Antiques Roadshow Experts ‘privileged’ to film in Town Hall

Angela Coric and Michael Aspel

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Rochdale Town Hall is famous for its gothic history, and the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow team were in their element when they filmed one of the shows there this week. Thousands of eager locals queued up outside the Town Hall from 4.30am so that they could get their objects of desire valued by the Antiques’ Experts.

The queues were enormous in the Great Hall, with a number of familiar experts valuing everything from books and paintings to ceramics, jewellery and silver.

The main face of the Roadshow, Michael Aspel, felt “privileged” to run a Roadshow in Rochdale’s most famous building. “What an advantage to be doing the Roadshow here in the Rochdale Town Hall, what a magnificent building.” He said, “It’s one of the best examples of the old gothic revival in the country. This is the Roadshow that we’ve been looking forward to as this building has a real atmosphere and is a great improvement to the leisure centres that we used to film in.”

Jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn, also fascinated with the Town Hall, gave his opinion on the history of the building. “I love the hall and the Victorian theme that it holds, and it’s very highly decorated. Every part of the decoration dates back from 15th century English and that’s very interesting to see that the Victorians were deeply passionate about their past. It will look lovely on TV when we broadcast the Roadshow.”

He added: “I’ve been here before to do Sir Cyril Smith’s ‘This is Your Life’ in this very hall, and it’s a real privilege to be back.”

Mayor of Rochdale Angela Coric brought along an old book which she picked up back in college for the tender price of three pence, and she had it valued by book expert Domonic Winter. “I was told that it is in excellent condition given its age.” She said, “It was dated between 1910 and 1920. It’s an interesting little book with the detail, even the pages are hand cut.”

Also present was Councillor Ted Flynn, who brought along some antiques of his own dated as far back as 1860. “I brought a wash stand and a dressing table, both roughly the same age, and I was told I’d get £2000 for the both of them. The Roadshow is very interesting, I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Sue from Heywood, another happy antique owner, said: “I’ve just had a chair valued, dated back to 1880. I picked it up in an antique shop not too long ago and didn’t realise how old it was. I’m certainly keeping it now!”

The Antiques Roadshow in Rochdale will be broadcast on television as the second episode in the New Year, when the new season begins.