Thursday 30 August 2012

Heritage Open Days 2012

In anticipation of the Heritage Open Days which begin in Rochdale on the 6th September, the next few posts will give information on some of the buildings you can visit.
We will begin with All Saints Church, Hamer.
It is a grade II listed Victorian Church with a steeple. Designed by the renowned architect J. Medland Taylor, built of stone and constructed in 1866.
The elaborate stained glass windows are particularly interesting especially the east and west windows.
The church organ is original, built by Hill and Son.
This building can be viewed from Thursday 6th September to Saturday the 8th from 10 am until 4 pm and Sunday 1 pm until 4 pm..

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Money Well Spent !

The 29th of August 1896 saw the Sewage Scheme at Roach Mills extended, the total cost of the works up to this date has been £72,000.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Quite a Special Book

Today in 1868 the American Government presented to Rochdale Town Council a beautifully bound volume containing a compilation of the addresses to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln on the President's death.

Sunday 26 August 2012

Get Ready To Read !

The 26th of August 1870 saw 100 volumes of books presented to the proposed Public Library by
 Messrs. Macmillan & Co.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Brave Men Marching !

Today in 1856 twenty 'Waterloo ' heroes accompanied by a fife and drum band, left Rochdale to witness the unveiling of the Wellington statue in Manchester.

Go to our section on 'Wartime' and you can see a particularly early photograph of these men taken the previous year.

Friday 24 August 2012

Read All About It !

Folowing on from a recent post about Middleton's artist, Mr. Jackson, Rochdale also has many artistic figures. Most of these, however, are famous for their use of the pen rather than the paint brush.
Many wrote in Lancashire Dialect, this tradition could said to have begun with John Collier writing as Tim Bobbin in the 1700's.
Edwin Waugh, Oliver Ormerod, Margaret Lahee and John Trafford Clegg are all commemorated on the Dialect Writers Memorial in Broadfield Park.
This literary tradition continues today with local writers who include Mark Hodkinson, Trevor Hoyle and Nicholas Blincoe.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Going, Going, Gone !!!

This post is about today, 23rd August 2012.
'Rochdale Baths' is on its way down.
The demolition of 'Rochdale Central Leisure Centre' is in progress.
The building opened in 1937 as the 'Central Baths', replacing the original Baths which opened on Smith Street in 1868.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Exceptional Artist

The artist Frederick W. Jackson is certainly worth a mention here.
Born in Middleton in 1859, one of three brothers, whose father was a photographer and art dealer.
After leaving school Frederick attended evening classes at Oldham School Of Art.
In 1880 Jackson's first painting was accepted by the Royal Academy, he then visited Italy to paint and in 1844 he also travelled to Paris.
After many successes he enrolled as a student at the Academie Julian.
He died at his home on Long Street in 1918 and following his death a large memorial exhibition was held at Manchester City Art Gallery.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Cricket Moves Forward

Continuing with our theme of local notables, let us look at Hamlet Nicholson :

Hamlet Nicholson was the inventor of the modern cricket ball, which he invented in or just before 1860.
An advertisement in the Rochdale Observer for the 18th May 1861 states:
Nicholson's Patent Compound Cricket Ball - the patentee claims :
. It is cheaper than leather
. It is more durable
. It is a true sphere
. It cannot absorb moisture and therefore never varies in weight

It was his early life working with his father ,who was a cobbler, that Hamlet became skilled in the use of Gutta Percha Rubber and this enabled him to move the cricket ball forward.

Monday 20 August 2012

Herbal Pioneer !

Nell Racker, whose real name was Ellen Wallace could possibly be thought of as a pioneer in her skilled use and knowledge of herbs.
She was also a midwife, skilled bone-setter, fortune teller and spiritualist.
Nell was rumoured to be a witch, as in the past many wise women were said to be witches, simply because they understood the use of herbs and were able to treat people for illnesses and injuries.
She was born at Pigslee, Bury in 1846 and moved to Milnrow the following year.
After marrying her second husband in 1872 she moved to Belfield Cottage where she would dispense her knowledge for free, set a broken arm or arrange to attend a birth.
Her nickname, Nell Racker, which she is said to have hated, may have alluded to her racks of drying herbs or perhaps it was the practice of ' racking ' or stretching a broken limb.
She is listed in Clegg's Commercial Directory of Rochdale under Belfield Road as :
Wallace, Mrs. Ellen, Belfield Cottage. Midwife and Medical Botanist.

Sunday 19 August 2012

Famous Photographer

An earlier post gave some information about John Milne, the pioneering seismologist.
Today here is a little information on a pioneering photographer, Roger Fenton.

