“It was a dream come true for me! Great setting,with hard working staff and management.”

The Assembly Rooms as the building was originally named, were a gift to the village of Bowdon from the family of Spencer Henry Bickham, a wealthy silk manufacturer who lived nearby at Green Walk. The building was Designed by Timperley born architect Frank Brookhouse Dunkerley.

A company was set up to manage the building and was named “Bowdon Assembly Rooms Limited”, which survived until 1949.

From the 1950’s Bowdon Urban District Council then took over the management of the venue.

The Assembly Rooms are perhaps Dunkerley’s most adventurous design. The British Architect journal described the building as “one of the best examples of assembly hall design we have met with”, and mentioned the following practical features – a porte cochere large enough to provide shelter for a carriage, “a capital supper-room to seat 200 (with kitchen)”, and an American maple floor laid on patent ‘Valtor’ springs which could be made rigid in five minutes. In style, it is reminiscent of two other buildings with similar functions – the New Earswick Folk Hall in York built in 1905 by Raymond Unwin, and the Mrs Howard Memorial Hall at Letchworth built in 1905-6 by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin.

During the First World War, the building served as an annexe to Altrincham General Hospital for the treatment of injured officers from Britain and the Colonies, and accommodated 48 beds. Apart from that period, it has served its original function, The Bowdon Rooms is now a premier events and wedding venue and one of Altrinchams most loved buildings.