Nestled in the foothills of the South Pennines, Rochdale lies on the outskirts of Manchester. It flourished as a centre for the wool trade and developed into a major textile manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution. In 1844, the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers established a set of principles that were the basis of the modern cooperative movement.
Things to do in Rochdale
Don’t miss the Rochdale Town Hall, a Victorian-era building that was designed by William Henry Crossland in a Gothic Revival style. Its original clock tower was destroyed by a fire in 1883 and was replaced with a 58-metre-high spire designed by Alfred Waterhouse. The Rochdale Town Hall is renowned for its stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the town’s industrial and trade history.
On the southern edge of the town centre is the Fireground, a restored 1930s fire station that traces the history of firefighting in Manchester. In addition to more than 20 fire engines, it exhibits vintage uniforms, equipment and medals. Highlights of the collection include a 1741 Newsham hand-drawn manual fire pump and an 1882 Shand Mason horse-drawn steamer.
A short drive north of Rochdale is the Healey Dell Nature Reserve, which encompasses whimsical woodlands on the banks of the River Spodden. A disused 19th-century railway line has been transformed into a scenic nature trail and offers spectacular views from its 30-metre-high viaduct. Waterfalls that once powered wool and cotton mills dot the reserve.
Getting around Rochdale
Rochdale is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Manchester and Manchester Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Rochdale railway station while both buses and trams travel throughout the town. The centre of Rochdale can easily be explored on foot.