Public Celebrates Stunning Restoration Of Rochdale Town Hall

The public were able to get a first look at the superbly restored Rochdale Town Hall this month. The Grade I listed building has undergone a stunning restoration programme, thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Over 2,500 members of the public queued to survey the results of the four-year renovation project.

ITV News reports that the town hall, which opened in 1871, is one of the finest examples of Victorian public buildings in the country. Rochdale was a very wealthy town at the height of the industrial revolution in the 19th century thanks to the textile industry, and it still has a rich architectural heritage. 

The £20m upgrade involved teams of specialists and volunteers, who carefully restored historic features including the 350 decorative ceiling panels in the Great Hall. The stained glass, painted surfaces, stonework, and Magna Carta mural have all been cleaned and restored to their former glory. 

The venue will now serve as a visitor attraction, and has a permanent exhibition space known as the Welcome Gallery, which tells the story of Rochdale. It’s also available for events and community use, and contains artwork created by members of the local community. 

Coun Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale 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.”

He added: “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.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which contributed £8.9m towards the funding, said in a statement:

“It is wonderful to see this magnificent building now open to the public. As the UK’s largest funder of heritage, we believe in the power of historic buildings to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place, and Rochdale Town Hall is a perfect example of that.”

She added: "The town hall has been part of Rochdale’s story for over 150 years, and is already a treasured building, so I am delighted that National Lottery funding has helped restore and protect its spectacular heritage, made the building fully accessible for the first time, and created new community spaces, ensuring that Rochdale Town Hall continues to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future."

The hall is now open seven days a week for visitors to enjoy and have light refreshments at the cafe. It will soon be possible to book guided tours and find out more about the unique history and restoration of the building. 

Restoration Plans Approved For Blackburn’s Exchange Building

A £9m restoration plan for a Grade II listed building in Blackburn has been approved. The Exchange was built in 1865 in the Victorian gothic style to serve as a cotton exchange during the town’s heyday at the height of the North west’s textile industry. 

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that Darwen Council have granted permission for the upgrade of the heritage building on King William Street. The approval is granted with a set of conditions that are intended to preserve the original character of the building. The interior is decayed, including historic plasterwork that is in a poor condition. 

The restoration will see the main storey of the building transformed into an open-plan performance and exhibition space, with a mezzanine floor containing a cafe and bar.    

The council's growth boss, Cllr Quesir Mahmood, said: "I am really delighted to see this building brought back into use. It is iconic and historic. Everyone who visits the area comments on the magnificence of the building."

Operations Director, Caer Butler said: ‘We are delighted with the successful outcome of the approval for The Exchange’s whole building application.”

“This momentous moment enables Re:Source Blackburn, the charity that owns The Exchange to move full steam ahead with our major grant funding applications to achieve our vision to bring this magnificent building back to life as a vibrant venue in Blackburn town centre.”

The owners of the heritage venue aim to make the Cotton Exchange a key visitor destination in the town, alongside Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, The Making Rooms, and The Bureau. They also aim to make it an affordable and accessible space for performing arts societies, clubs, and organisations.

Top Tips To Choose The Right Ceiling Rose For Your Property

Ceiling roses are a common feature of historical homes, particularly from the Victorian and Georgian eras. If you are lucky enough to own a period property with an original plasterwork feature, you may have considered having it restored to its former glory. This takes highly specialised skills and materials, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

Contrary to popular belief, ceiling roses are not just for period properties. They can be fitted to any style of property, adding a touch of charm and sophistication to the decor. They can even be the focal point of the room if you want to go for a particularly large and ornate option. 

A plaster rose is not just a decorative feature; they also serve a practical function, framing the join between the ceiling and the light fitting and protecting the plasterwork from cracks and stresses, and concealing any existing imperfections. Originally, they were designed to protect the ceiling from the heat of gas or candle lights. 

What style of ceiling rose should you choose?

There are no rules about what type of rose you should install, but if you already have a period property with plenty of original features, then you will probably want to pick a style that is in keeping with the era. In terms of the size, again there’s no rigid rules, but consider the height of the ceiling and the dimensions of the room.

For example, a high ceiling will suit a larger and more decorative rose, otherwise the impact will be lost. A smaller room will be best suited to a smaller rose that is appropriate for the size of the light fitting. If you are uncertain about what size will look best, then try cutting out a paper disc in a contrasting colour to your ceiling and lightly fix it in place.

