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Rochdale is a large town on the River Roch in Greater Manchester , England .1 With a total population of 95,796, Rochdale is the largest and most populous settlement within the Metropolitan Borough Of Rochdale . Historically part of Lancashire , Rochdale rose to prominence in the 19th century as a major centre of Textile Manufacture . It was a Boomtown of the Industrial Revolution and amongst the first Industrialised towns. Rochdale is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the is a set of ideals for Cooperatives . HISTORY Toponymy Rochdale is named for its position on the River Roch at the edge of the Pennines . The Domesday Book records the name as ''Recedham'', formed from Old English ''reced'' "hall", and ''ham'' "homestead". The name of the river is a Back-formation from this Old English name. With time, the town's name changed to ''Rachedale'' and eventually ''Rochdale''. Mills, A.D.: ''A Dictionary of English Place Names'', 2nd Edition, page 289, s.n. Rochdale. Oxford University Press, 1998 The name of the river (Roch) is Pronounced (long ''o''). The name of the town is pronounced . Industrial Revolution and cotton Rochdale was among the world's most productive Cotton Spinning towns. Co-operative Movement See Also: History of the cooperative movement Rochdale is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement ; a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled system of enterprise. In 1843, a few poor weavers joined to form the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society. They became known as '''The Rochdale Pioneers''' and set out in 1844 the '''Rochdale Principles''', which have been very influential throughout the cooperative movement. At the site of the Rochdale Pioneers (in Toad Lane), there is now a museum. In Toronto , Canada , an experiment (now closed) in co-operative housing and alternative education was named Rochdale College as a tribute to the town's historic importance to the Co-operative Movement. The Co-operative Movement includes also the national Co-operative supermarket chain, which began on the previous site of Rochdale's shopping centre. A sculpture of three brass sheep represents the textile manufacturing tradition and the beginning of the Co-op . GOVERNANCE Civic history For many years, Rochdale was the centre of a large ancient parish, also named Rochdale . Rochdale previously formed the County Borough Of Rochdale local government district, which was exempt from the Administrative County of Lancashire . GEOGRAPHY Divisions and suburbs Divisions and suburbs of Rochdale include Ashworth, Balderstone, Bamford, Belfield, Birch, Buckley , Buersil, Caldershaw, Cronkeyshaw, Cutgate, Deeplish, Falinge, Fieldhouse, Firgrove, Foxholes, Halfacre, Hamer, Healey, Hurstead, Heywood, Kingsway, Kirkholt, Littleborough, Lowerfold, Lowerplace, Marland, Meanwood, Newbold, Norden, Oakenrod, Oulder Hill, Passmonds, Prickshaw, Queensway, Rooley Moor, Shawclough , Smallbridge, Smithy Bridge, Sparth Bottom, Spotland , Sudden, Syke, Thornham, Turf Hill, Wardle DEMOGRAPHY Rochdale has large white and Asian communities. Since the 2001 census the African, Chinese and Polish community has grown rapidly White 88.6% South Asian 9.8% Other 1.6% LANDMARKS Rochdale Town Hall Rochdale Town Hall, designed by W H Crossland , was completed in 1871. The original clock tower, which rose to 240ft, was destroyed by fire in 1883. The present shorter (and less flamboyant) tower was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1887. Victorian & Edwardian Town Halls; C Cunningham; Routeledge; London; 1981 The stained glass window on the south side is suggested to have been one of Hitler's high-priority items for acquisition , had he won the war. This is a myth, as any reasonable investigation into the technology available, and Hitler's known intentions, will show. The (covered) River Roch flows close to the under the town hall, which stands on a bridge, reputed to be the widest in Europe. The front of the town hall has Gargoyle s and gilded statues of lions which bear the traditional emblems of Rochdale, Lancashire and Yorkshire . These are said to be a commemoration of the peace, to which Rochdale contributed, between the two Historic Counties . War memorial This monument, bearing four flags, is opposite the town hall (to the north). It commemorates those who died in conflicts since the First World War (1914-1918). The monument and surrounding gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens . Rochdale Official Guide (3rd edition); Pyramid Press; London; 1952 Hartwell, C., (2004), ''Buildings of South Lancashire'', p.595. Other notable buildings In the town centre stands the bus station and Council offices, sometimes known as "The Black Box", which were built in the mid-1970s. Between Rochdale and neighbouring Littleborough stands Clegg Hall , a 17th century manor, currently under restoration. From a hill, the Parish Church of St Chad directly overlooks the Town Hall. Some parts of the church date from Norman times. The town stocks (no longer in use) are in the churchyard. CULTURE Arts and cultural organisations based in Rochdale include:
