£93,000 revamp for park conservatory

Alexandra Park conservatory is to be restored

THE jewel in Alexandra Park’s crown is to be restored thanks to a £93,000 revamp.

A 10-week repair programme will see the Edwardian conservatory have its rotting timbers replaced and the building will undergo extensive repainting in line with English Heritage guidelines.

The Grade II listed Sir Thomas Messenger building was first unveiled back in July 1907 — 42 years after Alexandra Park opened — and quickly became a popular visitor attraction.

Nestling inside the 72-acre site, it retained an integral role after Alexandra Park was relaunched in 2004 following a £3.2 million Heritage Lottery Fund Grant.

The heated conservatory originally housed sub-tropical plants but in more recent times its relaxing environment was given an extra lease of life with the central open space often used as an “outdoor” classroom or meeting and training venue.

It remains a tranquil place for park-goers to relax, complete with background classical music and benches and filled with a wide range of plants — including tree ferns, shrimp and spider plants — plus flowers which are regularly rotated to reflect the changing seasons.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “Alongside the sprawling footpaths, the boating lake and fountains, Alexandra Park’s conservatory is seen by many as a ‘jewel’ in what is our borough’s flagship open space.

“As a council we are wholly committed to making Oldham a cleaner and greener place to live and we look forward to having the conservatory fully restored.

“This park is a vital link between the town and the countryside elements of our borough for both the public and wildlife.

“It is one of 21 that we manage and seven of those — including Alexandra Park — have achieved the national Green Flag excellence standard, with three more going forward to judging over the next three years.”

The conservatory will shut to the public during the restoration work. Anyone wanting to make advance bookings to use it as a meeting or training venue when it reopens should contact Graham Gibson on 0161-770 4063.