Commercial

The employees of Martin's Mill (The Bagslate Spinning and Manufacturing Company) are today being entertained by the firm at a tea concert and dance in the Norden Liberal Club, in celebration of the fiftieth year of the Company's existence. 9th April 1910 Rochdale Times

Pepper Throwing

An inquest was held into the death of a six months old child , which occurred suddenly on Wednesday. The child's mother, Mrs Florence Clayton said her child was born healthy but her house was not very healthy and got little sun. On the evening of 17th March Mrs Clayton had words with her neighbour a Mrs Connolly and locked her door at about 10pm. Mrs Connolly kicked at the door which was then opened. Mrs Clayton had the child in her arms and as soon as the door was opened Mrs Connolly threw two handfuls of pepper at her, most of which went on the child's face and head. Shortly after, the child had a fit and her mother took the child to Dr Aveling's. Since that day the child suffered seventeen or eighteen fits. Dr Aveling said that when the child arrived it was suffering from badly inflamed eyesa and there had been no mention of the child having had a fit. In his opinion the cause of death had been due to bronchial pneumonia, and there was no connection between the death and the effects of the pepper. The coroner remarked it a very silly thing for Mrs Connolly to throw pepper about in this fashion. 9th April 1910 Rochdale Times

Shopkeeper's Complaint

From the minutes of the Cleaning Committee Mr Howarth complained of what he described as the slovenly way in which the streets were swept in the morning. Drivers would not use water and clouds of dust were raised which were a great annoyance to shopkeepers. He had mentioned the matter to the chairman of the committee, who told him he would take steps to remove the cause of complaint. 9th April 1910 Rochdale Times

Pop songs at coffee bar could mean death

Pop songs could well mean death for youngsters using the juke box at a Rochdale coffee bar. The machine is not earthed and if a short occurs, there could be a fatal shock for anyone touching the machine. Rochdale borough licensing magistates heard on Friday that the fault was discovered when Rochdale Fire Brigade's Assistant Divisional Officer visited the Shalimar Coffee Bar, 89, Oldham Road. The owner of the coffee bar was ordered to make the wiring safe and to sound proof the wall next to the juke box, then his licence would be renewed. Rochdale Observer 29th April 1970

Chicken in a basket

The following advert appeared in classified advertisements in the Rochdale Observer 4th April 1970 Egerton Arms Chapel House area winner of Daily Express pub of the North 1968 Tel Rochdale 42666 Famous For Chicken In The Basket Served every evening Free House - Large Car park

Jackie the Champ opens new Dunlop factory.

World Champion racing driver Jackie Stewart took on a new role in Rochdale this week. He pressed a button to start up a new £1 million plant at Dunlop textiles factory in Castleton. This marked the beginning of a new era in the development of the company's traditional business - tyre cord manufacture. The 30 year old champ received a great reception, Stewart has won eleven Grand Prix races on Dunlop tyres. The new plant is the most modern in Europe and puts the company in the forefront of it's competitors. After the opening ceremony Mr Stewart was taken on a conducted tour of the plant before flying back to his home in Switzerland. Rochdale Observer 11th April 1970

Vauxhall Ventura

Professional firm offers surplus Vauxhall Ventura, 1969 November, Monaco white/black, 6,500 miles, one owner, overdrive, new radiomobile. reversing lamps, Lucas fog and spot, Cost £1,300 Including 12 months' tax for £1,050 Tel 49815 During office hours Advert appeared in Rochdale Observer 1st April 1970

What's on at the cinema?

ODEON - All week - Dick Van Dyke, Lionel Jeffries and Sally Ann Howes in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (u) in Technicolor Weekdays 1.25, 4.35, 7.50 Advert in Rochdale Observer dated 1st April 1970

Tesco - Food prices

Advert appeared in Rochdale Observer dated 16th April 1986

250g Packet of butter - 46p
Penguin biscuits- six pack - 34p
Mars bars - 4 pack - 65p
Baguette - 29p

House prices

Taken from various adverts that appeared in the Rochdale Observer 12th April 1986;

Detached house- 4 bedrooms, L'Boro' £39,500
Detached house- 3 bedrooms, Rooley Moor Rd £30,950

Semi-detached house- 3 bedrooms, Buersil £29,950
Semi-detached house- 3 bedrooms, Kirkholt £14,250

Terraced- 2 bedrooms, L'Boro' £17,500
Terraced- 3 bedrooms, Hey St , Rochdale £11,500

Driver swallowed the evidence

A man ate his tax disc after being stopped by the police regarding motoring offences. He was charged with failing to provide a breath specimen, driving without a licence and using a car without a valid tax disc. After eating the tax disc the defendant said,'No tax disc, no evidence.'