Transport Rail and Metrolink Demand for cross-Pennine trade (e.g. to support the local Cotton , Wool and Silk industries) led to the building of George Stephenson 's Summit Railway Tunnel and the Rochdale Canal (from Manchester to Yorkshire - re-opened in 2003 after years of neglect, including its division by a motorway). The Manchester And Leeds Railway opened a Station , but the line passed about a mile south of the town centre. The station remains open, but much reduced from its heyday. Trains run south (to Manchester Victoria ), east (to Halifax , Bradford and Leeds ) and to Manchester Victoria (via the Manchester To Rochdale Via Oldham Line , also known as the Oldham Loop). Rochdale is to be served by an extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram system, which would see the Oldham Loop converted from heavy rail to light rail. This extension was deferred in 2004 on grounds of cost. In July 2006, however, ministers approved plans for extension from Manchester Victoria as far as the planned Rochdale Rail Station stop just outside the station. Approval for extension into Rochdale town centre, extended down Drake Street and terminating opposite Rochdale bus station, as well as into Oldham town centre, is expected in 2007. Bus Rochdale Bus Station is located next to the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre under a multi-storey car park. There are plans to demolish the bus station and move it across the road, where it would eventually link up with the Metrolink to provide a transport interchange. There are frequent journeys running from Rochdale to Manchester on First Manchester 's 17 service, via Middleton, or on the 24, via Royton and Chadderton, to Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne on the 409, and to Bury and Bolton on the 471. There are also cross-county services into Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Rossendale Transport 's 464 service runs buses to Rawtenstall and Accrington. First Calderdale & Huddersfield run three services from Rochdale. The 528 runs to Halifax via Ripponden, the 589 runs to Burnley via Todmorden and the 590 runs to Halifax via Todmorden. Road The M62 Motorway passes to the south of the town. The motorway is accessed via the A627(M), which starts at Sandbrook Park in Rochdale and runs to Elk Mill in Royton, Oldham. The A627(M) provides drivers a quick access to the M62 and to Oldham. Sport Rochdale's professional football team ( Rochdale A.F.C. ) play home games at Spotland Stadium , which they share with Rochdale Hornets Rugby League team. There are two adult amateur football leagues: the Rochdale Online Alliance League (Saturdays) (http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/Sport/Football/Alliance/default.asp) and the '''Rochdale and District Sunday Football League''' (http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/Sport/Football/Sunday/default.asp). NOTABLE PEOPLE Amongst Rochdale's most notable historical residents are a number of musicians, including female singers Gracie Fields , Lisa Stansfield and Barb Jungr , and bands Autechre , Tractor , The Chameleons and The Mock Turtles . Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth also hails from Rochdale. Broadcasters John Peel , Mark Chapman , Liz and Andy Kershaw also have links with the town, Peel having lived there for a period of time and the latter three having been born there. Rochdale can also boast a number of actors and actresses; Don Estelle , Colin Baker , Anna Friel , Bill Oddie and the aforementioned Gracie Fields all were either born or bred in Rochdale. The bestselling poet John Siddique was brought up in Rochdale and has referenced the town in several poems. Rochdale also has a proud liberal political heritage, as shown by such people as John Bright , Paul Rowen MP, Samuel Bamford , Rev. Joseph Cooke and perhaps the town's most colourful export Cyril Smith . Other notable residents of Rochdale include Lizzy Bardsley , who gained fame on TV's Wife Swap , Nicholas Blincoe , a novelist, George Gordon Byron , Lord Byron of Rochdale, Monica Coghlan , a prostitute caught up in the Lord Archer scandal, Stefan Kiszko , a local man infamously convicted wrongly of sexual assault. TWINNING Rochdale is twinned with the towns of: REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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