57-713: The Rossendale Valley is in the Rossendale area of Lancashire , England, between the West Pennine Moors and the main range of the Pennines . The area includes the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries (between Rawtenstall and Bacup ), which flow southwards into Greater Manchester . The rivers cut through the moorland of the Rossendale Hills, generally characterized by open unwooded land, despite
114-508: A community based radio station which broadcast its studios in Rawtenstall on 104.7 FM. The area is served by local newspaper, Lancashire Telegraph . Rossendale is the home to a large community of artists with several painters' studios, many of which are centred on the area around Waterfoot. Rossendale's only traditional theatre is in Bacup. The Royal Court Theatre first opened in 1893 and has
171-473: A cutting to the east of the village. Woollen manufacture was formerly the chief industry, and there was some silk weaving, but since the 1770s cotton manufacture superseded wool as the principal business, with associated minor trades—size works, slipper works, dye works, foundries, reed and heald manufactories, roperies, saw-mills and cornmills. Stone was also extensively quarried in the vicinity, as well as there being small collieries. Cotton became focused on
228-507: A design competition managed by RIBA Competitions which was launched in 2003. It is lit after dark using low-energy LEDs powered by an adjacent wind turbine . It is the fourth Panopticon in Lancashire . It, and the adjacent landscaped area at Top o'Slate, was opened to the public in September 2007, and was designed by John Kennedy of LandLab and engineered by Booth King Partnership. Rossendale
285-527: A hardware supplier. Also located in Waterfoot is Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School , one of the few state funded selective entry schools left in England. Founded in 1701 as Newchurch Grammar School and only moved to the present site and took its current name in 1912. The village is served by two primary schools, Waterfoot Primary and St Anne's C of E Primary, both of which have rising pupil numbers in 2007. On
342-423: A local businessman who was five times mayor of Rawtenstall. In 1914, a clock was added to the front of the arcade in his memory. Hidden inside are eight other shop spaces and a decorative central iron and glass feature that have been closed to the public for 50 years. Yet on its opening 15,000 people turned up for the ceremony. Waterfoot has a number of independent, specialist shops including Fletcher's Hardware ,
399-493: A major employer in the area. The area became one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution , and was known as 'The Golden Valley'. There was great hardship among working people during this time, but many fortunes were made among the mill-owning classes. There was large-scale immigration from Ireland to find work building the railways and in the mills, which led to several instances of serious civil disturbances between
456-423: A new church was established on the hillside at Seatnaze around 1511, presumably considered a convenient location for the population at that time. In 1789 an act authorised the construction of new Turnpike trust roads through the district, connecting Bury and Haslingden with Blackburn and Whalley , with a junction at Haslingden to Todmorden via Oakenheadwood, Newchurch , Stacksteads and Bacup . In 1826
513-509: A route between Bacup and Crawshawbooth via Rawtenstall. In 1908 the route was taken over by Rawtenstall Corporation Tramways . The Forest contains two Marilyns ; Hail Storm Hill and Freeholds Top, as well as the summit of Great Hameldon . Geographically, it is sandwiched between the West Pennine Moors to the west and the South Pennines to the east. The Irwell Valley in Rossendale
570-691: A small rugby union club playing in the lower leagues, but in recent years the club has gained two promotions to take them into Regional 1 North West . Notable players such as Daniel Collins, Dave Wood and Tim Fourie now play at the valley side. The area's only semi-pro non league football team are Bacup Borough F.C. who play their home games at West View and are members of the North West Counties League Division One. The area's other major non league side Rossendale United , who played their home games at nearby Newchurch near Rawtenstall , folded in 2011. The only other semi-pro team from
627-451: A thriving Youth Theatre called The Rossendale Musical Theatre Academy. The theatre and arts centre known as 'The Boo' as well as being a regular venue for family theatre shows, music and a wide range of community arts events, is the home of the Horse and Bamboo Theatre Company who specialise in visual theatre, often using distinctive puppets and masks . The painters and other artists who make up
