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 Rochdale
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Created in 1974, the Metropolitan
Borough of Rochdale stretches from the north-east side of
Manchester to the Pennines and the borders of South Yorkshire.
The area was once famous for its textile industry.
By Tudor times Rochdale
was already an important area for the production of woollen
cloth.
As the Industrial Revolution
progressed, the many fast-flowing streams running off the
nearby Pennine Hills made Rochdale and the surrounding towns
an ideal site for mechanised textile production.
The industrial wealth of town
meant that it was granted Municipal Borough status in 1856.
To celebrate the fact the council
erected a magnificent town hall, completed in 1871. This
imposing neo-Gothic building, with its separate bell tower,
dominates the approach to the town from Manchester.
Rochdale is also famous as the
birthplace of the world-wide Co-operative Movement.
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum is housed on the site of the
original store in Toad Lane.
Today the modern town has two
shopping centres, an indoor market and a good range of shops,
restaurants and pubs.
Famous people associated with
Rochdale include Lord Byron, who owned the ancient manor until
1823, the singer and actress Gracie Fields, born here in 1898,
and the town's former Liberal MP Cyril Smith.
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Location
Map of Rochdale |
What
To See -
Rochdale Tourist Attractions
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 Corgi
Heritage Centre , 53 York Street, Heywood, Rochdale,
OL10 4NR
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a small museum, dedicated to the
diecast model vehicles made by Corgi, a collector's dream.
Displays illustrate the history of Corgi, from its early days
as Mettoy (established just before World War II) to the introduction
of the Corgi name in the mid-1950's, up to the present day.
Many of the models are shown in period settings. Model railway
layout.
Open: Mon, Wed, Thur and Fri 9:00-17:30, Sat 9:00-17:00
pm (closed Tue and Sun) Tel: 01706 365 812
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Rochdale
Town Hall, The Esplanade,
Rochdale |
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a neo-Gothic Town Hall built in
1866 - 71 to the design of Willam Crossland. Reflecting the
town's prosperity in the 19th century, the building is 100 m
long and topped by a 50 m tower. The tower was originally taller
and surmounted by a wooden spire but burned down and replaced
by a stone tower in 1883, created by Alfred Waterhouse, architect
of the magnificent Manchester Town Hall. The interior has a
giant staircase leading up to the Great Hall, with a hammerbeam
roof, which boasts a mural of the Magna Carta and stained glass
windows depicting British monarchs.Tel: 01706 356 592.
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Rochdale
Pioneers Museum, 31
Toad Lane, Rochdale OL12 0NU |
(to rear
of Rochdale Exchange Shopping Precinct on Hunters Lane) this
building is regarded as the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement. On
21 December 1844 the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened
their first store here, offering customers food at fair prices
and honest weights and measures. It only sold a few basic commodities:
butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal and candles, but the store heralded
a revolution in retailing. The museum has recreated the original
shop with its furniture and scales. Visitors can see how the
Victorians did their shopping and view early advertising, retailing
artifacts and packaging. Displays illustrating the success
of the Co-operative movement,and a collection of Co-operative
postage stamps, dividend coins and commemorative china.
Open: Tue-Sat 10:00-16:00, Sun 14:00-16:00. Closed Mon,
Bank Holidays and Christmas-New Year. Tel: 01706 524920.  |
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Gracie
Fields Theatre,
Hudson's Walk, Rochdale, OL11 5EF |
named after
the celebrated actress and singer Gracie Fields (who was born
in the town in 1898) this is one of Rochdale's largest seated
theatres. Opened by Dame Gracie Fields in 1978. The purpose-built
theatre stages a range of events including plays, pantomimes
and music concerts.
Tel: 01706 645 522 |
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Touchstones
- Museum & Art Gallery,
The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AQ |
in a Grade
II listed former library dating from 1903, an arts and heritage
centre, museum, art gallery and Tourist Information Centre.
The museum, entered through a 'Time Tunnel', shows the social
history of Rochdale. Highlights include real shop, pub and
cinemas interiors and a recreated wartime air-raid shelter.
Section celebrating the life of actress and singer Gracie Fields,
who was born in Rochdale in 1898. Its 'Wall of Fame' also shows
the contribution of ordinary people to the Borough of Rochdale.The
art Gallery is housed in four galleries, one displaying Rochdale's
own collections, two galleries host exhibition and Gallery One,
reserved for everyone!
Open: Mon-Fri: 10:00-17:30, Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays
11:00-16:30 Tel: 01706 924492 |
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Ellenroad
Engine House, Elizabethan
Way, Milnrow, Rochdale |
(beside junction 21 on M62) Ellenroad
Engine House is home to the world's largest working steam cotton
mill engines. Ellenroad Cotton Mill was built on the banks of
the River Beal in 1892. In 1916 it burnt down but the engine
and boiler house survived. In 1919 the mill was rebuilt and
in 1921 the engines were rebuilt to provide more power. The
3000 horse-power engines, Victoria and Alexandra, used 44 ropes,
running along groves in the flywheel, to drive the cotton mill
machinery over 5 floors of the building. Electrified in 1975
but in 1985 the mill closed and demolished but the engine house,
complete with its 220 foot chimney, was spared. The Ellenroad
Trust began restoring the engines. Now in full working order,
the engines can be seen in steam on the first Sunday of every
month (except January). Other engines including a Whitelees
Beam Engine (1842), are on display.