Georgian ceiling roses

The Georgian era spans from 1714 to 1837, and it was a time of great social and cultural change. House building expanded rapidly, and contrary to popular belief even modest terraced homes featured simple decorative plasterwork mouldings. However, sometimes this could be a method of covering up poor building work and defects in the surface.

Grander homes featured plasterwork influenced by the Rococo style, which was highly decorative and often incorporated natural forms such as shells, leaves, fish, birds, and flowers. In the later Georgian era, this extremely flamboyant and theatrical style gave way to more restrained neo classical styles. 

Victorian ceiling roses

The Victorians had a bold approach to interior design, and restraint and subtly were not on their agenda! The Victorian era (1837-1901) was a time of great change and progress, and the industrial revolution created a newly wealthy middle class who were keen to flaunt their status. 

This attitude was reflected in interior design styles that were dressed to impress. Cornices and ceiling roses typically featured ornate fruits, flowers, leaves and vines. They are beautifully intricate and will really bring the wow factor to any room in the house. 

It is not necessary to have a Victorian home in order to install this style of ceiling rose; it can bring character and charm to any property and blend well with a more modern interior decor scheme. 

Edwardian roses

The Edwardian style tended to be plainer and less intricate than the Victorian style of plasterwork. The era was brief (1901-1910) but influential in its departure from the more ostentatious era of the Victorians. This is not to say that they are uninteresting; but typically they are more restrained. 

Some roses from this era featured acanthus leaf rings, or simple spun plaster designs. They are elegant and require less dusting than more intricate plasterwork!

Art Deco ceiling roses

The Art Deco era flourished in the interwar period, beginning in Paris and spreading across the Atlantic to the USA during the 1920s. It was influenced by the popular Art Nouveau movement, which featured flowing curved lines and was based on natural forms such as leaves and flowers. 

The Art Deco style moved towards more geometric and streamlined shapes such as sunbursts, chevrons, triangles, and zigzags. It is a very distinctive and eye-catching style that will suit any type of property.

Government Removes Barriers To Retrofitting Historic Homes

Homeowners who want to upgrade the energy efficiency of historic homes will find the process easier after the government published new plans. 

In a press release, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities gave details of the plans, which will allow low carbon heating improvements to be made to older homes of architectural interest.

Listed building restoration projects are carefully regulated to protect the heritage of the nation, and avoid unsightly or inappropriate changes being made that would damage the original character of the building and its surroundings. 

However, owners of properties built before 1919 often have to pay higher energy costs due to the lack of modern energy efficiency measures in their homes. Gaining planning permission to make changes such as installing double glazing, solar panels, or ground source heat pumps can be a slow and difficult process.  

Even if planning permission is granted, it may be necessary to use specific materials that are costly to source and require specially trained contractors to install. As well as relaxing planning rules, the new plans will address skills shortages in the heritage building sector. 

The changes will cover listed buildings and also those that fall within conservation zones, which makes up around 10% of the UK’s overall housing stock. Obtaining permission to retrofit energy efficiency measures will be easier, and the means to carry them out will be more accessible.

Minister for Housing and Communities Baroness Penn said:  “Our historic homes are the jewel in the crown of this country’s heritage and must be protected. ”

“This review will ensure they are preserved for future generations to enjoy, while also improve the lives of those who live in them by reducing their energy costs, supporting us in our shared goal to reach Net Zero by 2050.” 

Minister for Arts & Heritage Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “People who own and live in historic homes are their custodians, and want to take responsible action to protect them for the benefit of generations to come.”

“That isn’t always as straightforward as it should be, so this review has looked at how we can make it easier, while continuing to protect our historic environment.”

The government also intends to make information available that is transparent and easily accessible to all, so that historic building owners understand their rights and responsibilities. 

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “Historic England welcomes this Energy Efficiency Review and the positive actions it highlights. Historic buildings can and must accommodate change if they are to play a crucial role in helping the UK to transition to Net Zero.”

He added: “This review demonstrates that heritage needn’t be a barrier and identifies opportunities to unlock the potential of historic buildings in England to contribute to meeting our Net Zero target.” 

Historic England is currently training its staff in energy efficiency awareness, and how to support the owners of historic buildings to make upgrades without damaging the unique qualities of the building.

Historic Portico Library In Manchester Wins Renovation Funds

The Portico Library in Manchester, a Grade II listed building, has been awarded a £453,000 restoration grant by the The National Lottery Heritage Fund. BBC News reports that the funds will be used to transform the ground floor into a community space, while the upper floors will have architectural and heritage features restored or conserved. 