Article taken from the Rochdale Observer dated 9th April 1986

Screen comedian in Rochdale

Stanley Lupino, the famous stage and screen comedian, paid a visit to Rochdale on Monday afternoon and attended the matinee performance at the Regal Cinema where the film 'Hold My Hand' in which he appears is being shown this week. There were not many people outside the cinema when he arrived, but the ovation he got when he appeared on stage after the completion of the film was an indication that his visit to Rochdale was much appreciated.

Taken from the Rochdale Observer dated 29th march 1939

Ashworth Valley

The following article appeared in the Rochdale Observer dated 25th March 1939 under the heading Public Notices.

ASHWORTH VALLEY

The management of the above wish to inform the public that the above grounds will be CLOSED
on GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER and until further notice.

H. LEACH
HURST FARM, ASHWORTH, ROCHDALE

Brotherod chimney felled

Brotherod chimney was felled at 8 o'clock last Saturday morning, Messrs Thomas Rawstron being the demolishers. There was something rather pathetic in watching this chimney being destroyed, especially to anyone who can see the actual beauty in the graceful lines of such structures. The method of felling adopted, was to undercut the brickwork on two sides and then with explosives to blow away a remaining pillar of brickwork. This was done and after the shot was fired the chimney seemed to pause as though not understanding it's doom; then slowly and gracefully it leaned over to it's last rest, falling exactly in the place expected. The chimney did not break up until it actually hit the ground.

Taken from the Rochdale Observer dated 22nd March 1939

Special train for the man left behind

A Rochdale businessman missed the early morning 5.44am train to Manchester on Monday morning. Baffled staff were puzzled as to how the man had managed to miss the train when he had been on the platform eight minutes before the train arrived. After appealing to the duty station inspector, stating that he had to catch a plane, a two coach diesel unit was commissioned to run the passenger non-stop to Victoria, where a taxi was waiting courtesy of British Railways, to take him to the airport bus station in St. Ann's Square.

Article taken from Rochdale Observer 30th March 1963

The Pen Shop

Advert that appeared in the Rochdale Observer 13th April 1963

A GUD PENN WOANT HELP YER SPELING

But it may improve the appearance of your writing.

W.T.WHATMOUGH
'The Pen Shop'
20, Drake Street, Rochdale
*Stockists of all the best pens*

Lancashire Dialect word of the day

Has-Bin - Has been ie, a thing of the past.

Rugby Union

A Prestige win over Huddersfield - Rochdale 16 Huddersfield 14

By defeating Huddersfield on Saturday, Rochdale enhanced their prestige in Yorkshire. Huddersfield are a senior side and the great feature of the game was the complete absence of rancour as Rochdale piled up a score which at one period reached sixteen points to six. There was not a single 'incident' in the match.

As reported in the Rochdale Observer 10th April 1957

Petrol ration books

Petrol Ration Books and Vehicle Licence Renewals

Next Monday (March 18th) the post office begins the second week of issuing the new basic ration books and motor licences. If your surname begins with E, F, G, H, I, J or K you are asked to apply next week. You are requested to apply in the early part of the week and try to avoid Saturdays.

Notice appeared in Rochdale Observer dated 16th March 1957

Shambles of Rochdale to Bacup Bus

Fight Among Teddy Boys Gang

A conductor had a finger brokenafter ordering two youths to leave a Rochdale to Bacup bus. A gang of Teddy Boys started a free for all fight after several youths persisted in ringing the bell. In the fight that followed the conductor was struck on the hand by a belt. Inspector A R Riley descibed the scene as a shambles. Two of the youths involved in the fracas were fined £5 each for disorderly behaviour and one of the said youths was sentenced to three months imprisonment for inflicting grevous bodily harm on the conductor.

Article taken from Rochdale Observer dated 16th March 1957