Restoration of 17th century hall to bring film-set fantasy to life in Chadderton

Celebrations were held on the grounds of the historic Foxdenton Hall as it made its big comeback this week.

It could be the set of a lavish period drama, with history lingering in every shadow of this dignified building which dates back to the 17th century. 

Foxdenton Hall is taking centre stage in a remarkable restoration story — and a celebration was held in the elegant grounds of Chadderton's own time capsule to mark its reimagining. 

The hall is poised for a spectacular revival thanks to a £228,000 development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £119,000 from Oldham Council. 

The funding marks the first phase of an ambitious £3.5 million restoration project, led by the charity Chadderton Together in partnership with Oldham Council, to breathe new life into the Grade II listed hall — a place once home to suffragist Lydia Becker and the Radclyffe family, loyal supporters of King Charles I. 

The building has been vacant for 14 years and without the funding, would have been in danger of further deterioration. 

The Mayor of Oldham Cllr Eddie Moores (pictured below) described this as an 'exciting new chapter' and paid homage to the 'remarkable' role that volunteers have played in the project, including local favourite Lydia’s Tearoom. 

Run in Foxdenton Park by volunteers from Chadderton Together after being restored from a former bowling pavillion by previous Heritage Lottery funding, the tearoom raises funds for the restoration of the hall. 

The Mayor also proudly stated that the restoration of Foxdenton Hall is one of his chosen charities of his year in office. 

"This historic building means a lot to local people," he said. "Foxdenton Hall is more than a building, it is about community, heritage, and opportunity. 

"Supporting this project is a personal priority for me, and I am committed to helping ensure it succeeds. 

"I look forward to seeing the Hall restored and full of life again, serving the local community for generations to come." 

Oldham Council Deputy Leader Cllr Elaine Taylor (pictured above) said: "It’s a real pleasure to be here today with so many of the local community, alongside our partners Chadderton Together, to celebrate this beautiful Foxdenton Hall building.   

"The important grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow us to move forward with the first phase of restoring this much-loved Grade II listed building, right here in Foxdenton Park.  

"But with this grant, we now have a chance to preserve it and to bring it back to the community. This is a true partnership project and we’re so proud to be working hand in hand with Chadderton Together.  

When complete, Foxdenton Hall will not just be restored, it will be reimagined. A vibrant community hub, a local heritage attraction, a space for schools and learning, and a supportive base for small enterprises.  

"The vision goes beyond restoring bricks and mortar, it’s about using it as a base to promote social inclusion, reduce isolation and bring people together across and support local people to thrive.  

"Partnerships like this show the power of the voluntary sector and how by working together, we can tackle inequality, reduce tensions, create opportunities, and celebrate pride in Oldham."  

Cllr Taylor thanked Chadderton Together for their hard work in putting the bid together, and paid tribute to Cllr Colin McLaren for his 'unrelenting' dedication to the project. 

"Together, we are giving this building back to the people," said Cllr Taylor. 

As visitors enjoyed refreshments at Lydia's Tearoom, Graham Taylor of Chadderton Together said: "If you could bring your dream house to life, this would be it. It does look like it's from the set of a period drama." 

The hall was built around 1720 for Alexander Radclyffe, and its base dates back to 1620 from a previous hall for his ancestor, William. 

Once restored, Foxdenton Hall will become a vibrant community hub and heritage attraction, offering learning spaces for schools, flexible rooms for small businesses, and immersive opportunities to explore the area’s rich past. 

Outside, the historic walled garden will be brought back to life as a 17th-century-style space blooming with heritage flowers and designed for outdoor events and quiet areas of reflection — a place where history isn’t just remembered, but also experienced. 

This initial support from the Heritage Fund will allow the project to progress before detailed proposals are considered for a full delivery grant award totalling £2.27m as part of the £3.5m project.