| Rochdale | |
  Rochdale shown within Greater Manchester |
|
| Population | 95,796 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 169 mi (273 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough | Rochdale |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROCHDALE |
| Postcode district | OL11, OL12, OL16 |
| Dialling code | 01706 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Rochdale |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
Rochdale is a large town in Greater Manchester, England.[1] It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, 9.8 miles (15.8 km) north-northeast of the city of Manchester, and 5.3 miles (8.5 km) north-northwest of Oldham. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, of which Rochdale is the largest settlement and administrative centre. Rochdale has a total population of 95,796. Historically a part of Lancashire, a with medieval history as a market town, Rochdale rose to prominence during the 19th century as an international centre of textile processing. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the first ever industrialised towns.[2] The socioeconomic change brought by the success of Rochdale's textile industry in the 19th century led to its rise to borough status and it remained a dominant settlement in its region.[2] During the 20th century Rochdale's spinning capacity declined towards an eventual halt.[2] Rochdale is birthplace of the Co-operative Movement.[3] The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society, founded 1844, was the first modern cooperative; the Rochdale Principles are a set of ideals for cooperatives. The Rochdale Canal is one of the major navigable broad canals of Great Britain.
Contents |
History
Rochdale is named for its position on the River Roch at the edge of the Pennines. The Domesday Book records the name as Recedham, formed from Old English reced "hall", and ham "homestead". The name of the river is a back-formation from this Old English name. With time, the town's name changed to Rachedale and eventually Rochdale. [4] The name of the river Roch is pronounced /roʊtʃ/, with a long o. The name of the town is pronounced /ˈrɒtʃdeɪl/. Rochdale appears in the Domesday Book under the name of Recedham Manor, and was part of the hundred of Salfordshire. Ownership of the manor belonged to The Crown in 1399, and continued so until it was purchased by John Byron, 1st Baron Byron in 1638. It was eventually sold by the poet Lord Byron in 1823, when it passed to the Dearden family, who still hold the title. In earlier medieval times, Rochdale had been an important market town, with weekly markets held from the 13th century, and an annual fair. The market was held outside the parish church, and had a long-standing "Orator's Corner". The local reformer and Rochdale Member of Parliament, John Bright spoke in the town about Anti-Corn Law reform. Rochdale was among the world's most productive cotton spinning towns.[2]
Governance
Civic history
- Further information: Rochdale (ancient parish)
For many years, Rochdale was the centre of a large ancient parish, also named Rochdale. Rochdale previously formed the County Borough of Rochdale local government district, which was exempt from the administrative county of Lancashire.
Geography
- Further information: Geography of Greater Manchester
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At (53.6136, -2.161), and 169 miles (272 km) north-northwest of London, Rochdale stands 700 feet (213 m) above sea level, 9.8 miles (15.8 km) north-northeast of Manchester City Centre, on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock. Blackstone Edge, Saddleworth Moor and the South Pennines are close to the east, whilst on all other sides, Rochdale is bound by smaller towns, including Whitworth, Littleborough, Milnrow, Royton, Heywood and Shaw and Crompton, with little or no green space between them. Rochdale experiences a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Rochdale's built environment consists of a mixture of infrastructure, housing types and commercial buildings from a number of periods. Rochdale's housing stock is mixed, but has a significant amount of stone or red-brick terraced houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Rochdale's Town Hall, seven large tower blocks and a number of former cotton mills mark the town's skyline. The urban structure of Rochdale is regular when compared to most towns in England, its form restricted in places by its hilly upland terrain. Much of Rochdale's built environment is centred around a central business district in the town centre, which is the local centre of commerce. There is a mixture of high-density urban areas, suburbs, semi-rural and rural locations in Rochdale, but overwhelmingly the land use in the town is urban. For purposes of the Office for National Statistics, forms the fifth largest settlement of the Greater Manchester Urban Area,[5] the United Kingdom's third largest conurbation. The M62 motorway passes to the south and southwest of Rochdale. Two heavy rail lines enter Rochdale from the east, joining at Rochdale railway station before continuing southwards to the city of Manchester.
