| A MAGNIFICENT Tudor
building has been trashed and burgled by yobs.
Vandals ransacked Tonge Hall, which lies off
Oldham Road in Middleton, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Many windows were smashed and a leather
chair, CDs and picture frames were just some of the items that lay
scattered and broken throughout the grounds.
Passer-by, Bernard Clarke, who was out walking his dog was the first to
notice the damage. Mr Clarke, 49, of Pilkington Street, called the police
when he came across the devastation.
He said: "There was property all over the place and there had been
considerable damage to the windows.
"A bike was also dumped in the garden. It had a chain around the wheel so
they probably couldn't ride it away."
A workman has since been to the hall and boarded up many of the broken
windows and the front door.
Captain Norman Wolstencroft who lives in the property said: "Obviously I
am annoyed.
"The place has been completely ransacked and numerous windows have been
broken."
The grade two listed building dates back to 1590 and still has many of its
original features including oak beams and an inglenook fireplace.
The hall, which has been owned by the
Wolstencroft family for more than 100 years, has had considerable
alterations and restoration work carried out over the years and now stands
as a proud monument to the 16th century and to Tudor architecture.
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| BROKEN and boarded up
windows now adorn the front of the impressive historic building |
But the recent break-in has left a lot of local people concerned about the
future of the impressive building.
Kevin Collins, who lives near the building, said: "Kids are wrecking the
place. I called the police when I saw the mess and they came up to check
it out but of course they didn't find anyone.
"It is one of the oldest buildings in Middleton and it is a disgrace that
it should be left like this. What is going to become of it? People are
wondering what is happening."
Mr Clarke added: "There is a gang of youths, about 20 or 30 of them, that
always hang around the area at night. Something needs to be done.
"It's such a shame that a lovely building like this is vandalised and is
being made a mess."
Another local resident added: "People will destroy anything these days and
don't seem to care about heritage or anything like that.
"The memorials throughout the town have been vandalised and forgotten
about and not long ago a church was set on fire. People need to have more
respect."
Emma Mountford
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