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#1732845277132684-538: Is Accrington and Rossendale College , based in Accrington . In terms of television, the area is served by BBC North West and ITV Granada . Television signals are received from the Winter Hill TV transmitter. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Lancashire on 95.5 FM, Heart North West on 105.4 FM, Capital Manchester and Lancashire on 107.0 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire on 96.5 FM, and Rossendale Radio ,
741-598: Is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire , England. Its council is based in Bacup and its largest town is Rawtenstall . It also includes the towns of Haslingden and Whitworth . The borough is named after the Rossendale Valley , the upper part of the River Irwell . The neighbouring districts are Burnley , Hyndburn , Blackburn with Darwen , Bury , Bolton and Calderdale . The name Rossendale
798-446: Is also home to touring theatre company Hard Graft. Established in 1999 Hard Graft found notoriety in the UK touring non theatre venues. Their first tour was with their award-winning comedy Thick As Thieves , touring living rooms throughout the UK. They then toured 56 charity shops with Burt n Joyce turning each shop into a theatre for the evening. Three Rossendale towns have cricket clubs in
855-494: Is based at The Business Centre on Futures Park in Bacup. It was built as commercial offices called the Kingfisher Business Centre in 2003. The council took some office space in the building before creating a council chamber there in 2009 and consolidating its functions at the site. Prior to 2009 the council was based at Rawtenstall Town Hall at the corner of Bacup Road and Lord Street. It had been built in 1876 as
912-423: Is characterised by the steep sided valley of the River Irwell and its tributaries which dissect the moorland of the Rossendale Hills. In the valley bottom, urban settlements grew up at river crossing points between Rawtenstall and Bacup and today form a contiguous urban and industrial development. Textile mills and chimneys and gritstone terraced houses are the dominant buildings and roads are concentrated in
969-542: Is famous all over the world. RS Ireland's award-winning black puddings have also long been associated with Waterfoot, although they are now made in Haslingden . The centre of Waterfoot has a distinctive canopied walkway in decorative iron and glass that is in need of restoration, forming the frontage of Victoria or Trickett's Arcade , started in 1897 and completed in March, 1899. The arcade was built by Sir Henry Whittaker Trickett –
1026-517: Is first recorded in 1292. A record of the name as Rocendal (1242) suggests Celtic ros "moor, heath", with Old Norse dalr "dale, valley ", hence moor valley i.e. the valley of the River Irwell . Rossendale is part of the Forest of Rossendale , which consists of the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries, which flow from the Pennines southwards to Manchester and cut through
1083-501: Is home to a unique dancing troupe, the Britannia Coconut Dancers , formed in the mid-19th century, and who traditionally dance along the local roads every Easter. There has been a long tradition of dialect poetry and writing in Rossendale. Local poets have included Andrew Houston ( The Rossendale Bard ), Walter Hargreaves ( Shepster ) and Clifford Heyworth ( Bill o' Bows ). Waugh's Well, above Edenfield and Cowpe , marks
1140-558: Is still carried out, largely of sheep but also of cattle. The history of Rossendale is well documented, largely through the efforts of the historian Chris Aspin, a specialist on the textile industry, and Derek Pilkington, whose efforts led to the preservation of Higher Mill in Helmshore, now Helmshore Mills Textile Museum . The Whitworth Doctors were local surgeons and bone setters in the late 1700s and early 1800s whose reputation spread far and wide, so that they treated patients from throughout
1197-484: Is the base for Arthouse, a wallpaper design company. In 2000, the cartoonist Ray Lowry moved to Waterfoot from Rawtenstall . To the west, towards Rawtenstall, the Kunstlerhaus was the base for Liverpool artist, Don McKinlay, who was also a member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts . McKinlay undertook several sculpture commissions, including a Christ Child for Liverpool Cathedral and the memorial to Christopher Gray,
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#17328452771321254-510: The A681 road , and Whitewell Brook the River Irwell . Like the majority of the industrial communities in East Lancashire, Waterfoot expanded rapidly in the 19th century with the growth of industrialisation; it became a centre for felt-making, a process related to the predominant textile industry of the region. Before that, the main centre was Newchurch-in-Rossendale, that sits above Waterfoot to
1311-670: The Lancashire League – Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall. The overseas professionals who are associated with the League have therefore often lived in the Rossendale Valley. For example, Everton Weekes was long associated with Bacup; Clive Lloyd with Haslingden. Edenfield Cricket Club are also associated with the Lancashire League but only participate in the leagues T/20 competition. Rossendale rugby club for many years had been
