Thursday 31 January 2013

Important New Building

The Free Trade Hall, Manchester, opened today in 1843.
John Bright was one of the speakers.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Get Well Soon !

Today in 1859 there was a demonstration in the Public Hall to commemorate John Bright's restoration to health.
There were 1,100 persons present.

Friday 25 January 2013

New Name

Castleton-by-Rochdale re-named ' Castleton, Lancashire' at a public meeting today.
January 25th 1895.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Monday 21 January 2013

110 Years Later !

Rochdale Observer 6th June 1903

THE RIVER TO BE COVERED
There is much talking about the proposal to cover the Roach between The Butts and South Parade.
There was general agreement that additional space is needed to facilitate the tramway traffic and when the vote was taken the whole scheme was sanctioned by a large majority.

Sunday 20 January 2013

Victim Of The Industrial Revolution

Still on the topic of our river, W. Robertson's, 'History Of Rochdale Past And Present' has a chapter about the River Roach :
.........the minnow, the loach and the eel were caught as late as the year 1835,and no doubt the eel much later; but the nauseous matter now poured into the river from the manufactories and sewers has made it a nuisance.

Saturday 19 January 2013

Things To Come ?

With the recent discussion about opening up the River Roach, here is an extract from W. Robertson's book, 'Rochdale And The History Of It's Progress' :

There was a lake on the site of the Lord of the Manor's kitchen garden (war memorial area).
Here water hens and other aquatic birds swam about with their families of helpless little ones.
Trout frisked about its limpid water and leaped into the air after some gaudy fly....................

Thursday 17 January 2013

Education for a lucky few

Today in 1740, Taylor's Charity, for teaching twenty poor children was founded.

Wednesday 16 January 2013

All Change !

The annual exchange of pulpits among the nonconformists was first observed today in 1881.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Full House !

Sir Charles Halle and his famous orchestra gave a concert in the Town Hall today in 1881.

Saturday 12 January 2013

Museum Closed Today

A stormy town meeting was held today in 1857 to consider the propriety of opening museums etc. on Sundays.
The resolution lost by a small majority.

Friday 11 January 2013

The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd !

An Amateur Dramatic Society began in 1856 to hold meetings in a room opposite St. James' Church.

January 11th 1856

Wednesday 9 January 2013

The Great Storm Of '39 !

January 9th  1839 saw a great wind storm hit Rochdale with much damage to property in the neighbourhood.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Snow And More Snow !

The Great Snowstorm began today in 1827.
Most roads in Rochdale became impassable.

Monday 7 January 2013

A New Newspaper

The Manchester Examiner and Times was first published today in 1846.
John Bright was one of the promoters for this new publication.

Sunday 6 January 2013

Concert for our troops

500 wounded soldiers were entertained today in 1917 at the Town Hall.

Click on this link below to learn more about Rochdale during WW1 and to see some interesting photographs.
http://artsandheritage.link4life.org/index.php/discover/local-history-online/wartime/world-war-1

Saturday 5 January 2013

Thursday 3 January 2013

Snug and Cosy !

January 3rd 1837, an entry from the Spotland Workhouse Diary :

'.........with the assistance of some new Blankets we have got through the storme
without any complaints of the Inmates being Starved in Bedd.'

Wednesday 2 January 2013

No Snow !

According to the Rochdale Observer for the beginning of January 1877, the season was very mild.
' As showing the mildness of the season, daisies and dandelions were gathered at Greave.'

Tuesday 1 January 2013