manchester

tourist guide

regional sightseeing

Rochdale Town Hall

The Esplanade
Rochdale
01706 864775
www.rochdaleonline.org

Free

Ring ahead for details of guided tours or just take a chance and have an informal look around.

Magnificent Gothic Victorian Town Hall, a sumptuous display of civic pride and C19 wealth.  The building is set off by the grand civic space it has been given, the gardens on three sides and the parish church high on the steep bank behind.  It was built between 1866 and 1871 to the designs of William Crossland.  The building is 100m long.  The tower is 50m tall.  The latter used to be taller and had a spire constructed of wood but this burnt down and was replaced with this better stone version, in 1883, by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect of that other Gothic masterpiece, Manchester Town Hall.  The interior has a giant staircase leading up to the Great Hall with a hammerbeam roof, a large mural of the Magna Carta and stained glass windows depicting British monarchs.  It is said that Adolf Hitler had wished to requisition these, for transport back to Germany, if he'd won WWII.

Toilets, group and school visits, guided tours.

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