The city centre library on Mosley Street was built in 1806 as part of the so-called ‘information revolution’ that was sweeping across Europe. It was initially an independent subscription library and newsroom. The idea was inspired by the Athenaeum in Liverpool, and a group of local businessmen raised funds from 400 subscribers across the city.

The building was designed in the Greek Revival style by Thomas Harrison of Chester, and one of its gems is a large circular roof stained-glass window with a border of plasterwork ceiling roses. Among the library’s subscribers were the city’s leading scientists, educators, politicians, and businessmen.

However, women were not permitted to be members of the library until the Married Women’s Property Act of 1870 came into effect. This meant that one of Manchester’s most highly regarded writers, Elizabeth Gaskell, could not read reviews of her own work in the library, despite the fact that her novels were available to read in the book collections.

The library has continued to play an important role in the cultural and intellectual life of the city, with more recent members including the footballer Eric Cantona and the writers Gary Younge and Val McDermid. It’s free to access and holds a wide collection of books, archives, and illustrations. 

The renovations will see the ground floor and basement transformed into a bookshop with space for educational activities and a meeting and event space. The upper floors will be renovated to showcase the manuscript archive and book collections, and the unique architectural features will be restored. 

Library chairman John Carpenter said the redevelopment will create an "accessible and sustainable space for arts, books, learning and history in the library".

He continued: "The news that the fund is supporting the library's bold scheme to open up and share its extraordinary heritage and collection to Manchester residents and visitors is a major cultural signal to Manchester, the North and the UK.

"This visionary project, years in the making, fulfils our mission of working with the many people in Manchester to explore, share, and celebrate their diverse stories and the city's literary and global heritage. Embracing creativity, collaboration and inclusivity, the project will unlock the Library's past to plan for the future."

The project leaders will work with local community groups to help inform their decisions on how the space should be best used. The building will also be made fully accessible to all with the installation of a lift. 

Where To View Art Nouveau Style Architecture In England

The Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th century encompassed art, architecture and interior decoration. It was most often inspired by natural forms such as the flowing lines of plants and flowers. In terms of architecture, it tended towards materials such as iron, glass, ceramics and concrete. 

The first houses in the Art Nouveau style were created in Brussels in the 1890s, and later they began to appear in Paris. The movement peaked around 1900 and by this time its influence was seen throughout Europe, including Britain. There are still some beautiful Art Nouveau style buildings in the UK today.

In Britain, the style had its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement that began in the 1860s and was inspired by mediaeval craftsmanship and the work of artists and designers such as William Morris, Aubury Beardsley, Walter Crane, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Here are some of the finest examples of Art Nouveau style buildings in the UK.

The Zara building, Nottingham

10 Pelham Street and 2A, 2B High Street in Nottingham, were designed by the architect Albert Nelson Bromley between 1902 and 1905 for Boots the Chemist and are now occupied by the fashion chain Zara. The Grade II* listed building has undergone restoration work inside, but the impressive exterior facade remains close to the original design.

The shopfront consists of a glazed terracotta superstructure with a clock on the northwest corner. The cast iron columns and curved glazing at the building entrance remain intact.

Waterstones, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear

The Emerson Chambers on Blackett Street was completed in 1903, and was originally a high-end restaurant with shops and office space above. It was designed by Benjamin Simpson of the architects firm Simpson, Lawson and Rayne, and is a fusion of Art Nouveau and Baroque architecture. 

The distinctive ornate clock prominently displayed on the roof of the building was installed by William Potts in 1904, but wasn’t mechanised until 1965.

Former Everard’s Printing Works, Bristol

The Everard Printing Works in Bristol was built between 1900 and 1901, and bears the name of the founder Edward Everard across the front. The decorative tiled facade was designed by the architect and ceramicist William James Neatby, and features colourful Doulton Carrara ware tiles, which were selected for their close resemblance to marble.

The figurative design depicts the winged Spirit of Literature holding an open book, with the framing figures of Gutenburg (inventor of moveable metal type) and William Morris (leader of the Arts and Crafts movement that revived fine printing). In the upper section of the building is an image of a woman holding a lamp and a mirror, representing light and truth. 

The Royal Arcade, Norwich

The Grade II* listed Royal Arcade in Norwich was built in 1899 and also designed by James Neatby along with the architect George Skipper. It features intricate artwork and beautiful coloured stained glass windows. 

