The Rochdale Town Hall council chamber is reopening after five years of renovations. The landmark building will be open to the public.
The historic building reopened to the public last March. The council chamber’s completion is the final step. Work started after the town hall’s 2024 opening; the adjoining room will now be the mayor’s parlour.
The chamber showcases Rochdale’s past through its design. Experts cleaned ceiling panels with coats of arms and other symbols that came from Lancashire Conservation Studios.
The chamber was Rochdale’s Magistrates’ Court for over a century. This began after the town hall opened in 1871. Stained glass shows legal figures like John Pym who opposed King Charles I and helped form England’s parliament.
Frescoes on the walls had faded and suffered water damage. Experts repainted them by hand very carefully. The old carpet is now replaced with one showing cotton plants, representing the borough’s cotton trade history.
Mahogany thrones displaying angels, knights, and lions got repairs. They cleaned them with cotton buds and tiny brushes. Then, workers placed them back in the chamber.
Council leader Neil Emmott values the town hall as a historic asset. He wants to protect it for future generations and is delighted with the chamber’s revival.
Volunteers found leather with pomegranate etchings on the walls; it was covered by paint years ago. A wallpaper company recreated lincrusta wallpaper with pomegranates, and specialists painted it red, green, and gold.
Andrew Hill, a volunteer, called the project life changing. He started volunteering in January 2024 after losing his job. He cleaned tiles, restored furniture, and helped design the wallpaper.
He found joy working with nice people and felt proud seeing the improvements. A lottery-supported project will redevelop Broadfield Slopes, making it a public park in April.