Rochdale Town Hall

Controversial rating as ‘Worth A Visit’, agreed. Rochdale Town Hall may be out‐sized by Manchester Town Hall, but still outsizes most churches bar a handful of cathedrals. As architecture, it is a mass of detail, neo‐Gothic carved from mild stone. Had this been the building that existed for fifty years, black‐grimed by soot, it would be not ‘Worth a Visit’—‘Worth a Photo’ maybe. But English Heritage bent to a restoration, so circa 2020 a few million was pumped for an army of tradesmen/restorers. What of the hall now? It floods with light, rather than the ancient plughole of gloom. Inside restoration has revealed decorative work that betters churches and stately homes. English Heritage have had their way with the frontage to the park, and it is splendid. But the environs, a small sweep of land, were likely beyond them, so derelict or shorn sterile. Beyond, Rochdale has little to recommend and, with the local museum permanently retired, the context of why this thing is here is missing. Will pass an hour.