Rochdale turns other towns blue with envy

Blue Plaque Trail Map

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Seven new dashes of colour will be added to Rochdale town centre next month with the installation of a series of blue plaques.

The commemorative plates will be installed at locations around the town to mark places of cultural and historical significance, and celebrate Rochdale’s rich and diverse heritage.

Among the locations to receive a blue plaque is Touchstones Museum and Art Gallery. Located on The Esplanade, Touchstones is a Grade II listed building, and serves as a local studies centre, tourist information centre and café, in addition to being a museum and art gallery.

Another Grade II listed building receiving a blue plaque is the County Court, which was built in 1875. Before serving as the County Court of Rochdale from the 1930s to 1998, the building was originally designed as a Post Office to service the increasing demands of a growing town.

Two of the town’s walkways are also to receive a blue plaque; The Walk is a narrow cobblestone alley that has been a well-used route in the town centre for centuries, and was originally created by the Vavasour family to obtain easy access from their house (now Lloyds Bank) to the River Roch.

The name of the second walkway, Bull Brow, is believed to come from cattle being brought to the nearby slaughterhouses, and led to the River Roch, where bull-baiting was a regular attraction until 1820.

Two locations with religious connections are also receiving the honour. Champness Hall bears the name of Thomas Champness (1832-1905), a local Methodist minister and pioneer.

The Church Steps meanwhile, possibly date back to the twelfth century, and have been a key route linking the town centre to the Church of St Chad for hundreds of years.

Wet Rake Gardens mark the top of Drake Street, and replaced the Union Foundry, once owned by iron and brass founders John Halstead & Co.

Cllr Peter Williams, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for economic development and customer services, said: “The Blue Plaque Scheme is a fantastic way to promote and build awareness of the town’s heritage, and is a further positive step in the on-going redevelopment of Rochdale Town Centre.

“Given the rich history of the town, it is only right that we celebrate locations that have made the town great in the past as we look to the future with the host of new developments happening in the town”.