Museum back open after years of work

Saddleworth Museum and Gallery, ceremonial opening, Uppermill, Oldham. Sir, Norman Stoller, cutting the ribbon.

SADDLEWORTH Museum has officially opened after a £1.25m refurbishment.

Visitors and local dignitaries were welcomed into the transformed building in Uppermill High Street yesterday after its year-long closure.

The 150-year-old building, situated near the picturesque Huddersfield Canal, had closed to undergo a huge facelift, made possible with a Heritage Lottery Fund.

The museum initially opened on September 17 but was officially opened at a grand ceremony by Oldham philanthropist Sir Norman Stoller on Sunday.

The chairman of the museum, John Hodges, said: "We have been open to the public for just over a month, and we are delighted with the museum's success so far.

"This weekend, we were delighted to invite the mayor, mayoress and other local council representatives to help us formally celebrate the re-opening of this wonderful community museum.

"More importantly it also gave us an opportunity to pay homage to our founder, Roger Tanner, and express our gratitude to all the major stakeholders, partners, patrons, major donors, committees and volunteers without whom this specific refurbishment project would not have been completed."

The museum's founder, Roger Tanner was unfortunately unable to attend the event due to a sudden illness in Ireland earlier in the week.

Sir Norman said: "I feel very honoured to have been asked to open the museum.

"I find that occasions such as this bring back so many happy memories, not only on my part but on the part of so many people.

"I was here in 1962 when it opened. This is a very special place."

Mayor councillor Derek Heffernan said: "I'm delighted to be here and see the amazing job that has been done.

"They've transformed the museum from what it was, I have to say, much for the better.

"It does show the history of this wonderful area."

The museum's Into the Future project incorporates an extension at the front of the building, including an atrium with a scaled replica of Saddleworth Morris Rushcart, a new side entrance, large lift, toilets and shop extension.

Spotlights have also been installed inside the galleries, with residents now able to enter the area rooms rather than looking in from doorways.

Curator Peter Fox said: "This is wonderful because it is a conclusion of a nine years of work for our team.

"It involved a lot of hard work and patience. There's a lot more local history, with famous Saddleworth people, archaeology and geology."