14/07/2024
UPDATE
Moody Hall, Moody Street, Congleton was once the home of Elizabeth’s School. It has been lying empty since 2017 when it was sold as a fully functioning care home. Since then, it has been left to fall into dereliction by the person who purchased it. Despite having planning permission to turn it into flats the owner has done nothing except dig a pit in the back garden and remove the rear doors so that the vandals could access the inside.
Moody Hall is a fine George Grade 11 listed building with the potential to be a heritage centre and a museum for all things Elizabeth, along the lines of The Pankhurst Centre in Manchester. The Pankhurst Centre is a great tourist attraction with thousands of visitors every year. Just think what an asset it could be for Congleton, but I would be happy just to see the building restored and functioning again.
As things stand, I am shouting in a force 10 gale as the owner will not answer any messages, letters or emails, and Cheshire East refuse to engage with me on a plan to save this beautiful building. Cheshire East have stone walled me and failed to answer any questions adequately.
Every now and then I make a fuss and attract the attention of the community, press and frankly, anyone who will listen, when I see that the vandals have gained access again or squatters are living there. Cheshire East will then come and make good the fencing at the front and any of the shutters that they have already erected at taxpayer’s expense. They refuse to put a Compulsory Purchase Order on the property and the owner refuses to sell. It is a complete stalemate.
To see Elizabeth’s School in this sorry state is truly heartbreaking for Elizabeth’s Group or any right-minded person, and I will continue the Make Moody Marvelous Campaign whilst there is one brick left standing.
The time has come for real action, the kind of action Elizabeth was a part of; Suffragette Action.
Watch this space.
Susan Munro
Chair
