Blue plaque commemorates Tim Bobbin

Milnrow Councillor Keith Swift unveils the plaque commemorating Tim Bobbin

When the Tim Bobbin public house in Milnrow changed its name to 'The Bobbin' and its pub sign from a portrait of Tim Bobbin to a picture of a bobbin, Milnrow Councillor Keith Swift thought it would be a good idea if Tim Bobbin's name could be kept alive in Milnrow with a blue plaque in an appropriate place. 

Milnrow Literary and Scientific Society agreed with his sentiments and designed a suitable plaque.  

Leander Architectural were commissioned to make the plaque, as they had done several for sites in Littleborough.  

The plaque has been funded by Milnrow Literary and Scientific Society and Rochdale MBC Pennines Township and has been erected on Milnrow bridge, near to the site of the school house associated with Tim Bobbin. 

Bryan Tenny, Secretary, Milnrow Literary and Scientific Society said: "It is important that the districts of Rochdale keep their identities and not just become anonymous commuting suburbs.   This blue plaque commemorating one of Milnrow's famous inhabitants will help to do that by maintaining a link with the past."

The wording on the plaque is:
 
Near to this spot was 'Tim Bobbin's School'.

John Collier
(1708 - 1786)

Born in Urmston, was an apprentice dutch loom weaver who became a teacher.
He lived in Milnrow most of his adult life and in 1742 became master of the
school.

Under the pen name of "Tim Bobbin", he was an accomplished artist famous for
his caricatures, satirical writing and Lancashire dialect.

The school was demolished in the 1950's to enable this bridge and road to be
widened.