» Rock Hall Bolton to open to public for first time in decade

Rock Hall, which is in Moses Gate Country Park, will host open days on April 6, 9 and 11. 

The council is inviting the public to explore the historic building, with two of its rooms set to open on the dates from 9.30am to 3.30pm. 

The building was the subject of the Save Rock Hall campaign after it fell into disrepair.

In September 2023, the National Lottery Heritage Fund announced that it would immediately funnel £466,662 of funding into the historic building. 

The exterior of Rock Hall now (Image: Newsquest) The open days come as part of its development phase, offering a rare chance to see the building up close as it undergoes a transformative journey toward full restoration. 

Visitors will have the chance to view plans for Rock Hall’s future, share their feedback, and discover fascinating objects from Bolton Museum’s collections tied to Rock Hall, Moses Gate Park, and the wider Farnworth area. 

Read more: Update on plans to restore Bolton’s historic halls to their former glory 

Read more: Historic hall which has been shut for 10 years set to reopen  – this is when 

Read more: Campaigners celebrating after bid to save historic hall is a huge success 

Interior of the historic building (Image: Newsquest) Detailed proposals will then be considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £3,573,042. 

The council’s executive member for culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub said: “We’re thrilled to open Rock Hall to the public and share the progress being made.

“This is a pivotal moment in the building’s revival, and we want the community to be part of its story.

“Your input will help shape its future, and we can’t wait to showcase its history through these special open days.” 

Rock Hall was built in 1807 by the famous paper-making Crompton industrial family. 

Interior (Image: Newsquest) It closed to visitors in 2014 and has not been accessible to the public since. 

The funding has enabled critical work to stabilise the structure and conduct essential surveys, laying the groundwork for a Delivery Stage bid to be submitted later this year.

The interior has been fully stripped back to help dry the building out, so while visitors may notice that Rock Hall is not looking its best, this is part of a necessary process to ensure the success of the major restoration work to come. 

The council encourages residents to drop in, explore, and contribute their thoughts as this historic site moves toward a brighter future.