Time to Read

The Public Libraries Act today in 1870 was adopted by the town, Alderman Willans presided.

Elementary My Dear Watson !

Today in 1919 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle addressed a meeting in the Town Hall on Spiritualism.

New Name

On the 26th of May 1908 the new name Wet Rake was decided upon.
This plot of ground was formerley known as Halsteads Foundry.

Poor Woman

It was in this month in 1872 at Marland Workhouse that five children of a widow called Ellis died of Typhoid Fever.
The children aged 4, 9, 11, 16 and 20 all died in one week.

Station Please !

A public meeting today took place in 1872 of residents at Merefield and Sudden.
This was to urge the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to provide a station at New Barn Lane.

Shocking Statistics

20th of May 1862 : Due to the Cotton Famine 3,879 cotton operatives were out of employment and 2,861 were on short time.

Gracie Fields and Samuel Turner: Honorary Freeman

On 19 May 1937 a complimentary luncheon was given to Miss Gracie Feilds and Samuel Turner Esq., J.P. on the occasion of their admission as Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

Modern Times

A new X ray installation was brought into operation today in 1925 at the Infirmary.

Early History

1724
Daniel Defoe went over Blackstone Edge in a snow storm.
The house called Old Falinge was erected at this time.

1745
Charles Wesley visited the town, he came again in 1752 and preached at Bankhouse, Bagslate.
Also in 1752 St. Chads Vicarage was rebuilt by Dr. Dunster.

1777
 The coach from Rochdale to London started, this journey took 5 days.

1787
The first steam engine in the district was erected at a colliery in Smallbridge.

1780
John Wesley, then aged 87 visited Rochdale for the last time.

999

On May 15th 1954 Rochdale ambulances were fitted with radio telephone equipment.

Save Our Trees

In 1951 begining today, efforts began to stop a private firm from felling trees in Ashworth Valley.
After several weeks the Heywood Town Council succeeded in obtaining a protection order in respect of the trees in this beauty spot.

Help Is At Hand

In 1957 on this day the Mayor's Appeal for the Hungarian Relief Fund closed with the total at £2,196.11s.1d.

Did They Sound The Alarm ?

In 1953 on May the 12th Littleborough Fire Station, which at the time was 150 years old, was found to be unsafe and was evacuated.

Unique Public House

It was in May 1841 that the Boat Inn at Belfield opened.
The boat had formerly carried passengers on the branch canal between Bluepits Railway Station and Heywood.
The redundant barge was balaced on an even keel on dry land then transformed into a wayside inn.
At first the deck was left open to enable customers to enjoy open air drinks on fine summer days
but with English summers being more damp than sunny the sides were eventually bricked up and roofed over. A nautical air was preserved with portholes set in the sloping sides!

Train Accident

A woman was killed by a train today in 1899 at Shawclough and a man was seriously injured.

Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution

It was in May 1829 that ten people in Rochdale were killed in a shuttle gathering riot.

To learn more please go to the ' Discover ' part of the website and then on to ' Riotous Assemblies '.

Raising The Big Top !

Today in 1912 Lord Sangers Circus came to town !

On Yer Bike !

A cycle parade today in Rochdale, the second in aid of raising funds for the Infirmary, raised
£199.3s.5d.
This was in 1894.

Costly Chair !

A pew in St. Chad's Church sold today in 1893 for £86.

The Tram Begins

Rochdale Tramways opened to the public today in 1883.
The first car started from The Wellington Hotel for Buersil then returning
and proceeding to Littleborough.

1890 and 1926

A General Strike was called today in 1926 by the Council Of  The Trades Union Congress.

On this day in 1890 Edwin Waugh was interred at Kersal Moor Church.

End Of That Era !

Today in 1902 it was announced that the ' Lock Up ' on Rope Street was to be demolished.

Looking into the Workhouse

Here are some extracts from the Spotland Workhouse Diary for May 1837 :


we have had 2 Funerals
since last Wednesday. James Crabtree
upwards of 70 yr
and Martha Cooper 69 years

Ann Clegg is yet very troublesome
we are in want of a Quantity of Knives

it is a fine time of year for Whitewashing
and puting the House in good repair
Ann Clegg we think is past oure
power of restoreing her to her right mind

Ann Clegg is worse than she was
it does not look likely we can bring her
right at oure place
Mr Stott brought us a Woman
last Thursday Morning   she had not been
in the House 1/2 un houre before she
bare a child    they are both doing well

Disorderly Meeting !

A rowdy meeting was held in the Public Hall today in 1871 in support of Bruce's Licensing Bill.
Great disorder prevailed.