Historical slopes and a Georgian water fountain are to be restored in a Rochdale park as part of a £1m heritage project that will bring new life to the town centre.
Dating back some 160 years, the Broadfield Slopes provide access to the town hall and St Chad’s Church within Broadfield Park. However, in recent years, Historic England has expressed concern over their current condition, as well as a need for repair work on the Georgian drainage system running underneath them.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has now approved a £1m funding bid to develop plans to restore the slopes and the surrounding area. The project will also include restoration of the Grade II-listed Georgian Packer Spout fountain, which will be brought back into use as a water feature.
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The funding follows a recent public consultation which found that local residents value the space but feel that work is required to make it more safe and accessible. New landscaping is also being proposed as part of the plans.
Built in the 1890s, the slopes were designed by Todmorden landscape gardeners Messrs Stansfield and Son. They are regarded as a historically significant part of Rochdale town centre, linking back to its medieval origins.
It is also believed that a cotton mill which once sat at the bottom of the slope was partly powered by the natural water source in the area and that workers used to drink from the fountain.
Helen Featherstone, Director of England North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support the first-round development phase of this project that will put heritage at the heart of the regeneration of Broadfield Slopes and the future of Rochdale’s townscape, ensuring it can be enjoyed by local people and visitors from further afield for years to come.”
£180,000 from Rochdale Council and Rochdale Development Agency will be spent padding out the plans in more detail ahead of a round two bid later in the year, with a view to securing the rest of the funding.
Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for equality, safety and reform at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This area has an incredible history and has played a major role in the development of the town centre as a whole but at the moment, it’s not reaching its potential.
“This project will restore the area and transform it into a welcoming space where people want to spend their time. We’ll be putting together a whole activity and events programme, to cover the period both during the work and after its completion, which all the community can get involved in and which will more than do justice to this unique area.
“Together with our new Town Hall Square and the newly restored Rochdale Town Hall, both of which will open soon, this will form an incredibly vibrant and uniquely stunning area in Rochdale town centre, which I know our residents and visitors will really enjoy.”
