NEWLY released pictures have revealed the inside of the stunning Victorian-era Werneth Park music rooms that could be lost forever.

Photos taken by the urban explorer behind the Lost Places & Forgotten Faces blog reveal the shocking extent of the vandalism that the historic rooms in Oldham have been subjected to.

The derelict Grade-II listed music rooms, which date back to 1850, have fallen into disrepair since they were closed decades ago.

The building, now barricaded by security fencing, is listed as the ‘Conservatory in the Park’ on Historic England’s Register of nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England.

The listing suggests the building located on the North Eastern edge of Werneth Park, adjacent to Frederick Street, was "probably built as the music room for a house now demolished but built by the Platt family in around 1850".

The Platt family are recorded in The National Archives as having run the largest machine-making firm in the world from a factory site in Werneth during the 1890s.

The Platt Brothers & Company was at one time Oldham's largest employer and the world's most important manufacturer of textile machinery, according to Historic England.

The listing adds that the house connected to the music rooms was demolished in 1895 but the rooms were retained and intended for public access by Sarah Lees, the town’s first female councillor.

Werneth Park, which was Sarah’s home from her wedding day to her death, along with the music rooms was given to the people of Oldham by Sarah’s daughter Marjory in 1936.

The council consequently holds the park and its associated buildings in Trust.

Commenting on the rooms, an Oldham Council spokesperson said: “We understand what an important heritage asset Werneth Park music rooms are and are pro-actively exploring a range of options to secure the buildings’ future and potential re-use.”

There are no active plans to renovate the rooms but a viability report looking at the potential use of the building has been undertaken. 

The council has previously undertaken two studies for the music rooms in 1996 and 2007, but neither resulted in a viable outcome for the historic building.

A report drawn up in 2007 estimated it would cost between £2.8 million and £4.1 million to refurbish the rooms and the costs of repairs are expected to have increased since then.

Oldham Council has been contacted for an update regarding the future of the building..