Divisions and suburbs
Divisions and suburbs of Rochdale include Ashworth, Balderstone, Bamford, Belfield, Birch, Buckley, Buersil, Caldershaw, Castleton, Cronkeyshaw, Cutgate, Deeplish, Falinge, Fieldhouse, Firgrove, Foxholes, Halfacre, Hamer, Healey, Hurstead, Kingsway, Kirkholt, Littleborough, Lowerfold, Lowerplace, Marland, Meanwood, Newbold, Nook Farm, Norden, Oakenrod, Oulder Hill, Passmonds, Prickshaw, Queensway, Rooley Moor, Shawclough, Smallbridge, Smithy Bridge, Sparth Bottom, Spotland, Sudden, Syke, Thornham, Turf Hill, Wardle.
Demography
Rochdale has large white and Asian communities. Since the 2001 census the African, Chinese and Polish community has grown rapidly White 88.6% South Asian 9.8% Other 1.6%
Landmarks
Rochdale Town Hall
Rochdale Town Hall, designed by W H Crossland, was completed in 1871. The original clock tower, which rose to 240ft, was destroyed by fire in 1883. The present shorter (and less flamboyant) tower was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1887.[6] The stained glass window on the south side is suggested to have been one of Hitler's high-priority items for acquisition, had he won the war. This is a myth, as any reasonable investigation into the technology available, and Hitler's known intentions, will show. The (covered) River Roch flows close to the under the town hall, which stands on a bridge, reputed to be the widest road bridge in Europe. The front of the town hall has gargoyles and gilded statues of lions which bear the traditional emblems of Rochdale, Lancashire and Yorkshire. These are said to be a commemoration of the peace, to which Rochdale contributed, between the two historic counties. It was on the balcony of this building that Rochdale's own Gracie Fields received the Freedom of the Borough to crowds of thousands who turned out to greet her in the pouring rain.
Parish church
From a hill, the Parish Church of St Chad directly overlooks the Town Hall. Some parts of the church date from Norman times. The town stocks (no longer in use) are in the churchyard.
War memorial
This monument, bearing four flags, is opposite the town hall (to the north). It commemorates those who died in conflicts since the First World War (1914-1918). The monument and surrounding gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.[7] [8]
Culture
Arts and cultural organisations based in Rochdale include:
- Backdoor Music Project, for local youths with bi-weekly performances at a number of venues.
- Skylight Circus, allowing youths to practise many forms of circus performance arts.
- M6 Theatre Company, a touring theatre company which creates plays for young people.
- Peopleprint Community Media Workshop: Peopleprint is a voluntary not-for-profit organisation providing training and support for local artists and members of the community.
- Touchstones, an art gallery and museum.
- Rochdale Amateur Operatic Society, formed in 1898 currently performs at The Gracie Fields Theatre.
- Rochdale Music Service - an extremely successful organisation for youth music in Rochdale.
- Crimson Scarlet - organisers of Rochdale Music Collective.
- Walter Kershaw - a sculptor and painter - creator of many well known murals in the north west
Transport
Rail and Metrolink
Demand for cross-Pennine trade (e.g. to support the local cotton, wool and silk industries) led to the building of George Stephenson's Summit Railway Tunnel and the Rochdale Canal (from Manchester to Yorkshire - re-opened in 2003 after years of neglect, including its division by a motorway). The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station, but the line passed about a mile south of the town centre. The station remains open, but much reduced from its heyday. Trains run south (to Manchester Victoria), east (to Halifax, Bradford and Leeds) and to Manchester Victoria (via the Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham Line, also known as the Oldham Loop). Rochdale is to be served by an extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram system, which would see the Oldham Loop converted from heavy rail to light rail. This extension was deferred in 2004 on grounds of cost. In July 2006, however, ministers approved plans for extension from Manchester Victoria as far as the planned Rochdale Rail Station stop just outside the station. Approval for extension into Rochdale town centre, extended down Drake Street and terminating opposite Rochdale bus station, as well as into Oldham town centre, is expected in 2008.
Bus
Rochdale Bus Station is located next to the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre under a multi-storey car park. There are plans to demolish the bus station and move it across the road, where it would eventually link up with the Metrolink to provide a transport interchange. There are frequent journeys running from Rochdale to Manchester on First Manchester's 17 service, via Middleton, or on the 24, via Royton and Chadderton, to Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne on the 409, and to Bury and Bolton on the 471. There are also cross-county services into Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Rossendale Transport's 464 service runs buses to Rawtenstall and Accrington. First Calderdale & Huddersfield run three services from Rochdale. The 528 runs to Halifax via Ripponden, the 589 runs to Burnley via Todmorden and the 590 runs to Halifax via Todmorden.
