modern makeover,
‘high quality link’ with the
wood panelling throughout
safeguarding the architectural
Gardens, part of a £3 million
gem for future generations the building. already existing Memorial
whilst showing sensitivity to The proposals also include the redesign.
the original fixtures. creation of a new community
space on the second floor, The redevelopment is part of
In 2018, The National Lottery called the Bright Hall, which the wider £400 million
Heritage Fund approved a can be used for smaller regeneration of Rochdale
first stage application to weddings and functions and town centre, which has
support the project, awarding by community groups. included the award-winning
the council £8.95 million in River Roch re-opening scheme
funding to further develop Also in the plans is the and its historic bridge, the
plans. creation of a permanent new transport Interchange
exhibition space in the and Metrolink stop, and the
This was followed by a second committee rooms on the new Rochdale Riverside retail
stage grant of £8.3 million – ground floor, the installation and leisure development.
announced in 2020 - to of two new lifts, new toilets,
Photo: Rochdale Local Studies Touchstones restore many of the building’s and a brand-new entrance to Rochdale Town Hall will close
historic features. make the whole building more on 18 December. From 1
Although incorporated as a Crossland, written by Sheila strong statement of accessible and welcoming. January 2021, services such
borough in 1856, it was 1863 Binns, was published in confidence and pride. The application outlines vital as The Mayor’s Office and
before a town hall for September by the conservation work to protect The outside of the building Register Office will
Rochdale was agreed. Lutterworth Press. The present tower by the building, including will also be restored, cleaned relocate, and the town hall will
architect Alfred Waterhouse - replacing the electrical and better lit. be closed entirely for
In 1864, from among 27 Born in Huddersfield, W H who was also responsible for system, and restoration work approximately three years
hopefuls, a Yorkshireman Crossland trained under Manchester Town Hall - was will be carried out on many of while renovations take place.
aged only 30, William Henry George Gilbert Scott and his added after the original
Crossland won the busy practice in the West was destroyed by a fire in
architectural competition to Riding established a good April 1883.
design it. £20,000 was reputation designing churches The new ground floor exhibtion space The new Bright Hall
allocated and the site beside and secular buildings. Constructed between the
the River Roch purchased. years of 1885 and 1887, the
The town hall was officially now stone structure stands at
Elaborate designs drawing opened on 27 September 190 feet and houses five bells.
on mythical and naturalistic 1871, ablaze with gaslight.
motifs, as well as local history What was the Clock Tower
and industry, sent costs A tower with a spire on a civic Library was also destroyed in
spiralling, reaching an building was a luxury afforded the fire, resulting in the
extraordinary £154,755. The by few towns. The town hall opening of the nearby
Mayor justified the huge boasted a 240-foot-tall clock Touchstones as a ‘free public
expense, saying that ‘one tower topped with a statue of library’ a year later.
cannot have beauty without St George and his dragon on a
paying for it’. wooden spire. Nearly 150 years on,
described as one of the dozen
Rochdale Town Hall became Rochdale was growing rapidly most ambitious High
Crossland’s most important through wealth generated by Victorian town halls in Eng-
commission to date and the the textile industry and the land, Rochdale’s remains one
first full-length biography of magnificent town hall made a of the finest in the country.

REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2020 28