Emergency works are set to be carried out at Hopwood Hall in Middleton as the council continues to forge a new path forward for the historic Grade II-listed building.
The move follows a structural survey that identified the need for urgent work to be carried out. It was commissioned by the council following the end of an exclusivity agreement with the Hopwood Foundation.
Under the terms of the agreement, which began in 2017, the council-owned historic hall would have been sold for a nominal sum on receipt of a viable business plan with secured planning permissions.
The council opted not to renew the agreement after 7 years, during which time the agreement had been extended 4 times.
It is hoped that the emergency works will allow volunteers to return to Hopwood Hall, which dates from the 12th century, in the near future and continue their vital work.
In addition, a council-funded feasibility study, to determine possible future uses for the building, is now under way. A team of national experts with extensive experience in restoring prominent historic buildings are working on the Hopwood Hall project. The team is already at work and is expected to report its findings later in 2025.
Vital roof repairs, funded by the council and Historic England, are also moving forward, with a contractor set to be appointed by the end of February. The repairs will start in April, once bat roosting season is over, and are expected to complete in the autumn.
A unique restoration training opportunity will also take place while the roof is being repaired, giving ten residents the opportunity to undertake training in leaded window repair, under the guidance of heritage glass experts. This is one of a number of training and volunteering opportunities the council is hoping to develop as part of the ongoing restoration of Hopwood Hall.
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“Hopwood Hall is an important part of Middleton, and the wider borough’s, heritage, and we want to get on and continue to move its restoration forward, with the support of existing partners, like Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as exploring new funding and partnership opportunities.
“These recent developments are important milestones for Hopwood Hall and reaffirm our commitment to this historic asset, which has seen almost £1.7 million of public investment over the past 7 years. The emergency work will help shore up the building, so that our community, including the volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time, can safely re-enter the site and continue their incredible work, should they wish to do so. In addition, the roof repairs are a huge part of the wider restoration effort and, with the support of Historic England, this year we will be investing more than £700,000 into this part of the project.”