Bolton plans Rock Hall revival

The grade two-listed building in Moses Gate Country Park is to be brought back into use as a visitor centre run by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

Working with landlord Bolton Council, the trust has lodged plans for the restoration and extension of Rock Hall, which was built for the Crompton family in the early 1800s.

Rock Hall has sat vacant at the heart of the 750-acre public park for more than a decade and is one of the last remaining elements of the former Farnworth Paper Mill complex. It was most recently used as a hub for the park’s rangers.

The project to bring the scheme back into use has been designed by Buttress Architects. Plans include the creation of an exhibition space on the ground floor as well as flexible meeting and event spaces. A cafe would be located within the planned two-storey extension, while a rooftop terrace is also proposed.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “Rock Hall is an outstanding heritage asset, and all the community will benefit from it being brought back into use.

“In conjunction with plans we have to improve Moses Gate Country Park this could really see a huge benefit for people across Bolton and beyond.”

To learn more, search for reference number 00395/26 on Bolton Council’s planning portal. Urban Green is delivering landscape, ecology, arboriculture, and BNG services