I used to love this old building when it was Stalybridge Market but it seems to have gone the wrong way with its whole corporate loving conference space. I'd love to know how many businesses are based in this area that would actually use the facilities here.
I like that, in keeping with the nearby Library and Astley Cheetham's Gallery, it has some displays on the history of the building and that it is having a Heritage Fair this week (and I'm sure will continue some sort of programme in this vein). This is what the residents of Stalybridge will appreciate - traditional, restoration, resalvaging. Not like Wi-fi.
And I suppose local social groups and clubs can meet here, but won't most of them already have a physical space that they are joined by?
Anyway, it is still a really impressive building to look at with a statue of the man who composed 'Its a Long Way to Tipperary' in a bar on Corporation Street: Jack Judge. This was during the First World War and the elder residents round here are still proud of it. In my opinion, they should have put a new market in the Town Hall, but then again I am not in charge of town planning. read more