Rochdale Borough’s Local Studies Centre re-opens in new location

The Local Studies Centre, which has had to move from Touchstones Rochdale due to a major refurbishment of the building, officially opened its doors in early October at its new, temporary location of Sparth Community Centre.

This relocation comes following the securement of Arts Council England’s NPO funding for Touchstones Rochdale earlier this year, totalling £325,000 to help build on Rochdale’s cultural scene and community initiatives.

The Local Studies and Archives collection is well-loved by those in the borough, housing a large selection of materials relating to the Rochdale area, including Castleton, Littleborough, Milnrow, Wardle and Norden.

The main services and items provided in the centre are cemetery records and wills; electoral registers and historical burgess rolls; news, photographs, maps and plans; books, pamphlets and articles. The collection dates back over the centuries, with one of the earliest items, a land grant in Todmorden, from 1318.

The centre also has limited computer availability, with internet and printing services - this includes free access to FindMyPast and Ancestry.

Alongside the announcement of the Local Studies Centre’s new location, Touchstones has recently launched a brand-new podcast series, The Touchstones Tapes, in partnership with Audio Always.

The project comes as part of the Manchester Amplified scheme, established to mark Audio Always’ 10th anniversary, and designed to celebrate the rich artistic and cultural sphere in Greater Manchester.

Throughout the twelve episodes, The Touchstones Tapes will introduce some of the leading UK artists and creators who use their work to raise awareness and make a positive change in a public space.

From spoken word artist and writer Riz Ali talking about gender, inclusivity, and cultural stereotypes, to David Allan, the CEO of Skylight Circus, explaining the importance of cultural education for young people, the podcast provides an open platform to discuss the connection between art and ongoing social issues.

The second episode, which landed on Spotify and YouTube on Friday 6 October, focuses on the Local Studies service, and how the immense breadth of the archives can uncover untold tales of people in Rochdale’s past.

 

 

The guests on this episode include Local Studies supervisor, Janet Byrne, and Local Studies assistant, Shakra Butt, as they explore and discuss the work they do within the community, creating a sense of place and connection, and reveal the hidden treasures located in the Local Studies Centre.

Further episodes will be released on the first Friday of every month.

Mark Doyle, director of arts, culture and wellbeing at Touchstones said: “While the space of Touchstones Rochdale has temporarily closed its doors to the public, it’s important for us to keep in touch with our visitors and offer them alternative ways to interact with Rochdale's art and cultural heritage.

“Here at Touchstones, we appreciate the value of art and culture and the positive impact it has on people’s wellbeing. Through the new podcast, we will reveal some fascinating stories behind the creative projects in Rochdale and introduce them in a bigger frame of today’s modern world.

“We’re proud to be part of such a brilliant initiative, and we hope our stories will inspire even more creatives to come forward and help us build a warm, welcoming environment for our communities.”

The Touchstone Tapes podcast can be streamed via Spotify or via YouTube, with further information available on the podcast and Your Trust available via the website www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk.

More details on the Local Studies Centre can also be found here: www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/venues/local-studies-centre/