Cricket Season

During this month in 1856 Rochdale and Wellfield Cricket Clubs amalgamated.
Their joint membership was 166.

Long Live The King

William IV was proclaimed King today in 1830, there was great rejoicing in the town.

Cruel Times

The last public cock fight was held today in 1828.
The venue was at Bagslate and the stake was 10 guineas a battle.

No Law And Order On Sunday

Manchester Courier 26th June 1839

The Town Commissioners in Rochdale met on Wednesday and agreed that the services of the Sunday Beadles should be discontinued.

Harsh Punishment

In June 1830 Ben Bull, a local character was transported for horse stealing.

Anyone For Tennis ?

Wimbledon Tennis Championships starts today.
Click on the link below to see a local tennis photograph from 1900 along with some interesting local tennis history :
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/sport/tennis

Contravening The Factory Act

News Item in the Manchester Guardian with the headline : Factory Act.
Masters fined for employing boys and girls of varying ages from 11 to 15, all under the age of 18 years, for more than 12 hours and more than 69 hours in the week preceding. The firm was fined 20 shillings plus costs.
June 23rd 1835.

Quarantine on the Common

June 22nd 1847, from the Manchester Guardian.

Fever Wards have lately been erected on a large space of waste ground on Cronkeyshaw a short distance from the town of Rochdale.
This was probably Typhus as there was an English epidemic during 1847 and 1848.

Local History Book

Rochdale and the Vale of Whitworth by William Robertson was published today in 1897.

Please click on the link below to read an extract from this book :
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/trade-industry-and-transport/transport-a-travel/packhorse-tracks-turnpikes-and-tall-houses

Historic Local Firm

The Centenary celebrations were held today in 1898 at the firm of Messrs. O. and W. Ormerod, Leather Curriers.

End Of A Newspaper

The Rochdale Spectator stopped publication this month in 1868.
It was edited by Oliver Ormerod who was noted for his radical politics and for being a champion of Lancashire Dialect. He wrote both prose and poetry.

Caterpillar Chaos !

On this day in 1881 an extraordinary plague of caterpillars began to infest the neighbourhood of King's Road.
For well over a week the gardens and fields in that area were blighted by millions of the insects.

Aiming For A Safe Canal

A huge procession took place today in 1898 to fund a lifeboat.
The net proceeds were £353 and the lifeboat was launched in the canal basin.

Very Important Group

It was noted today in 1873 that local members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers numbered 437.

Somewhere To Sleep Please !

Today in 1896 our town held a meeting to consider the need for a Municipal Lodging House.
The proposal was approved for the third time.

Silver Tribute

John Bright's 25th Anniversary as M.P. for Birmingham was celebrated today and for the following week in1883. Mr. Bright was presented with a portrait and a silver service which cost 600 guineas.

From an Observer article 13th of June 1883.

Shake My Hand !

In 1878 during June it was reported that four Masonic Lodges existed in the town of Rochdale with 158 members.

Liquid Refreshment

A drinking fountain was presented by Mr. Garner of Huddersfield to be used in Rochdale Cemetery.
June 9th 1870.

Sacrilege in Norden

The altar at St. Paul's Church, Norden was on this day in 1869 stripped of it's cross and ornaments during the night.

The Rochdale Police Force

The full strength of the Police Force in 1898 was 81 men.
From a report dated 6th of June 1898.

Generous Benefactor

Today in 1883 Mr. Thomas Watson, J.P. announced that he would be giving £100 per annum for ten years to found Scholarships in Board Schools.

To learn more about this local philanthropist please click on the link below :
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/trade-industry-and-transport/rochdale-electric-co

Runaway Tram

Through the failure of a part of the driving gear, a tramcar proceeding up Drake Street, got beyond control and running backwards down the street came into violent collision with another car standing at the bottom.
Fortunately the occupants escaped injury, beyond a severe shaking. The cars were much damaged.
From the Rochdale Household Almanack, June 4th 1907.

Room For Expansion

Wardleworth Station Goods Warehouse opened today in 1886.

Black Gold Struck !

A seam of coal 4ft. in thickness was struck at Belfield Colliery today in 1874. It was at a distance of 130 yards below the surface.

Best In Show !

Hollingworth Lake Poultry and Dog Show was held for the first time today in 1873.