Restoring the glory
Turning back time
Look what this room used to look like! It’s been through quite a transformation.
This room was originally Rochdale’s first free, public library. After the clocktower fire in 1883, it saw many changes and additions. In 1958 a mezzanine floor was added to make more office space. This completely changed how the space looked.
The redevelopment project has returned the room to its former glory. The mezzanine has been removed. Gone too are the wood and glass partitions.
Bright’s beam
When the mezzanine floor and office partitions were removed, it became clear that there was something missing in the Bright Hall! The lower section of one of the carved wooden roof beams, and the angel at the foot of it, were nowhere to be seen.
To restore the beam to its former glory, a carpenter was commissioned to recreate the missing section. A replacement, plain stone corbel was added at the base of it. Can you tell which is the new beam?
A view of the mezzanine floor before it was removed.
Partitions created separate spaces for music classes.