A 170-year-old cemetery chapel that was ravaged by a huge fire is to finally be rebuilt nearly two years on. The chapel, in Heywood Cemetery, Rochdale, was completely gutted in the blaze on February 20 last year, sparking a police investigation.
In an update, Rochdale Council has announced that plans are underway to restore the site, with a like for like rebuild. The work will commence in the new year, in January, and is expected to be completed by the Autumn.
Following the fire, workmen secured the remains of the severely-damaged building, which is thought to date back to around the time the cemetery first opened, back in 1856. Months later, in April, the council announced they were given the go-ahead to rebuild the site in the future.
Sharing the news, Rochdale Borough Council posted on Thursday (October 6): "Plans have progressed this week on rebuilding the chapel in Heywood Cemetery, sadly devastated by a fire in February 2021. Work will begin January 2023, with completion due by Autumn 2023.
"The completed restoration will be a like-for-like rebuild and include internal upgrades to improve visitors' experience."
Speaking after the fire, Coun Peter Rush, chairman of Heywood Township, said the blaze was a 'big loss'. Fire crews had been called out in the early morning hours to the incident, just before 3am, last February.
Pictures from the scene showed the building had been severely damaged, with the roof and interior completely destroyed with just the exterior walls left standing.
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