The grand opening of Rochdale Town Hall, with free tickets for the event on 3 March last, encouraged locals to see the restoration of a ‘stunning Grade I-listed building’.
image for illustration: The Exchange, Rochdale Town Hall by David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
… our residents….will finally get to see their beautiful town hall, fully restored in all its glory…
Rochdale Borough Council writes:
The stunning Grade I-listed building recently underwent a major restoration, which was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. And now residents and visitors will finally be able to see the results for themselves when the building throws open its doors on Sunday, 3 March 2024.
Teams of specialists, and more than 500 volunteers, have spent 4 years transforming the space and restoring it to its former glory. Spaces which had previously been hidden from view are also now accessible to the public for the first time.
A number of the historic features the building is so well known for, including the decorative ceiling panels and angels in the Great Hall, the Magna Carta mural, the extensive stained glass, painted surfaces and stonework have been painstakingly restored and cleaned.
Visitors will be able to enjoy brand new features, including the permanent exhibition space, the Welcome Gallery
Visitors will also notice new spaces that have been created in rooms which were formerly used by council staff and councillors. One of these is the new Bright Hall. The former office space had unsympathetic additions, like mezzanine floors and partition walls, stripped away to reveal the double height ceiling, angels along the walls and a hidden window with views into the Great Hall. This space, which includes artwork co-created with the local community, is now open for events and community use.
On the ground floor, a former meeting room space now houses a new permanent exhibition, known as the Welcome Gallery, which tells the story of Rochdale, its history and its people. Many local residents and community groups have donated pieces to the exhibition space, while volunteers have done extensive archival research to help inform its fascinating content.
The grand reopening will take place on Sunday, 3 March 2024, with the doors opening at 10am to the sounds of the Rochdale Music Service Fanfare.
Residents will be able to wander around the space and soak up its beauty, while street theatre and outdoor arts specialists, Fool’s Paradise, move through the building with their special puppet show, ‘Rambling On’.
The Bombay Raja brass band will bring high energy Bollywood music to the event, with regular walkabouts through the spectacular rooms.
A live rug tufting workshop, led by Alena Ruth, will take place, in a nod to the borough’s notable history in the textile trade.
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council, said:
“It’s been a long wait for our residents and I’m delighted that they will finally get to see their beautiful town hall, fully restored in all its glory. Not only will they see the town hall they know and love, looking as good as it would have when it first opened in 1871, but they will see brand new features, like the Welcome Gallery, which makes it an even better space than it was before. We can’t wait to welcome people back in.”
‘Our new offer means people will be able to visit the town hall 7 days a week’
Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member with responsibility for Rochdale Town Hall, said:
“Sunday, 3 March 2024 will be a wonderful celebration, but it’s really just the beginning for our brand new town hall. Our new offer means that residents will be able to see it and enjoy it seven days a week. We will soon be offering guided tours, alongside a full activity, events and education programme, which will be revealed soon. We anticipate the opening day being very busy, so people who would prefer a quieter experience may wish to come along another day. This beautiful building certainly isn’t going anywhere and our new extended opening hours offer many opportunities to enjoy this special place.”
