86-752: The Space Monkeys are an English alternative band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1995. The band consisted of Richard McNevin-Duff, Tony Pipes, Dom Morrison and Chas Morrison. After working with the band for a number years, Neil Walsh (guitar and keyboards) later joined the band. The band were signed to Factory Records / Factory Too in the UK and Interscope Records in the US. They were often compared to baggy and acid house music. They split up in 2000. They released their album, The Daddy of Them All , on 4 November 1997. The single "Sugar Cane" from this album reached 58 on
172-647: A central business district in the town centre , which is the local centre of both the town and borough. There is a mixture of high-density urban areas , suburbs , semi-rural and rural locations in Rochdale, but overwhelmingly the land use in the town is urban. For purposes of the Office for National Statistics , the Borough of Rochdale forms the fifth largest settlement of the Greater Manchester Urban Area ,
258-528: A circular area extending three-quarters of a mile from the old market-place. Under the terms of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 , Rochdale became the head of Rochdale Poor Law Union which was established on 15 February 1837, despite considerable local opposition. In 1856 Rochdale was incorporated as a municipal borough , giving it borough status in the United Kingdom and after 1858 it obtained
344-422: A derivation from reced , an obscure Old English element meaning "hall". Although the name of the river is still pronounced / r oʊ tʃ / (with a long vowel sound), Rochdale is pronounced / ˈ r ɒ tʃ d eɪ l / (with a shorter o sound). A Roman road , leading from Mamucium ( Manchester ) to Eboracum ( York ), crossed the moors at Blackstone Edge . Rochdale was subjected to incursions by
430-458: A grant for a market and an annual fair. The market was held outside the parish church where there was an "Orator's Corner". John Byron bought the manor in 1638 and it was sold by the poet, Lord Byron , in 1823, to the Deardens, who hold the title. Rochdale had no manor house but the "Orchard" built in 1702 and acquired in 1745 by Simon Dearden was the home of the lords of the manor after 1823. It
516-590: A local-born influential architect of his day. Several in Middleton are landmarks and are notable. Middleton has recently benefited from redevelopments which have seen the construction of a new sports, leisure and civic centre, 'Middleton Arena'. A large new Tesco supermarket was opened in the town centre in 2013. In the early 1970s, The Arndale Property Trust cleared land adjacent to Middleton Gardens to build an 'American-style' modern shopping precinct. The Middleton Arndale Centre commenced trading in 1971, although it
602-542: A new album scheduled for release in 2018. Middleton, Greater Manchester Middleton is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale , Greater Manchester , England, on the River Irk . It is 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Rochdale and 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Manchester . Middleton had a population of 42,972 at the 2011 Census. It lies on the northern edge of Manchester , with Blackley to
688-464: A number of settlements northeast of Manchester suggested to have been founded as part of this colonisation. It is therefore thought that Middleton as a settlement dates from the 7th century. Although unmentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, Middleton is said to be "of great antiquity"; a community at Middleton is thought to have evolved outwards from a church that existed considerably earlier than
774-400: A registered office in Middleton. Kitbag operate a distribution centre from Greengate in Middleton. Bluebird Bus and Coach is a travel company based in Middleton. Bus company JP Travel has been based in Middleton since 1974. Robert McBride, a household and personal care product manufacturers, is also based in the town. Several of Middleton's buildings were designed by Edgar Wood ,
860-543: A result of the Industrial Revolution . Middleton became a centre for silk production in the 18th century, which developed into a cotton spinning industry by the mid-19th century and which continued through to the mid-20th century. This transition gave rise to Middleton as a mill town . The town's local newspaper, the Middleton Guardian has a history going back to Victorian times . copies can be found in
946-616: A teacher training college, the chapel, designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd , was the architectural prototype for the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral . The chapel still exists on the campus, known as the Milnrow building, but its spire is no longer topped with a cross. Hopwood Hall College benefits from its extensive grounds and leisure facilities which were developed over many years by the De La Salle College. "Moonraker"
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#17328770780041032-548: Is a nickname sometimes given to people from the town (and other places; see Moonrakers ). Middleton has been the birthplace and home to notable people, of national and international acclaim. Amongst the most notable persons of historic significance from the town include Thomas Langley (born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham , Cardinal of the Catholic Church , Lord Chancellor of England , and as England's first de facto Foreign Secretary . Samuel Bamford
1118-410: Is a Grade II listed building and currently sits derelict, although plans have been made to convert the building several times, none of which have been carried out. Lodge Mill is reputedly Middleton's oldest surviving mill. Situated opposite to the old substation, the building dates back to 1839, and was a silk and cotton mill. A fire on December 30th, 2021 damaged the back mill. Damage was also caused to
1204-414: Is bound by other towns, including Whitworth , Littleborough , Milnrow , Royton , Heywood and Shaw and Crompton , with little or no green space between them. Rochdale's built environment consists of a mixture of infrastructure, housing types and commercial buildings from a number of periods. Rochdale's housing stock is mixed, but has a significant amount of stone or red-brick terraced houses from
1290-538: Is one of eight designed by Lutyens in England. The earliest to be erected was at Southampton in 1920; the last at Norwich , in 1927. The monument is made from Cornish granite and sits on the site of a building known as Manor House, which was used as a recruiting station during World War I. The cenotaph was built by Hobson Ltd of Nottingham at a cost of £12,611. It was unveiled by the Earl of Derby on 26 November 1922 and dedicated by
