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OUR PROJECT TO help SAVE and develop HISTORIC ROCK HALL IN FARNWORTH
STOP PRESS.... 25th March 2021. We have been awarded £99,600 funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help us progress to the next stage of our journey to acquire and save Rock Hall on behalf of the community!. We are so thrilled and wish to give our heartfelt thanks to National Lottery players and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The funding will enable us to provide some exciting activities during 2021 including a community Archaeological Dig, believed to be the first in Farnworth!
Rock Hall is a Grade 2 listed building situated in Moses Gate Park in Farnworth near Bolton. The Hall was built in 1807 for the Crompton family who were proprietors of a large paper mill located in the park. It is an important reminder of the industrial heritage of the area where paper making was part of the local economy for over 250 years. The Hall is currently owned by Bolton Council and was used by them until 2014. It has been closed ever since.
We have been proactively working on plans to acquire and save Rock Hall for the benefit of the community, since the beginning of 2020 (although Covid 19 has had some effect on the speed of our progress). The amount of voluntary time spent on on the proposed project so far is substantial. We are extremely passionate about the Hall and despite the many barriers we face to help save it, we are continuing to make progress to help secure its future.
In January 2021 the Council agreed to transfer the Hall to our charity (which is working on behalf of the local community) subject to us meeting the requirements of their CAT transfer policy, Members agreement and obtaining the substantial funding that we need for the Hall's renovation and expansion.
If we are successful with acquiring the Hall, our proposals for its future use, are very much focused on the needs of the community whilst also ensuring commercial viability and sustainability. We will be creating numerous local jobs and volunteering opportunities and providing much needed facilities and new activities in the Hall and park (subject to Council approval). Such activities would benefit everyone regardless of age and would be sympathetic to the wildlife and nature.
We are working with trusted partner organisations and local community groups on our proposed project. It is a team effort to save this vital part of Farnworth's Industrial Heritage.
Our estimated £1.5m cost for the Hall's renovation and expansion project must be commercially viable and sustainable to ensure the future of the building. It has been renovated previously (in the 1980's) and has fallen into disrepair once again! We cannot let this happen in future.
We recognise the importance of community involvement and consultation so in August 2020 we shared our ideas for the Hall and park with the community via a "survey". In just 3 weeks we had 604 responses including 389 offers of help from volunteers!
We have 4 specialist Steering Groups and many amazing supporters and volunteers - We are so very grateful that we have such backing from the community. Follow our journey via our Save Rock Hall Farnworth Facebook Page by clicking here
We aim to turn Rock Hall into a vibrant, multi purpose, viable and sustainable Community Asset!
Dream Believe Achieve
We have been proactively working on plans to acquire and save Rock Hall for the benefit of the community, since the beginning of 2020 (although Covid 19 has had some effect on the speed of our progress). The amount of voluntary time spent on on the proposed project so far is substantial. We are extremely passionate about the Hall and despite the many barriers we face to help save it, we are continuing to make progress to help secure its future.
In January 2021 the Council agreed to transfer the Hall to our charity (which is working on behalf of the local community) subject to us meeting the requirements of their CAT transfer policy, Members agreement and obtaining the substantial funding that we need for the Hall's renovation and expansion.
If we are successful with acquiring the Hall, our proposals for its future use, are very much focused on the needs of the community whilst also ensuring commercial viability and sustainability. We will be creating numerous local jobs and volunteering opportunities and providing much needed facilities and new activities in the Hall and park (subject to Council approval). Such activities would benefit everyone regardless of age and would be sympathetic to the wildlife and nature.
We are working with trusted partner organisations and local community groups on our proposed project. It is a team effort to save this vital part of Farnworth's Industrial Heritage.
Our estimated £1.5m cost for the Hall's renovation and expansion project must be commercially viable and sustainable to ensure the future of the building. It has been renovated previously (in the 1980's) and has fallen into disrepair once again! We cannot let this happen in future.
We recognise the importance of community involvement and consultation so in August 2020 we shared our ideas for the Hall and park with the community via a "survey". In just 3 weeks we had 604 responses including 389 offers of help from volunteers!
We have 4 specialist Steering Groups and many amazing supporters and volunteers - We are so very grateful that we have such backing from the community. Follow our journey via our Save Rock Hall Farnworth Facebook Page by clicking here
We aim to turn Rock Hall into a vibrant, multi purpose, viable and sustainable Community Asset!
Dream Believe Achieve
Our Charity has been accepted onto a 2 year "Heritage Compass" programme (started February 2021).
Heritage Compass is a brand new Business Support Programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Cause4 and their consortium partners Creative United and the Arts Marketing Association. This new programme has been designed to grow resilience and invigorate the heritage sector across England.
Heritage Compass is a brand new Business Support Programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Cause4 and their consortium partners Creative United and the Arts Marketing Association. This new programme has been designed to grow resilience and invigorate the heritage sector across England.
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