Historic England Reveals Heritage At Risk Register for 2023

Historic England has revealed the latest additions to its ‘Heritage At Risk Register.’ This is the annual round-up of historic sites and structures in England that it considers to be most at risk of being permanently lost as a result of neglect, decay, or inappropriate development. 159 buildings have been added to the register during the past year.

There are now a total of 4,871 entries on the list, with 203 being rescued and preserved since 2022. One of the new candidates for restoration is the Grade II* listed building Holbeche House in the West Midlands, which is noted for being the site where some members of the gunpowder plot were either killed or captured in 1605. 

The building has most recently been used as a care home, but currently stands empty. Local campaigners are attempting to persuade the National Trust to take the building on and open it up for visitors. The house has been listed for both its architectural importance and for its historical significance, as the ringleader of the Gunpowder Plot was shot dead there. 

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive,Historic England, said: “Protecting our heritage is so important. It is truly inspirational to see communities coming together to help save historic buildings and places and find new uses for them. The Heritage at Risk programme shines a light on our historic sites most in need and can help to attract funding and help.”

He added: “After a quarter of a century of the Heritage at Risk Register, we are celebrating how many places have been saved and continue to find new ways to involve local people in caring for and enjoying their heritage.”

The register includes 1,418 buildings and structures, 943 places of worship, 1,916 archaeological sites, 483 conservation areas, 104 parks and gardens, four wrecks and three battlefields. 2023 is the 25th anniversary of the first publication of the Heritage at Risk Register, which began in 1998. 

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Arts and Heritage Minister, said: “For a quarter of a century, the Heritage at Risk Register has helped to focus efforts to preserve cherished sites across the country.”

He added: “ It is heartening to see that so many sites have had their futures secured and have been taken off the Register over the past year thanks to the hard work of Historic England and local people.”

“ I look forward to the new additions to the Register receiving similar care and attention so that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from our rich heritage for years to come.”

Sites that have been successfully preserved this year include Bourn Mill in Cambridgeshire, which is one of the oldest windmills in England, and Tolpuddle Old Chapel in Dorset, which played an important role in the activities of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, a group of agricultural labourers who were arrested for protesting about their meagre wages.

What Qualities Does A Building With Listed Status Have?

A listed building is a building that is included on a statutory list because it is considered to be of special architectural or historical significance. This raises the interesting question of exactly what qualities a building needs in order to be considered for listing. Here is a closer look at the system and some of some of the key criteria an eligible building should have.

When did the listed building system begin?

The roots of the present system lie in the late 19th century, when John Ruskin and William Morris founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). 

This approach was consolidated by the British government in the post war years of 1944 to 1947, when it was necessary to ascertain which buildings merited saving from the extensive bomb damage to towns and cities. The National Heritage List was created and legislated by the Town and Country Planning Acts.

Three degrees of listing were established in England and Wales: Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II. Over 90% of all listed buildings fall in the Grade II category, with 5.8% in the Grade II* category and just 2.5% in the Grade I category. 

What are the criteria for a listed building?

Initially, most emphasis was placed on the exterior of the building, but by the late 20th century the interior was considered in much more detail. In most circumstances, the building will need to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing, and the older it is, the more likely it will qualify because it has stood the test of time.

All buildings constructed before 1700 that retain at least some original features are listed, and most buildings dating from between 1700 and 1840 are listed if they have survived in their original state. The definition of a building is broad, encompassing any man-made structure such as bridges, headstones, and even telephone boxes. 

According to Historic England, To be considered of special architectural interest, a building should be a nationally important example of a particular type or technique of building, or have outstanding levels of design, decoration, or craftsmanship. 

From a historical perspective, the building may either have close association with nationally recognized figures, or bear significance to the nation’s social, cultural, economic or military history. The building should also usually have some physical merit to meet the qualifying criteria. 

How does a listing affect a building?

Anyone can nominate a building for consideration for listed status. Historic England is currently prioritising Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) which are places that have underappreciated historical and architectural significance. 

Once a building is listed, consent must be applied for before any changes are made. However, it does not mean that the building must remain preserved in its original state and in some cases, they can undergo restoration or even be extended or altered. 

There is plenty of free advice available on how to maintain or make improvements to listed buildings, and it may be possible to apply for a grant towards the cost from one of the UK’s various heritage organisations and charities.