Facts from New Annals of Rochdale

1642 : Garrison of 1,200 men placed in the town and 800 more on Blackstone Edge during the Civil War.

1643 : Three hedgehogs for the church supplied at a cost of 1 shilling also a pound of candles
at a cost of 4 pennies.

1678 : Collections made in the churches in thr parish towards rebuilding Saint Pauls Cathedral.

1691 : The Flying Horse, Packer Street opened this year.

1721 : Letters despatched to and from Manchester and Rochdale three times weekly and vice versa.

1724 : Daniel Defoe went over Blackstone Edge in a snowstorm.