Tonge Hall
Tonge Hall, Middleton, is a Grade II listed Tudor building dating back to 1580. It fell into disrepair when the owners moved out, and quickly became a target for vandals. In 2007 it was subject to an arson attack, leaving it in its current state as a burnt out shell.
Good news on this building though, Rochdale Council have recently obtained a grant from English Heritage to repair and restore this building to its former glory.
I am particularly glad the hall has been saved, it could be one of the finest examples of Tudor architecture in the North West when complete, and far too many of our old buildings are demolished.
Acrylic on Wooden Board.
Mount Falinge
Mount Falinge stands in Falinge Park, Rochdale. It was originally the home of James Royds, a member of an important family in Rochdale, it has been almost completely demolished, and only the facia remains, in a state of disrepair.
Metal fences surround the front, to protect it from further vandalism, but it will properly escape demolition for another few years at least.
When I was a kid, there used to be aquariums and greenhouses behind the house, but with the changing state of the area it stands in, these are now gone after being vandalised for years.
Acrylic on Wooden Board.
Hopwood Hall
Grade II listed and dating from Tudor times, Hopwood Hall stands behind the college of the same name in Middleton.
A wonderful building, a regeneration project was undertaken in 1968, but the hall has fallen into disuse and is currently boarded up.
Plans have been put forward to turn it into flats or community use, but due to proximity to the college and access problems they have all fallen flat. The future of Hopwood Hall is looking uncertain.
Acrylic on Wooden Board.
The Brick House
The Brick House, Heywood, is just one of the pubs in the borough that have closed and been abandoned.
An architecturally stunning pub, it has been empty since about 2004 and has fallen victim to vandals and arson attacks. In fact, when I was photographing it, there were lads inside smashing it up further!
It’s future is definitely uncertain - it is up for sale, but with the present climate and its current state it is going to struggle finding a buyer.
Acrylic on Wooden Board.
Iveson's
A wonderful building on Drake Street in the centre of Rochdale.
Drake Street in years past was Rochdale’s main shopping street, but since the last redevelopment of the centre and the building of the new shopping centres it has stood empty - certainly for as long as I can remember.
According to new regeneration plans for the town centre, the metrolink will run down Drake Street, so the building may yet be saved.
Acrylic on Wooden Board.
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