Rochdale

Rochdale, parliamentary borough (one member) and market-town of Lancashire, ten miles N.E. of Manchester, on the Roch, crossed by a bridge of five arches, the Rochdale Canal, the Calder and Hebble Navigation, and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways. The old town is irregular, but there are good modern streets. The parish church, on a height and approached by 122 steps, is Norman and Perpendicular of the 12th century, and has a square tower. There is a town hall, with grounds; a public hall, and a library. The Flemings brought the woollen manufacture here in Edward lll.'s time, and much baize, flannel, and blankets are manufactured, as well as calicoes. There are also cotton-mills, foundries, machine making, quarries, and collieries. Co- operative stores originated here.