A creepy abandoned church that overlooks the picturesque Hollingworth Lake is set to be auctioned off later this month.
With the spooky season right around the corner, and Halloween soon to be here before we know it, a scary slice of history is set to go under the hammer in just a few weeks time, and it comes in the form of a dilapidated church building set beside one of Greater Manchester‘s most popular reservoirs that’s been left to ruins for over 24 years.
St Hilda’s CE Mission on Hollingworth Fold – which overlooks Hollingworth Lake in the semi-rural Rochdale town of Littleborough – was founded in 1931 and was the hub of a community, before it closed its doors for good in 1998 due to structural problems.
This is not where the story of building itself begins though, as it lived a life before then elsewhere and is believed to date back to the late 1870s.
A spooky abandoned church overlooking Hollingworth Lake is set to be auctioned off / Credit: Pugh Auctions
Records at the Touchstones Local Studies Library in Rochdale show that in the 1870s, there were around 250 Roman Catholics in Littleborough, and they were the ones who all banded together to build the church on its initial site Featherstall Road in 1878.
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It became known as the ‘Iron Church’ as it was made of metal sheets.
The church building was later bought by the Mission of St Hilda, before it was dismantled and rebuilt at Hollingworth Fold in 1931.
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The derelict abandoned building has been at the centre of locals’ intrigue ever since, and now it’s set to go to auction with a guide price of just £25,000.
St Hilda’s CE Mission is sat on a plot of land that extends to 899 sq yds / Credit: Pugh Auctions
With the church sat on a plot of land that extends to 899 sq yds, auctioneers say the site could be suitable for a variety of different uses in the future – including possible development potential, which is subject to any necessary planning permissions.
It’s also walking distance of amenities in Smithy Bridge too.
Speaking ahead of the building going to auction, Edward Feather – associate director at Pugh Auctions – said: “St Hilda’s mission church is an intriguing and unusual property that presents a unique opportunity for the right buyer.
“Founded in 1931, the church closed in 1998 and has stood derelict ever since. The dilapidated remains have caught the attention of many history enthusiasts and passers-by because of its eerie appearance on the Lancashire landscape.
“Interestingly, it can only be accessed by foot which adds to the property’s mystery, but for the right buyer I have no doubt that this historic property is a true gem.”
Subway is handing out FREE footlong cookies and churros in Manchester tomorrow
Emily Sergeant
Subway will be handing out free footlong cookies and churros to people in Manchester city centre tomorrow.
In what is a bid to properly celebrate the launch of the popular fast food chain’s new range of footlong sides, also known as the ‘Footlong Sidekicks’, people who find themselves at a loose end in Manchester city centre tomorrow will be able to head on down to Spinningfields Square and help themselves to a free treat.
Mancs will be able to try out Subway’s new footlong cookies, churros, and range of savoury ‘dippers’, all without spending a penny.
Subway is handing out free footlong cookies and churros in Manchester tomorrow / Credit: Subway UK&I (via Instagram)
Debuting in Subway restaurants across the UK earlier this month, following their successful launch in the US at the beginning of the year, Brits can now get their hands on treats such as the Footlong Cinnabon Churro, Footlong Dippers – which come in three hot and tasty fillings – and of course, the star of the show being the Footlong Cookie.
As if Subway cookies weren’t already cult-favourites enough as it is, now you can get them in full Subway sandwich size too.
As well as trying out the new footlong treats, anyone in Spinningfields tomorrow will also get to meet magician Ben Hanlin.
The renowned Birmingham-born magician will first be starting off his day doing a shift as one of the chain‘s famous ‘Sandwich Artists’ at a yet-to-be-confirmed city centre Subway branch, and then he’ll be taking to the Manchester streets to show off his own ‘footlong’ tricks and showcase what else Subway can make ‘footlong’.
Hanlin will be stretching Subway’s classic cookies into footlong treats, and then giving these away to lucky passers-by for free.
Thousands of freebies from the full ‘Sidekicks’ range will be available tomorrow (4 July) between 11am-8pm, on a first-come-first-served basis while stocks last, so you’ll want to be quick if you’re keen to bag yourself a free treat.
Featured Image – Subway UK&I
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Channel 4 is looking for Manc couples to take part in a big ‘sex experiment’
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is currently casting for one of its boldest TV shows, and needs some “adventurous couples” from Greater Manchester to take part.
If you cast your minds back to right at the beginning of this year, you may remember that Channel 4 grabbed headlines when it announced that it was looking for adult virgins who were willing to volunteer themselves for a brand-new reality series with the working title ‘The Intimacy Retreat’.
The nature of the new TV show might not have come as a mega shock to some, as the broadcaster is also behind other sex-based reality shows such as Naked Attraction and Sex Box too.
But now, Channel 4 has put out another nationwide casting call, and this one’s for the potential third series of what is probably one of its most daring shows yet, Open House: The Great Sex Experiment – with producers currently on the look-out for the UK’s most “adventurous couples”, including those from Greater Manchester, to take part.
Channel 4 is looking for Manc couples to take part in a big ‘sex experiment’ / Credit: Channel 4
Unfamiliar with the premise of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment? Well, in a nutshell, the series basically explores whether relationships can thrive without monogamy.
In what is described as a “bold social experiment”, a group of monogamous couples are asked to consider, for the first time, if they would be happier in open relationships, while relationship coaches and sex therapists assist them in their journeys to challenging the notion that having sex with other people is at odds with being in a committed relationship.
However, it’s not all plain sailing, as the couples discover the difficulties involved with abandoning monogamy.
The bold reality show’s producers are on the look out for “adventurous couples” / Credit: Channel 4
The casting call on the Channel 4 website reads: “Do you fancy taking part in a potential new series of ‘Open House: The Great Sex Experiment’? Do you question monogamy? Would you like the opportunity to explore opening up your relationship? In this bold concept, committed couples come to a luxury retreat to test whether opening up their relationships and having sex with other people will strengthen their bond.”
Reckon you’re up for it then? If you fancy taking part in the next series of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, then head on over to the Channel 4 website to find out more and apply.
Emily Sergeant -
11th October 2022 
