Alexandra Park, Oldham; Refreshment Room

The Refreshment Rooms were originally situated on the Terrace facing the Promenade. Completed in time for the Park’s opening ceremony, the lower floor being in the style of a continental cafe. It had also been intended to have a museum in the upper floor, but this never materialised. Carved across the front of the building, in which it performed a prominent role in the opening ceremony, were the words "Alexandra Park, Opened August 28, 1865." The building was designed by the architectural practice of Woodhouse and Potts of Bolton and Oldham – probably by Edward Potts who ran the Oldham office in Clegg Street. By 1863 the Council had, invited architects to submit plans for the landscaping of the park eventually choosing Woodhouse and Potts for the buildings and works. The contractor was Squire Ashton who was paid £27 on 3 August 1864 for mason’s work and slating on the Refreshment Room. And paid £19.1s.7d.  for further sundry work on 29 August 1866. Stained glass windows in the Refreshment Room representing "Peace and Plenty" and "Industry and Commerce" were gifts of Councillor John Bamford, Chairman of the Parks Committee, and Alderman John Riley ex-Mayor of Oldham. The building was demolished on 2 March 1970.