Education Improvements

Lieutenant Colonel Fishwick was appointed Chairman of the School Board.
This has only recently been set up.

Rochdale Observer November 30th 1897.

Time to celebrate

Today in 1896 was the Jubilee of the Bridge Inn Sick and Burial Society.
This was celebrated by a gathering in the Town Hall.
The society numbers over 7,000.

Earthquake Lecture

Prof. John Milne, the eminent seismologist, gave a lecture in the Public Hall on earth movements.


This was on November the 28th 1895.

Time to get your skates on !

On this day in 1909 ' The Palace ' skating rink on High Level Road opened.

Looking after the districts

The first meeting of Buersill Local Board was held today in 1870.

Generous Donation

Mr. T. Bamford, Wardle who died on the 20th of November 1895 left £500 to the Infirmary.

Rochdale is named World Capital of Co-operatives

It is now official. In Cancun at the world Cooperative Congress Rochdale is named World Capital of Co-operatives.

Early Unemployment

According to ' New Annals of Rochdale ' by T. T. Heywood, today in 1863 there were 8,359 persons estimated to be out of work in consequence of the American Civil War.

A Big Thanks

Alderman Livsey was entertained in the Public Hall by 400 Liberals in recognition of 25 years service to the town. An address on vellum was presented to him.

This event took place today in 1863.

Poetic Visit

1811 was also the year that Lord Byron paid his only visit to the town.

Lord Byron was Lord of the Manor of Rochdale until 1823 when he sold it to Mr. James Dearden.

Our Famous Statesman

John Bright was born today in 1811 at Greenbank, Rochdale. He was the second son of Jacob and Martha.
He became one of the leading British statesman of the mid-nineteenth century and is perhaps most remembered for his part in the repeal of the corn laws.
He was an opponent of war and slavery and fiercely campaigned to extend democracy to more working people.

'Touchstones' has an event tonight to celebrate this anniversary.
See advert on this site or contact our centre for more information.

Martin Luther

During this month the non-conformist churches in Rochdale commemorated the 400th anniversary of Luther's birth by holding special services.

Scottish Post

John Bright elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University.

Rochdale Observer 14th of November 1880.

Money Well Spent !

Mr. George Mansell on being elected Mayor, stipulated that instead of giving Mayoral dinners he would, during his term of office, donate £500 to charitable institutions.
He gave the sum to the infirmary.

Taken from New Annals of Rochdale, November 13th 1868.

Remember remember the fifth of November.............

The Heywood ancestry can be traced back to the 12th century. A prominent forbear was Peter 'powderplot ' Heywood who was amongst the men who captured Guy Fawkes.
Fawkes was proclaimed guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. On the day of the execution he was aided by the hangman to climb the ladder to the noose and although weakened by torture he managed to jump from the gallows. He fell breaking his neck thus avoiding the latter part of the execution.

Lost !

Concord, a dog belonging to the Rochdale Hunt was lost during a hunt on Shore Moor.
The dog is easily identified as she has the letters ' R. H. ' tattooed in her ears.
Altogether four dogs were lost during the hunt.

Rochdale Observer 4th of November 1957.

The Workhouse Day !

This is an entry from November 1839, Spotland Workhouse Diary:

Pensioner Butterworth goes out when he will

he thinks he is above asking leave

and says he pays for his Meate

but he as had a deal of Clothing

we have a very useful lad that goes out

with Sand and other jobs

last night he beat him unmercyfully that

the lad is not fit for work

our Number is on the increase

Beate Mielemeier

On this day last year Beate Mielemeier died.

Beate was the Arts Development Officer for Rochdale Borough.

This was printed on the card given out at her funeral:

Beate,

a beautiful, positive life force who shared her creative spirit, energy, humour, wisdom, inspiration, encouragement, warmth and love so generously adding something very special, to so many people's lives.

Important buiding for Richard Street

Today in 1927 Lord Derby opened the new Masonic Temple in Richard Street.