Woodbank, Stockport

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]

Woodbank
South entrance front with curved portico
Location within Greater Manchester
General information
Architectural style	Greek Revival
Town or city	Stockport, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Coordinates	53.41001°N 2.13112°W / 53.41001; -2.13112
Construction started	1812
Completed	1814
Client	Peter Marsland
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Thomas Harrison
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	Woodbank Villa and entrance portico
Designated	10 March 1975
Reference no.	1162994[1]

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

See also

• Greater Manchester portal

• Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
• Listed buildings in Stockport
• List of works by Thomas Harrison

References

1. Historic England. "Woodbank Villa and entrance portico (Grade II*) (1162994)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
2. "Woodbank Memorial Park". woodlandtrust.org.uk. Woodland Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. "Alarm at state of historic Woodbank Hall despite repair vow". BBC News. Manchester. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
7. "Woodbank Villa and Entrance Portico, Woodbank Memorial Park - Stockport". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 27 February 2024.