Work has advanced significantly since our last visit in December with all major and other structural problems having been resolved and work well underway on the internal and external details.

External works have included a full new roof, which has seen the whole timber frame renewed and strengthened, new sheeting, tiles and flashing. Repairs to the clock tower are finished and the arch over the side ginnel has been repaired and refurbished.

The library ramp and steps are being renewed and will be finished off with a tactile slip resistant surface. New illuminated handrails will also be fitted. New feature lighting has been installed along the front facia of the town hall and library which will allow for different coloured displays, red white and blue on St Georges Day, green and red for Christmas etc.

A lot of work has gone into cleaning up and repairing the stone work. Where original stone was broken or eroded, new pieces have been hand carved and carefully put into place. A special mix lime mortar has been used to fill and seal gaps. Other original details have received attention, even the cast iron gutters have been taken down, repaired and cleaned, with new lead rain collectors fitted.

The library extension external works are now structurally finished to a design that was discussed and agreed with members of Royton Local History Society which replicates the original style of the building.

One nice feature is the round library window.

This new window has replaced the gloomy old corridor doors that led into the 1950s extension and give the staircase a light and airy feel, and a great view into the enlarged public space behind the town hall.

Detailing around the window arch is looking great after it has been cleaned and restored.

The old council chamber also known as the “Red Room” because of its red wallpaper and carpet is starting to look very grand again! New aluminum high efficiency double glazed window have been fitted here and throughout the building, new heating and LED lighting is now in place. And the entire ceiling has been painstakingly replaced.

Where original mouldings etc. could be retained, they have been, but the majority of the ceiling including the ornate ceiling roses have been newly handcrafted as exact replicas of the originals; and are looking really good!

Moving into one of the meeting rooms off the Red Room, the original ornate plaster mouldings have again been repaired and restored. Where this has not been possible, castings have been taken of the original and new handcrafted replacements created, as can be seen here.

Restoring this ornamental plaster has been a time-consuming process, but the end result is worth it. Bringing back these lost and damaged finishes helps to maintain the historical accuracy of Royton Town Hall, ensuring its unique identity is preserved for generations to come.

This first floor meeting room over the library, was in a very poor condition, with extensive damp and terrible 1970s decoration. Its walls have been stripped back to the brickwork, repaired, treated and replastered. Better heating and ventilation, new high efficiency aluminium windows and rooflights together with LED lighting, are bringing the room back to life.

As with the town hall section, the library is starting to come back to life as new modern materials are supplementing original features which have been hidden away from view for generations. Here we can see one of the original ceilings in the library.

All the restored features, the exposed roof lights and new LED lighting have transformed the whole library space into another light and airy welcoming environment with a combination of the old original with new modern facilities.

Marie and I are proud to have been part of this project right from the very start, through the times we though it may never get off the ground, the false starts and rising costs caused by the Covid epidemic. But we have through the years the project has taken, we have constantly kept up the pressure to see the project through and aways been a strong voice for Royton that has kept this a political priority for whoever has been in charge of Oldham Council. There will be a ‘soft’ opening day in the Autumn where community groups will be invited to come and look round the building, followed by a public event. We will publish more photos just before both events.

May 2023 Update

July 2023 Update

December 2023 Update