Road
The M62 motorway passes to the south of the town. The motorway is accessed via the A627(M), which starts at Sandbrook Park in Rochdale and runs to Elk Mill in Royton, Oldham. The A627(M) provides drivers a quick access to the M62 and to Oldham.
Sports
Rochdale's professional football team Rochdale A.F.C. play home games at Spotland Stadium, which they share with Rochdale Hornets Rugby League team. The town's main rugby union team is Rochdale R.U.F.C., who play in Bamford. There are two adult amateur football leagues: the Rochdale Online Alliance League and the Rochdale and District Sunday Football League. There are a number of golf courses in the town, including Rochdale Golf Club, Marland Golf Club and Springfield Park Golf Club. [9]. The town also has a substantial number of cricket clubs, most of which play in the Central Lancashire League. Speedway racing was staged at the Athletic Grounds in the pioneer days of 1928 - 1930 and returned for a short spell at the start of the 1970s. The 1970s venture provided a home for the British League Division Two Belle Vue Aces juniors and the team was known as Rochdale Hornets. Peter Collins, who went on to win the 1976 World Championship and other honours, was the most famous Hornets rider.
Notable people
The nineteenth century Lancashire dialect poet Edwin Waugh (1817 - 1890) was born and raised in the town. Amongst Rochdale's most notable historical residents are a number of musicians, including female singers Gracie Fields, Lisa Stansfield (born in Heywood) and Barb Jungr, and bands Autechre, Tractor, The Chameleons and The Mock Turtles. Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth also hails from Rochdale. Broadcasters John Peel, Mark Chapman, Liz and Andy Kershaw also have links with the town, Peel having lived there for a period of time and the latter three having been born there. Rochdale can also boast a number of actors and actresses; Colin Baker, Anna Friel, Bill Oddie and the aforementioned Gracie Fields all were either born or bred in Rochdale. Don Estelle, who was born and raised in Crumpsall, Manchester, lived for much of his life in Rochdale and was buried there in August 2003[10]. The bestselling poet John Siddique was brought up in Rochdale and has referenced the town in several poems. Rochdale also has a proud liberal political heritage, as shown by such people as John Bright, Paul Rowen MP, Samuel Bamford, Rev. Joseph Cooke and perhaps the town's most colourful export Cyril Smith. Other notable residents of Rochdale include Lizzy Bardsley, who gained fame on TV's Wife Swap, Nicholas Blincoe, a novelist, George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron of Rochdale, Monica Coghlan, a prostitute caught up in the Lord Archer scandal, Stefan Kiszko, a local man infamously convicted wrongly of sexual assault.
Twinning
Rochdale is twinned with the towns of:
References
- ^ Anon (2003-07-31). A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County (http). Greater Manchester County Records Office. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.
- ^ a b c d McNeil, R. & Nevell, M (2000). A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Greater Manchester. Association for Industrial Archaeology. ISBN 0-9528930-3-7.
- ^ Rochdale - The Birthplace of Co-operation. URL accessed January 1, 2006.
- ^ Mills, A.D.: A Dictionary of English Place Names, 2nd Edition, page 289, s.n. Rochdale. Oxford University Press, 1998
- ^ Office for National Statistics (2001). Census 2001:Key Statistics for urban areas in the North; Map 3 (PDF). statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ Victorian & Edwardian Town Halls; C Cunningham; Routeledge; London; 1981
- ^ Rochdale Official Guide (3rd edition); Pyramid Press; London; 1952
- ^ Hartwell, C., (2004), Buildings of South Lancashire, p.595.
- ^ Anon. Rochdale Online Sport Directory. Retrieved on 2007-24-12.
- ^ http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/333/333428_farewell_to_screen_star_lofty_don.html
External links
- Rochdale and District Disability Action Group (RADDAG)
- Rochdale Metropolitan Council website
- Rochdale Online - local news and information website.
- Rochdale Local Studies
- Save Spodden Valley
- Rochdale - Birthplace of Co-operation
- Rochdale Development Agency - information on the borough, its economy, investment and regeneration activity
- Discover Rochdale's heritage
- Rochdale Observer
- Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust
