More volunteering opportunities created as town hall restoration ramps up

Rochdale Town Hall will be throwing its doors open to more volunteers in the coming months, as the restoration of the Grade I listed building continues.

A selection of volunteers has already made their mark on the building, with locals helping to restore antique furniture, clean painted surfaces and repair wooden panelling. 

Opportunities for a new crop of volunteers to continue this vital work are now up for grabs, alongside a very rare chance to work on the beautiful ceiling panels within the Great Hall.

Specialists, Hirst Conversation, have now been appointed to clean and repair a selection of the hundreds of panels that are scattered across the hammer-beam roof and depict various historic symbols, including coats of arms. They will also be cleaning the stonework on the Grand Staircase leading up to the Great Hall.

Volunteers with a head for heights could get the chance to be part of this team, who will be working on the scaffolding to remove layers of varnish and dirt, to restore the panels to their former glory.

Jenny Truran, from Lancashire Conservation Studio, which has already done extensive work on the town hall with volunteers, said: “The people who came into work with us did a fantastic job and they all felt that they got a lot out of it. Some said they’d missed socialising and meeting people during covid, so really thrived on being part of a supportive group, while others have even secured jobs and further volunteering opportunities since they volunteered with us.

“Our volunteers also recovered some Minton tiles, which had been hidden in the town hall’s basement for years, and catalogued, cleaned and repaired them. These recovered pieces will now form a design in the floor of a brand new entrance to the building, which will be created next to the clock tower. This is why this is such a special project to be part of.”

The next volunteering course will run each Tuesday to Thursday between April and July, with breaks for school holidays. Volunteers would need to commit to a minimum of two days a week and have reasonable practical skills, as well as the ability to work at height.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Rochdale Town Hall is owned by the people of our borough and this project aims to give it back to them by making it more open and accessible than ever before, so they can explore their history and be a part of the building’s future. That’s why the volunteering opportunities are so important. Our residents are at the heart of this restoration and have already contributed a lot. There will be many more opportunities going forward and I’d urge residents to join our mailing list, so they can stay up to date.”

Karen Morrissey, conservation manager at Hirst Conservation, said: “We’re very excited to be embarking on the conservation of the great hall ceiling, as well as stone cleaning to the great stairs. Initial cleaning trials on the painted ceiling have shown that, by removing years of dirt and discoloured varnishes, we will transform its appearance. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all involved.”

Volunteer, Shamila Irim, said: “The things I enjoyed most about the course were learning new things and getting to socialise with a lovely group of volunteers. The course gave us the same training that a professional in the museum industry would receive, which is really valuable. I hope to use the knowledge and skills I gained to find employment in the museum sector.”
The volunteering opportunities are part of the wider restoration of Rochdale Town Hall, which is supported by the council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to attend one the following presentations on Thursday 17 March at the community cabin (directly in front of Rochdale Town Hall and opposite the Medicine Tap on the Esplanade) at the following times:

• 11am – 12.30pm
• 1.30pm – 3pm
• 4pm – 5.30pm

Anyone who would like to come along is asked to email: townhall@rochdale.gov.uk or phone: 01706 924 797.