Roger Fenton was born at Crimble Hall in March 1819.
After taking a Master of Arts Degree he went to Paris to continue his studies as a pupil of the celebrated
Paul Delaroche. It was during this period that he became interested in the new art form - photography.
In 1847 he formed with a group of other enthusiasts, The Photographic Club.
In 1855 under the patrionage of Queen Victoria he embarked for the Crimea 'to take pictures of people and scenes of historic value.'
His photographs, however, showed little of the carnage of war, possibly so as not to offend the Victorian public.
His letters home from the Crimea reveal a war that is much different to the one pictured in his photographs.
The Photographic Society in recognition of his work in its foundation, awarded him the Prince Consort Medal in 1866.
Roger Fenton died in 1869 aged 50.

Saturday 18 August 2012

A Busy Time

August 1846 seems to have had quite a lot going on !
Ernest Jones and Feargus O'Connor addressed 10,000 Chartists on Blackstone Edge.
Moore Street School was built.
Dr. Molesworth placed in St. Chad's Church, the font, which is still used.
The Barracks off Toad Lane were given up.
The Grammar School in School Lane was pulled down.
The town became a municipal borough.
Wood turning by machinery was introduced by Thomas Robinson and Sons.
The Bridge Inn Sick and Burial Society was formed.
The Annual Assembly of Methodism was held in our town.

Friday 17 August 2012

Roll Up, Roll Up !!!

The Cattle Fair Ground, Theatre Street opened today in 1877.
 Prior to this date the fair was held in Church Stile and in the adjoining streets.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Earthquake Milne

Professor John Milne on this day in 1897 gave a lecture before the British Association of Toronto on earthquakes.

Click on this link below to find out more about this extraordinary man.
http://www.link4life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=c.showPage&pageID=939

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Something to Celebrate !

The Co-operative Corn Mill Society today in 1884 celebrated the erection of roller milling machinery at Thomas Robinson and Son's Ltd.
The cost of the machinery was £10,000.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Let The Band Play !

Today in 1909 the Buckley Hall Orphans' Band left Rochdale for a tour of Belgium.

Monday 13 August 2012

Political Career Starts Here

Today in 1857 John Bright was elected M.P. for Birmingham, unopposed and free of expense.
He represented the town until his death in March 1889.

Saturday 11 August 2012

Look How Far We've Come !

Increased Urbanisation accompanied the Industrial Revolution as people moved into towns like Rochdale and cities like Manchester in search of work.
They had little leisure time at first but after the Bank Holiday Act and the 10 Hours Act of 1847 people eventually gained a little free time.
By 1871 many factories were closing at Saturday lunch times giving the working classes more time to take up sport and time to watch it.
And as they say.........    the rest is history !

Friday 10 August 2012

I Wonder What They Wore ?

In the August Wakes Weeks of 1868 Heywood Athletic Club held a series of events at the Phoenix Grounds.
There were ten events including the 3 legged race, 100 yards flat race, high leaping and 400 yards hurdle race.
I wonder if there was a 'Rudisha' or a 'Bolt' taking part ?

Thursday 9 August 2012

Born To Run

Running is one of the oldest sports in our area and along with cricket is the first to be reported in the Rochdale Observer.
The runner in question was 'Treacle' Sanderson, who began running in 1855 aged 18.
He became one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
'Treacle' Sanderson died in December 1905.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Let There Be Light !

In 1891 a football match was held  between Hornets and Broughton Rangers, at night, by the aid of Wells' light.

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Start Running !

The first annual meeting of Rochdale Harriers took place in 1895 with Colonel C. M. Royds elected as president.

Monday 6 August 2012

...............Get Set, Go !

It was in 1866 that Rochdale's Athletic Club's first festival took place on the cricket ground at Merefield.
This club was the outcome of the Rifle Club formed a few years earlier.

Sunday 5 August 2012

On Your Marks............

During August 1894 meetings were held at Bancroft's Temperance Bar, Stoneyfield,
to instigate forming Rochdale Harriers Club.
Prior to this date there had been a harriers section of the Y.M.C.A.

Saturday 4 August 2012

Popular Pastime

According to T.T. Heywood in ' New Annals of Rochdale, '
Tennis had a vogue as an outdoor game during the summer of 1882.

Click on this link to learn a little more.

http://www.link4life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=c.showPage&pageID=1330

Friday 3 August 2012

Record Breakers !

David Billington at the Rochdale Swimming Gala lowered the 500 yards record today.
The time was 6 minutes 25.4 seconds.
G.E. Whiteley lowered the 100 yards backstroke record to 1 minute 14 seconds.
This was in 1904.

Thursday 2 August 2012

Good Try !

It was at the beginning of August 1907 that Mr. J. Wild aged 74 of Milnrow Road failed in an attempt to swim across Hollingworth Lake.
He managed to reach halfway in 31 minutes.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Swimming Record !

A local record was created in 1883 when O.H. Rushworth swam 87 yards, 2 feet, under water in the Rochdale Baths.