There Goes Gracie Mill Chimney

A article and photograph in the Rochdale Observer dated 1st June 1988 showed the famous steeplejack Fred Dibnah demolishing the chimney at Arkwright Mill where Gracie Fields once worked as a mill girl.

Crest Mill To Be Sold?

Crest Mill was founded in 1906 and reconstituted in 1919 and is one of the largest spinning mills in Lancashire. It contains 72,504 ring spindles and on full production employs 450 operatives. The mill closed in April 1941 under the war-time concentration scheme.

Rochdale Observer 25th June 1947

Bees Set Poser For police

On Tuesday a swarm of bees decided to disgrace themselves and their owner by moving to a tree near Fieldhead Avenue and staying there. Inspector Waller who with honeyed words and a good deal of patience persuaded the bees that a public highway was not the place for their excitement.

Article taken from Rochdale Observer dated 21st June 1947

Bird sets fire to carpet

There was a tremendous shock for a man and his wife when a blackbird fell down their chimney. The unfortunate bird which had caught fire on it's descent, set fire to a rug and a carpet.

Article taken from Rochdale Observer 30th June 1956

Dialect Society Pilgrimage

Over seventy members of The Edwin Waugh Dialect Society went on their annual pilgrimage to Waugh's Well in Waterfoot. The members commented that it had been 'the best ever outing' to the well.

Article taken from The Rochdale Observer 30th June 1956

Serve Rochdale competition

A competition run by the Young Readers Club asked the children of Rochdale to write a letter about people that served Rochdale. The winning letters included the parks superintendent, the headmistress at the Grammar School, the editor of the Observer and the chief of the fire brigade.

Article form Rochdale Observer dated 30th June 1956.

Car maintenance classes prove popular for women

An article in the Rochdale Observer dated 30th June 1956 stated that car maintenance classes for women were proving popular. When asked his opinion on women drivers the instructor a Mr E M Lewis commented 'Either she is exceptionally good or awfully bad.'

Waterworks Exhibition

A public notice appeared in the Rochdale Observer dated 30th June 1956 inviting the public to visit 'The Waterworks Exhibition' at the filter house and reservoir at Watergrove. Free transport was to be provided from the Town Hall Square.

Model of Cologne Cathedral

A photograph of a model of Cologne Cathedral appeared in the Rochdale Observer on 16th June 1956. The model had been made by Mr William Pollitt and had taken twenty four years to complete. For the first eleven years Mr Pollitt had worked solely with the aid of drawings in a text book. Sir Clement Royds paid for Mr Pollitt and his wife to visit Cologne so they could see the Cathedral first hand.

Rochdale Trades and Labour Council

The main topic discussed at a meeting at the Rochdale Trades and Labour Council was the fear of mass unemployment unless automation is controlled.

Rochdale Observer 16th June 1956

A swarm of bees

A swarm of bees were smoked out of a hedge at Francil Farm, Marland by Mr Butterworth. He feared that the bees would upset the animals on his farm.

Rochdale Observer 16th June 1956

German visitors

German visitors from Rochdale's twin town Bielefeld commented that Rochdale was 'not a sooty town and had nice residential streets.'

Reported in the Rochdale Observer 13th June 1956

Ceylon cinema closes

The Ceylon cinema closed after forty one years. The last film shown was 'Flame of the Islands.'

Rochdale Observer 13th June 1956

Centenary Exhibition at the Drill Hall

A centenary exhibition was held at the Territorial Drill Hall. Street scenes were recreated showing coach and horses and women dressed in shawls. There was also a hand loom weaver's cottage showing a model of an operative at work.

Article taken form Rochdale Observer dated 9th June 1936