1368-532: The West Lancashire Football League (Haslingden St Mary's), East Lancashire League (Stacksteads St Joseph's, Water FC), Lancashire Amateur League (Rossendale FC, Whitworth Valley, Valley United). The popular comedy series, The League of Gentlemen , is apparently based upon Rossendale (and perhaps Bacup in particular), playing upon stereotypes and exaggerations of the area. Subsequently, the producers filmed in various northern towns, one of which
1425-622: The "Exchange Club" and was subsequently acquired in 1890 by the Rawtenstall Local Board (predecessor of the Rawtenstall Borough Council) for use as its offices. The building was later extended into the offices of an adjoining tramway depot. The borough is linked by the motorway network to Manchester, Burnley and Blackburn via the A56 / M65 and M66 motorways. There was once a rail link south to Manchester via Bury, but this
1482-614: The BBC TV series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates during the 1990s. The 1980's BBC drama series Juliet Bravo was filmed in Rossendale with the exterior of Bacup police station serving as the fictional Hartley police station. During autumn 2008 areas around Rossendale were used in the filming of the BBC TV series Survivors including the Airtours site and other sites in Helmshore and Bank Street in Rawtenstall . In 2012 Rossendale featured on
1539-467: The Haslingden and Todmorden trust built another new road along the valley bottom, from Stacksteads through Thrutch, Rawtenstall and Newhall Hey. By 1848 a number of woollen and cotton mills had been established along the river. And by the late 19th century it was the valley bottom that had become the population centre. In 1889, the short-lived Rossendale Valley Tramways Company was established to operate
1596-524: The ITV reality television series May the Best House Win featuring former Rossendale Radio DJ Si Carvell. Local radio station Rossendale Radio broadcast throughout the valley from 2010, before shutting down on 5 March 2012 due to financial difficulties. It then re-launched on 22 December 2018. The Rossendale Male Voice Choir formed in the valley in 1924. In the 2001 census the population of Rossendale
1653-646: The Rossendale area are Ramsbottom United who play in the Northern Premier League Division One North . Previously there had been Haslingden F.C. , playing at Ewood Bridge, on the outskirts of Haslingden, until they folded in 1998. Their ground was later used briefly by Stand Athletic F.C. before they vacated and moved back to Whitefield in Greater Manchester. Other clubs around the Rossendale area are all from Step 7 (Level 11) and below, and so playing in various leagues at this level –
1710-834: The ancient designation of "forest". One of the earliest sites of historical interest in the valley is that of the dykes at Broadclough , which are associated with the Battle of Brunanburh . In late Middle Ages , the valley was part of the Royal Forest of Rossendale . The original medieval meaning of 'forest' was similar to a ‘preserve’, for example land that is legally kept for specific purposes such as royal hunting. So ‘forests’ were areas large enough to support species such as wolves and deer for game hunting and they encompassed other habitats such as heaths, open grassland and farmland, so not necessarily extensively wooded. Initial settlement would have been in "booths" or farmsteads and encroachment into
1767-503: The area is layers of gritstone , coal and glacial deposits of sand and gravel. These rocks were cut by fast flowing rivers, the Irwell and its tributaries, to form steep valleys with sides typically 200 metres (660 ft) high and a narrow valley floor. Tree cover on the steep slopes includes remnants of ancient woodland but most areas are more recently planted. Borough of Rossendale Rossendale ( / ˈ r ɒ z ən d eɪ l / )
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1824-446: The area that would become the modern borough of Rossendale was 24,136 in 1801; in 1901 it had grown to 89,540. Its wet and damp climate are ideally suited to the development of watermills, and later to the mechanisation of the wool and cotton spinning and weaving industries in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the middle of the 19th century a felt industry developed, and from this the manufacturing of slippers so that footwear also became
1881-510: The borough forms part of the Accrington/Rossendale built-up area which extends into the neighbouring borough of Hyndburn . The Accrington/Rossendale built-up area extends from the towns of Rawtenstall and Bacup to Accrington which takes in parts of the boroughs of Hyndburn and Rossendale. The urban area was recorded at having a population of 125,059. Whitworth is the only civil parish in Rossendale. The parish council has declared
1938-405: The chair of the council to take the title of mayor. Rossendale Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council . Whitworth is also a civil parish , which forms a third tier of local government in that part of the borough. The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside
1995-578: The country. In 1819 William Hewitt described them as "the most remarkable men of their class that ever appeared in England". R.S. Ireland (The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co.) is based near Haslingden; a family-run business of specialist black pudding makers, using only traditional methods and with a recipe dating back to 1879. Rawtenstall has Fitzpatricks Herbal Health, this is the last remaining functioning temperance bar in England, that makes and sells its own non-alcoholic drinks, such as sarsaparilla , black beers and blood tonic. The modern district
2052-511: The current route of the East Lancashire Heritage Railway. The area is well served by public road transport, with bus services provided mainly by Rosso and Burnley Bus Company . These provide regular services to Burnley , Blackburn , Accrington , Bolton , Bury , Manchester and Rochdale as well as Todmorden and other local destinations. Rossendale contains multiple secondary schools, these are: In addition, there
2109-441: The end of World War II he could not buy bicycle bags for the shop, although cotton cloth was still available. His wife and her sister began to make up bags for him. This business expanded rapidly and eventually became Karrimor , an international brand no longer associated with Waterfoot. Chadwicks Original Bury Black Pudding Company, one of the county's original black pudding companies, manufactures its puddings in Waterfoot and
2166-509: The forest would have developed them into small hamlets. Rossendale was governed by a constable nominated by principal landowners who held the position of "The Greave of The Forrest" which after 1515 became a quasi-hereditary position held by the Whitacker family at the only ancient hall in the district: Broadclough Hall. In 1507 the land in the Forest of Rossendale was demised to copyhold farmers and
2223-427: The industrial manufacture of felt , which then developed into a footwear , specifically slipper , industry. Nowadays the remnants of this industry imports most of the footwear and act as distribution centres, which still line the roads approaching the village centre. Charles Parsons set up a bicycle shop in Waterfoot, Lancashire, in 1931 but eight years later he had an accident that eventually led to his blindness. At
2280-442: The last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 30 councillors representing 10 wards , with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four year term of office. Lancashire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections. The council
2337-644: The major studios within the valley – Globe Arts, Prospect Studio, Valley Artists – along with the Boo, the Whitaker, Apna Rossendale, and individual artists now work together to open their studios and premises each year at the Rossendale Art Trail Open Studios weekend in late summer. The first part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail runs from Deerplay, above Bacup, to Stubbins. The actress Jane Horrocks
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2394-523: The moorland above the village is a memorial to the dialect poet, Edwin Waugh , known as Waugh's Well . Since 1993 fell runners from the surrounding communities have gathered annually to run a four-mile circuit of the hills above the village, passing the well. For horseriders, The Pennine Bridleway passes through Waterfoot on the Mary Towneley Loop giving access to the unspoilt hill scenery overlooking
2451-431: The moorland which is characteristic of the area. It was given the designation of "forest" in medieval times denoting a hunting reserve. The larger settlements grew into market towns, typically through the late Middle Ages . Farming and a cottage woollen industry developed during the reign of Henry VIII , but Rossendale's population only really expanded during the period of the Industrial Revolution . The population of
2508-574: The narrow valley. The river has its source on Deerplay Moor in Cliviger near Burnley , heading south to Bacup, where it turns to the west past Stacksteads . The valley narrows at Thrutch, and the Irwell collects Whitewell Brook shortly afterwards at Waterfoot . It flows onward to Rawtenstall where it is met by Limy Water and then turns back to the south. Collecting the River Ogden at Irwell Vale it continues into Greater Manchester . The geology of
2565-456: The north. The township of Newchurch stretched from Bacup to Rawtenstall, and in 1511 it was recorded as having a population of 1,000 people, served by the monks of Whalley Abbey . Waterfoot was on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line between Bury and Bacup. This was dismantled in 1972 and the route is now hard to trace, although the tunnels can be seen in Thrutch Gorge or The Glen,
2622-415: The outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Rossendale. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 2004 have been: Following the 2024 election the composition of the council was: The next election is due in 2026. Since
2679-505: The parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council". The rest of the borough is an unparished area . For notable past residents see individual towns and villages Rossendale Borough Council is twinned with: Waterfoot, Lancashire Waterfoot is a historic mill town and civil parish in the Borough of Rossendale between Rawtenstall and Bacup in Lancashire , England . The B6238 road from Burnley meets
2736-462: The spot where Edwin Waugh wrote many of his poems, and is a favourite spot for walkers – a popular activity in Rossendale that does not appear to be in decline. The Halo is an artwork in the form of an 18m-diameter steel lattice structure supported on a tripod overlooking Haslingden, positioned to be clearly visible from the M66 and A56 approach to Lancashire. Designed by John Kennedy and selected as part of
2793-587: The two communities. Michael Davitt , the Irish republican leader was among these immigrants, settling in Haslingden, where he received his education after losing an arm at the age of 11 in a mill accident. The area is also notable for its quarrying, and Rossendale Flagstone was used widely throughout the country in the 19th century. The flagstones in Trafalgar Square in London were quarried in Rossendale. Upland farming
2850-536: The vicar of St Margaret's Church in Anfield , Liverpool, who was murdered in 1996. His wife and fellow Manchester Academician Janina Cebertowicz, is a painter and artist recording performances at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in addition to landscape and still life. North, on Burnley Road, Liam Spencer is among a group of notable painters, sculptors, and print-makers at Prospect Studios, and further along are
2907-589: The village, and it is also on the Irwell Sculpture Trail . Waterfoot is the home of the international touring theatre, Horse and Bamboo Theatre , a company that uses distinctive masks and puppetry . Their base is known as 'The Boo' and puts on a regular programme of theatre and other arts events. It is housed in an elegant former Liberal Club built in 1895. Another long-standing theatre group, The Rossendale Players, have their base at The New Millennium Theatre in Waterfoot, and have been giving performances for over 70 years. The area also has several artist's studios and
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#17328452771322964-416: Was 65,652, spread between the towns of Bacup , Haslingden , Whitworth and Rawtenstall ; the villages of Crawshawbooth , Edenfield , Helmshore and Waterfoot ; and as well as Britannia , Broadclough , Chatterton , Cloughfold , Cowpe , Irwell Vale , Loveclough , Newchurch , Shawforth , Stacksteads , Stubbins , Turn and Weir . The population at the 2011 Census had risen to 67,922. Much of
3021-409: Was Bacup itself, which Jeremy Dyson (writer) and Steve Pemberton (actor) proclaimed, "Bacup was the furthest we went into Lancashire. Bacup was our hot favourite, but it was too frightening – when we arrived there was this cartoon drunk with a bottle shaking his fist at us. Bacup in real life was worse than Royston Vasey ". Various towns within the Rossendale Valley were used for filming scenes of
3078-650: Was born in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, and the composer Alan Rawsthorne was born in Haslingden. Betty Jackson , the fashion designer, is a native of Bacup. In the 18th and 19th centuries the Larks of Dean were an unusual group of working class musicians whose music-making at the Baptist Chapel in Goodshaw Fold became an important local feature. There is also a brass band tradition as well as an amateur theatre scene. There
3135-563: Was closed in 1966 as part of cuts following the Beeching Report . Part of the old railway reopened in 1991 as the East Lancashire Railway operating a service from Rawtenstall to Bury via Ramsbottom and Summerseat , and manned by volunteers. In September 2003 an eastbound extension from Bury to Heywood was opened. In March 2015, it was proposed to reintroduce a rail service between Rawtenstall, Bury and Manchester. This would use
3192-480: Was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were abolished at the same time: The new district was named Rossendale, referring both to the Rossendale Valley and to the associated medieval Forest of Rossendale which had covered a similar area. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing
3249-553: Was once over 40 bands in and around Rossendale, including the Irwell Springs Band whose fame was at a peak at the turn of the 19th century. There are currently the Haslingden and Helmshore Band, Rossendale Encore Concert Band, Goodshaw Band, Stacksteads Band, Water Band, 2nd Rossendale Scout Group Band, Whitworth Vale & Healey Band, Whitworth Youth Band, Haslingden Concert Band and the Whitworth Veterans' Band. Rossendale
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