Woodbank,_Stockport

Woodbank, Stockport

Woodbank, Stockport

Building in Greater Manchester, England


Woodbank is a historical villa and park in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The surrounding park, east of Vernon Park, is known as Woodbank Memorial Park and covers approximately 49 acres (20 ha).[2]

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History

The villa was built in 1812–14 by Thomas Harrison in the Greek Revival style for Peter Marsland, a prominent industrialist in the Stockport area.[1] Woodbank was used as a museum and art gallery at one time.[3]

In 1924, Woodbank Villa was donated to the County Borough of Stockport; the parkland it stands in had been gifted to the council following the First World War.[4]

It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, having been designated on 10 March 1975.[1]

Woodbank Villa was used as council offices before being left vacant in 2009; a developer made plans to convert the hall into apartments in 2021, though the proposals were not taken forward.[5]

In December 2023, Stockport Council stated that they had allocated £250,000 to "address the decline of the historic hall", with asbestos removal having been completed before further works which include the demolition of modern outbuildings.[6]

As of 2024, Woodbank Villa is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, its condition classed as "very bad", with an "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric."[7]

See also


References

  1. Historic England. "Woodbank Villa and entrance portico (Grade II*) (1162994)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. "Woodbank Memorial Park". woodlandtrust.org.uk. Woodland Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  3. Statham, Nick (10 February 2021). "Stockport's historic but abandoned Woodbank Hall could find a new lease of life as 'affordable apartments'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  4. Statham, Nick (15 March 2023). "Fresh bid to save historic hall as council ploughs £250k into abandoned listed building". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  5. "Alarm at state of historic Woodbank Hall despite repair vow". BBC News. Manchester. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  6. "Woodbank Villa and Entrance Portico, Woodbank Memorial Park - Stockport". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 27 February 2024.

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