Fireground museum
Fireground is the new and improved fire service museum for Greater Manchester which opened its doors to the public on Saturday, August 14, 2021, boasting unique features such as a purpose-built library and archive, and an educational suite for young people.
The museum is located in Maclure Road in Rochdale – the site of Rochdale’s old fire station, before it relocated to Halifax Road in 2014.
Thanks to funding from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, and support from Rochdale Council - which now owns the site - visitors can enjoy all kinds of exhibitions and gain new experiences.
The museum is also be the home of a purpose-built library and archive, located in the former control room. For the first time, many important archives and images are fully accessible to researchers. The collection includes thousands of images showing local fires and fire service subjects, along with moving images, oral history recordings and a vast catalogue of books, documents, periodicals, and other paper items.
On Thursday, July 8, 2021 GMFRS’ Chief Fire Officer (CFO) visited the new museum ahead of its official opening.
CFO Dave Russel said: “I recently had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the new fire service museum ‘Fireground’. It was phenomenal - full of history, pride, courage, memories and stories.
“I want to say a huge thanks on behalf of GMFRS to Bob Bonner and all the wonderful volunteers who have turned a dream into reality, and I am committed to ensuring the museum remains firmly part of the wider GMFRS family, as do our retired GMFRS members.
“Our history, traditions, courage and memories are hugely important to me and I will ensure the Service upholds these recognising their value, not just in respect of our past, but also our future.
“You cannot leave the museum without feeling a sense of pride – and I am sure once Fireground officially opens countless people will leave Fireground feeling just as proud and privileged as myself.”
Fireground is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Entry fees: £7 for adults, £5 for children aged 4-15, £5 for OAP, £5 for students, free for children under 4.
Get in touch with Fireground: museum@fireground.org.uk