Rock Hall: Charity looks back on successes and plans for 2024

The Banana Enterprise Network has been working to bring Rock Hall in Moses Gate Country Park back into use for four years, working alongside Bolton Council.

And after a successful year and with many plans for the future, the charity has shared its best times and has thanked supporters.

Jayne Allman, the charity's CEO, said there have been many successes and highlights this year for both for the charity and Rock Hall.

She said: “2023 was the year that our joint £4million funding bid with Bolton Council was accepted by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), who awarded us the funding needed to begin the development phase.

“The charity started the project in January 2020 and has worked hard since then to save the hall.

“It was a huge relief to successfully bid for the required funding in 2023 in partnership with the council.

“We are very grateful to the NLHF and other funding partners for supporting our project.

“During 2023, the charity also continued to deliver free activities for the community including archery, axe throwing, various sports, walks and nature related activity thanks to funding from various funders.

“We also successfully bid for funding to begin an edible garden project which will see the creation of a new raised bed for the community to grow fruit and vegetables near the hall.  

“The project began by planting some new heritage fruit trees in the park.

Proposed design of Rock Hall (Image: Banana Enterprise Network)“In the summer we successfully delivered a fully funded “Art in the Park” project too in Rock Hall’s grounds within Moses Gate Country Park.

“Participants were invited to paint a picture of Rock Hall.

“Two members of Bolton Art Circle helped us to deliver the project by providing advice to those who took part.  

“We decided to ask the public to vote for their favourite painting. The winning “Rock Hall Artist of the Year 2023” was a local resident called Edith Holden.

“She, along with some of the other participants, have very kindly donated their paintings for future display in the Hall.  

“We had some limited edition prints of Edith’s painting produced which were sold to help raise funds for our charity work.

“The charity also delivered 180 free activity packs to a local school just before Christmas.”

When asked what the new year will bring for the historic building, Jayne said: “In 2024 we will begin the development phase of Rock Hall revival.

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“The development phase includes various aspects of work. For example, we will be reviewing our conservation plan for the hall and undertaking all required surveys, consultations, and investigations necessary to develop our detailed plans and proposals up to what is called architecturally, as “RIBA Stage 3”.

“We will undertake an access audit and an assessment of the current environmental performance of Rock Hall.

“The Charity Banana Enterprise Network will seek planning and listed building consent too.

“We will also be undertaking urgent works to secure the building against further deterioration, and we hope to establish some meanwhile use within the building, which will support engagement and piloting activities on site.

Rock Hall (Image: Newsquest)“The development phase of the project also includes engaging with new and existing inclusive audiences in order to develop and deliver a programme of fully funded activities, to engage people with Rock Hall’s heritage.  

“There are other tasks to complete during the development phase and to help us successfully deliver the project, we will be appointing experienced project staff and consultants to work on the project.

“Once that phase is completed successfully, we can apply to the NLHF for the rest of the funding for the delivery phase which will involve the full renovation of the hall and a new extension built at the rear of the hall.”

Jayne said the future of Rock Hall looks promising and they aim to complete the whole project by the end of December 2027.

She said: “If all goes according to our plans, Rock Hall will be developed into a vibrant, multi-purpose, destination venue which will be used by the local community and beyond.

“The existing building will be renovated, and a new extension will be built at the rear taking the hall back to almost its original size.

“The history of the building will not be forgotten and there will be a hive of activities both inside and out.

“There will be a large café, function room, shop, heritage area and community rooms for example.

“The hall will be fully accessible too. We aim to complete the whole project by the end of December 2027.”

Jayne said on behalf of herself and the team she would like to thank everyone for their support.

She said: “We are very grateful to all our supporters, volunteers, project partners and funders, for their support of the project. 

“Projects like these can take up to 10 years, and we are now entering our fourth year, but so many of our original supporters and volunteers are still with us on the journey, for which we are very grateful.

“The level of support for our project is increasing all the time. Thank you!  

“We are looking forward to being able to offer new and exciting opportunities in 2024 to get involved in the project.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.