Open: 12:00 -16:00 Tel:. 01706 881 952. |
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Greater
Manchester Fire Service Museum,
Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN |
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at Rochdale
Fire Station, the official Musuem of the GM Fire Service opened
in 1983. Exhibits include full-size fire appliances, equipment,
uniforms, models, photographs, medals and insignia. Displays
illustrating the history of firefighting, and a Victorian era
street and fire station. The area has played a part in the
history and development of firefighting as Eccles was the first
fire brigade to purchase a motorised fire engine and the area
has played an important part in fire engine manufacture for
the past 150 years. Staffed by volunteers and only open by arrangement.
Tel :01706 901227 for details. |
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Littleborough
Coach House & Heritage Centre,
Lodge Street, Littleborough, Rochdale |
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Littleborough
is set on the slopes of Blackstone Edge in the Pennines, and
has a history of both wool and cotton weaving. The stone-built
town has many fine buildings and looks much as it did 100 years
ago. One of these buildings, behind the Falcon Inn, houses the
Heritage Centre. Dating from around 1800, it was used as a staging
post when the village was a crossroads at the junction of two
ancient turnpike Pennine routes. Littleborough Coach House
Trust runs the site as a heritage and information centre and
as a showcase for local artists and craftsmen. Open:
Tue-Fri, 14:00-16:30, Sat 11;00-16:30, Sun 14:00- 16:30 (Closed
Mon). Tel: 01706 378 481 |
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Ashworth
Valley and Carr Wood, near Heywood, Rochdale |
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a tree-lined
valley, 8 miles north of the centre of Manchester, a popular
rambling area. The steep wooded valleys and moorland follow
the course of the Cheesden Brook from near Knowl Hill above
Norden. Mill ruins illustrate the area's importance in the Industrial
Revolution. Woodland, with a range of habitats and wildlife.
Refreshments are available at Owd Betts. Open: all year
Tel:. 01706 356592 |
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Healey
Dell Nature Reserve, Dell Road, Shawclough, Rochdale |
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between
Rochdale and Whitcroft, a moorland clough (ravine) where the
River Spodden has cut a valley through woodlands, creating spectacular
waterfalls. The range of habitats means a variety of plants,
animals and birds can be seen. 100 ft above the river, providing
views, is a 200 ft long, 8 arched viaduct. Dating from 1880,
this carried the railway between Rochdale and Bacup. One path
follows the route of line, which closed in the 1960s, and ithe
ruins of Broadley Station can be seen. The trail begins at the
warden's hut 2 miles NW of Rochdale's town centre. The river
powered corn, wool and cotton mills and the Visitor's Centre
in Healey Hat Mills houses a record of the industrial heritage. Open:
all year Tel: 01706 350459 |
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Hollingworth
Lake Country Park, Rakewood Road, Rochdale |
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at the
foot of Blackstone Edge just 3 miles from Rochdale's town centre,
this park provides a gateway to the moorlands of the South Pennine
area. Hollingworth Lake was created in 1801 to supply water
to the Rochdale Canal and it became a destination for local
millworkers. Today the lake offers restaurants, pubs, craft
shops, picnic sites and play areas. 1.5 mile walk around the
lake with bird hides, also trails into the countryside. Hollingworth
Lake is a centre for watersports - sailing, canoeing and windsurfing
- and trips are available on the 'Lady Alice' and rowing boats
can be hired. Stocked with coarse fish (permits are available
from the Visitor Centre). The Visitor Centre is open all year. Oct-
Mar: Mon-Fri 11:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 10:30-17:00; Apr-Sep: Mon-Fri
10:30-18:00 Sat-Sun 10:30-19:00 Tel: 01706 373421 |
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Watergrove
Reservoir, Trapp Farm Car Park, Ramsden Road, Wardle,
Rochdale |
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lies in
the moors above the village of Wardle. The reservoir was created
in 1938 to provide drinking water for the town. In the process
the village of Watergrove was submerged and around the reservoir
are the ruins of buildings that belonged to the village. Walk
around the reservoir and a network of paths, including the Rochdale
Way and Pennine Bridlepath, run through the valley. Bird hide
and a Visitor Centre. Open: all year Tel: 01706
379060 |
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Where
To Stay in Rochdale
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Guest
Houses, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Other Hotels
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Around
The Rochdale Area
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Tourist Information on Nearby Towns To Visit - straight line distance:
Oldham (5.59 miles) Bury (6.06 miles) Ashton-under-Lyne (9.38 miles) Manchester (10.06 miles) Salford (10.58 miles) Bolton (11.56 miles) Burnley (12.34 miles) Trafford Park (12.66 miles) Halifax (14.14 miles) Stockport (14.37 miles) Glossop (14.79 miles) |
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Our
Hotel Booking Line
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Call
0870 4786316
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