Rochdale Town Hall

The marketing team at Rochdale Town Hall commissioned an illustration to feature across a range of gifts and souvenir products. The brief was to capture the character and grandeur of this remarkable building while showcasing its extraordinary Gothic architectural detail. To explore the best approach, I made several site visits and produced an initial sketch, carefully choosing an angle that would work well across multiple product formats and shapes.

I then spent an afternoon on location in Rochdale, thankfully mostly dry, creating the first pencil drawing. This was supported by extensive reference photography, which allowed me to complete and refine the illustration back in my home studio.

Through this process, I gained a real appreciation for the complexity and craftsmanship of Rochdale Town Hall. Its intricate detailing and striking Gothic design make it easy to understand why it is so often compared to the Palace of Westminster.

It was also a real pleasure to chat to interested locals who spotted me sketching away during the afternoon outside the building.

The town hall is a must see – equally amazing on the inside with its arts and crafts decorated style, stunning stained glass windows and fabulous grand staircase. They certainly don’t build them like this anymore!