Rochdale Town Hall is currently closed while renovations take place. It is expected to reopen in 2023.
The exciting multi-million pound restorations have already begun following a successful bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Improvements being made to the town hall
The town hall restoration project, led by Rochdale Development Agency on our behalf, will involve:
- Restoring many period features within the building, including the extensive stained glass, the ornate ceiling panels in the great hall and the magna-carta mural.
- Refurbishing and opening up rooms which are currently off-limits to the public. This includes creating a brand new ‘Bright Hall’ in former office space to potentially be used for small events and meetings for local businesses and community groups.
- Creating a new permanent exhibition telling the story of Rochdale and its people. This will be created on the ground floor in rooms previously used for council meetings.
- Creating a new heritage and conservation skills studio. Local people will have the opportunity to train in the incredibly sought after skills of conservation heritage, including stained glass and ornate woodwork restoration.
- Improving access to the building, including installing new lifts, entrances and terracing to ensure everybody can enjoy this special place.
- Removing traffic from the front of the town hall to create a brand new public square which can be used for events and as a space for visitors to relax.
Rich history and exciting future
Built in 1871, the Grade I listed Rochdale Town Hall is a stunning example of Victorian Gothic architecture and one of the most well-known historic buildings in the north of England.
A Historic England appraisal of the building described some of the building’s historic features as being rivalled only by the Palace of Westminster.
These exciting renovations aim to restore the building to its former glory and make it an open and accessible community space.
