Easter Sunday

Today is Easter Day, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
This date was decided at the Synod of Whitby in 664 in a verbal battle between the Celtic and Roman representitives.
The Roman church calendar was adopted which caused a split within certain factions of the Celtic church.

Easter Tradition

If yesterday's post has you intrigued, please click on the link below to learn more about the Pace Egg Play :

http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/fun-and-games/the-pace-egg-in-rochdale/the-pace-egg-and-its-origin-rochdale-observer-1909

The Peace Egg or St. George, an Easter Play

' Here's one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We've come a pace egging and we hope you'll prove kind
An' we hope you'll prove kind with your eggs and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year.'

This cry would have been heard by many people at this time of year as the Easter pace-eggers paraded the streets of Rochdale.
The pace-egging play is a version of a traditional drama or 'mumming' play which is known throughout England in one form or another.

Troubled Times

Anti-Popery riots known as Murphy riots took place in Rochdale around this time in 1868.
The Public Hall and St. Johns R.C. church were attacked with much damage being done. 30 Hussars were billeted in the town in an effort to keep order.

John Bright

Today in 1889 John Bright, one of Rochdale's most famous sons, died, his dog ' Fly ' lay on his bed to the end.
He was the most important figure in the history of mid-Victorian radicalism and was probably the greatest of all Parliamentary orators.
By the time of his death he had become one of Britain's most famous politicians.

Time To Hang Up His Rope !!!

This day in 1924 was the day that John Ellis retired as Public Executioner, a post he had held for 23 years.

To learn more about John Ellis and his most unusual life please click on this link below :
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/focused-on-people/claims-to-fame/john-ellis-the-rochdale-hangman

V.I.P.

On the 17th March 1927 Mr. Lloyd George paid his third visit to Rochdale when he addressed an audience of 4,000 in the Territorial Drill Hall.
He was the leader of the Liberal Party between 1926 and 1931 and as Prime Minister he led a wartime coalition government between 1916 and 1922.
In 2002 he was named among the '100 Greatest Britons' following a countrywide vote and is considered to be the founder of the British Welfare State.

Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth..........

Today in 1872 the first Police Court was held in Rochdale.
This sitting took place in the Town Hall with the mayor Mr. W.T. Shawcross presiding.

Did the earth move for you?

In 1869 and earthquake was felt throughout the town. Gas was extinguished and articles of furniture etc were shaken. This report is courtesy of the Annals of Rochdale.

First Attempts !

Dr. W.J. Hodgeon, M.D. was today in 1874 appointed vaccination surgeon.

76 Trombones............

Tatham's Fife and Drum Band held their first parade today in 1866.
Tatham's was a very important  Rochdale engineering company and at it's height employed 1,000 people.

Still Problems Today !

Messrs. Kelsall and Bartlemore presented those of their employees who suffered in the bank failure with 7s. 6d. in the £ on their deposits.
This was on the 12th March 1852.

Rural Craft

The first annual hedging competition was held today in 1929. It was promoted by the Rochdale and District Junior Farmers' Discussion Class.
It was held at Yew Tree Farm, Buersil.

Edward Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark

On the 10th March 1863 the Prince and Princess of Wales' marriage was observed.
Rochdale along with the rest of the country was granted a holiday.
There was a huge procession and a fountain played in the river, the town was illuminated at night.

Local Benefactor

Today in 1887 Mr. Thomas Watson, M.P. of Horse Carrs was interred.

To learn more about this very important man and his generous gift please click on this link below :
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/health/hospitals/rochdale-infirmary

In Praise of Women: International Women's Day

From entertainers Gracie Fields to indomitable women such as Ailse O Fussers and wisewomen like Nell Racker today we celebrate International Women's Day by highlighting the unique contribution of women on the history of the Borough. In our Local History Online pages of the Link4Life website we have included information on Women At Work, Women of the Borough. At London 2012 our Olympic medal winners were the following the sporting heritage of Sybil Fenton 'Queenie' Newall who was born at Hare Hill, Littleborough on 17th October 1854.She was the eldest daughter of the ten children of Henry Newall and his wife Maria Fenton. Her maternal grandfather, John Fenton was elected Liberal member of parliament for Rochdale in 1832 and was a friend of John Bright and Richard Cobden. Queenie Newall never married and moved to Cheltenham to live with her sister Margaret in 1905. In this year they joined the Cheltenham Archers Club and soon Queenie began to make a name for herself. In 1907 she won four of the five regional archery meetings thus qualifying for the 1908 Olympic Games, which took place in London.The archery contest was held in the White City Stadium on the 20th and 21st July with dreadful weather conditions on the first day. On the second day the weather improved and Queenie soon took the lead winning the gold medal by a clear 43 points. At the age of 53 years 275 days  Queenie was the oldest woman to have won an Olympic medal. This record still stands today. Queenie continued competing after the First World War, her last recorded score being with the Cheltenham Archers in September 1928. She died at her home in Cheltenham on the 24th June 1929.

Spread The Word !

A valuable gift of books was today given to the Free Library in 1884 by the British Museum Trustees.

Rochdale Blue Plaques

This week will see the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to commemorate Butterworth the Jewelleres.

Since 1903, the property has been occupied by Butterworth Jewellers, which is the longest established family-run business within the town centre. Here is a picture of the bottom of Drake Street taken in the 1930s.

How Big ?

A thousand trout were today put in Spring Mill Reservoir by the local Angling Society.
This was in 1914.

Today It Would Be Brian Cox !

On the evening of the 6th March 1911 the guest lecturer at the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society meeting was Professor Rutherford.
Ernest Rutherford became known as the father of nuclear physics and won the nobel prize for chemistry in 1908.
He is widely credited with first 'splitting the atom' in 1917.
After his death in 1937 he was honoured by being interred with the greatest scientists of the United Kingdom, near Sir Isaac Newton's tomb in Westminster Abbey.
The title of this lecture in Rochdale was : 'Transformations of radio-active matter'.
For those living locally, this work can be read in the Local Studies Library at Touchstones Rochdale.

A Mystery

Today in 1907 some bones were found at Clegg Hall.

Still Thriving !

Derby Street Board School opened today in 1882 at a cost of £5,000.
The school has had a name change to Deeplish School along with two new bulidings over the years.

Stars and stripes in Rochdale

John Philip Sousa and his band came to Rochdale today in 1905. Sousa is most fmaous for his marches: Washington Post and Stars and Stripes forever.

On this day......

In 1899 the Newhey Brick and Terra Cotta works opened on Huddersfield Road.

Cheap train travel

On this day in 1865 the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company introduced cheap train service to Manchester a single third class fare was 8d, return 1s.