Woodbank, Stockport

Building in Greater Manchester, England

53°24′36″N 2°07′52″W / 53.41001°N 2.13112°W / 53.41001; -2.13112Construction started1812Completed1814ClientPeter MarslandDesign and constructionArchitect(s)Thomas Harrison

Listed Building – Grade II*

Official nameWoodbank Villa and entrance porticoDesignated10 March 1975Reference no.1162994^[1]

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]

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^[update], 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]

Gallery

River Goyt in Woodbank Park

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Historic England. "Woodbank Villa and entrance portico (Grade II*) (1162994)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
^ "Woodbank Memorial Park". woodlandtrust.org.uk. Woodland Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
^ Maliphant, Pauline J. (1 January 1978). Museums Yearbook: Including a Directory of Museums and Galleries of the British Isles and a Guide to Their Administering Authorities. Anglo-Israel Association. ISBN 978-0-902102-40-8. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Alarm at state of historic Woodbank Hall despite repair vow". BBC News. Manchester. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
^ "Woodbank Villa and Entrance Portico, Woodbank Memorial Park - Stockport". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 27 February 2024.