1376-499: Is one of four townships in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale along with Middleton , Heywood and Pennine (a township which includes Littleborough and Wardle ). Rochdale is considered an Urban Subdivision by the local borough council. In 2011, 34.8% of Rochdale's population were non white British, compared with 21.4% for the surrounding borough. Rochdale town also has almost double the percentage of Asians compared with
1462-615: Is one of the local secondary schools in the area, others being Middleton Technology School, the Edgar Wood Academy and St. Anne's Academy. Further education is provided by the Sixth Form at Cardinal Langley, as well as the Middleton campus of Hopwood Hall College. What is presently said campus was, from 1946 to 1989, a De La Salle Catholic College of Higher Education affiliated to the Victoria University of Manchester . Founded as
1548-401: Is predominately ex-local authority housing. The skyline is marked by St. Leonard's Church . The urban structure of Middleton is regular in comparison to most towns in England . Residential dwellings and streets are located around the town centre . There is a mixture of high-density urban areas , suburbs , and semi-rural locations in Middleton, but overwhelmingly the land use in the town
1634-512: Is the only other original member. Dom Morrison made headlines in the tabloids in 2010 following his involvement in a bare knuckle boxing match with ex-Happy Mondays dancer Bez . The band reformed in 2015 to play a series of shows. The sets consisted of songs from The Daddy of Them All . This was the original line up, excluding Tony Pipes, who chose not to participate. More recently, the band have continued to play festivals and one-off shows across Europe. They also announced that they were to record
1720-523: Is urban. The territory of Middleton is contiguous with other urban areas on its southern and eastern sides, and for purposes of the Office for National Statistics , forms part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area , the United Kingdom's third largest conurbation . The M60 motorway passes to the south of Middleton; the M62 passes to the north. A heavy rail line enters Middleton from Moston and Chadderton to
1806-544: The Battle of Flodden , the largest battle ever fought between England and Scotland. The Flodden Window, in the sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial in the UK. It memorialises on it the names of the Middleton archers who fought at Flodden Field in 1513. The church also has one of the finest collections of monumental brasses in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton. The church
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#17328770780041892-505: The Billboard chart. The single edit remix of the song was frequently played on American radio in place of the LP version and is available as a separate CD single. The music video for this single was the second video from famed photographer David LaChapelle and featured hip hop legends Rock Steady Crew . The band toured the US and Europe with Smash Mouth and Third Eye Blind . The song "Drug Soup"
1978-624: The Danes ; the castle that Castleton is named after, and of which no trace remains, was one of twelve Saxon forts possibly destroyed in frequent conflicts that occurred between the Saxons and Danes during the 10th and 11th centuries. At the time of the Norman Conquest the manor was held by a Saxon thegn , Gamel. Rochdale appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Recedham and was described as lying within
2064-527: The Domesday Book of 1086 as "Recedham Manor" but can be traced back to the 9th century. The ancient parish of Rochdale was a division of the Salford Hundred and one of the larger ecclesiastical parishes in England, comprising several townships . By 1251, the town had become of such importance that it was granted a royal charter . The town became a centre of northern England 's woollen trade, and by
2150-509: The House of Commons by Elsie Blundell , & Graham Stringer respectively, both of the Labour Party. At 53°33′17″N 2°11′19″W / 53.55472°N 2.18861°W / 53.55472; -2.18861 (53.5547, −2.1887), Middleton stands on undulated land immediately north of Manchester ; the towns of Chadderton and Royton are close to the east. The town of Rochdale lies to
2236-570: The Israel-Hamas war . Six months later Galloway was defeated in the 2024 election by Labour MP Paul Waugh . Rochdale is approximately 450 feet (137 m) above sea level , 10 miles (16 km) north-northeast of Manchester city centre , in the valley of the River Roch . Blackstone Edge , Saddleworth Moor and the South Pennines are close to the east, whilst on all other sides, Rochdale
2322-861: The Mayor of Greater Manchester asked that Transport for Greater Manchester bring forward a business case for extending the Metrolink tram system to Middleton, as part of a wider regeneration scheme. Almost every part of Middleton is served by a school of some kind, some with religious affiliations. According to the Office for Standards in Education , schools within the town perform at mixed levels. Primary schools include St. Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Alkrington Primary School, St. Michael’s CofE Primary School, St. Thomas-More’s Roman Catholic Primary School and Middleton Parish School. Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School, formerly Cardinal Langley Grammar School,
2408-660: The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale , one of the ten metropolitan boroughs in Greater Manchester . Since 1953, Rochdale has been twinned with Bielefeld in Germany and since 1956 with Tourcoing in France, as well as Sahiwal in Pakistan since 1988 and Lviv in Ukraine since 1992. Sahiwal council has received many gifts like fire brigade trucks, ambulances and grants for hospitals from
2494-574: The Norman conquest of England . The name Middleton first appears in 1194, and derives from the Old English middel-tūn , meaning middle farm or settlement, probably a reference to its central position between Rochdale and Manchester . During the Middle Ages , Middleton was a centre of domestic flannel and woollen cloth production. The development of Middleton as a centre of commerce occurred during
2580-593: The Rochdale Canal opened, providing the first link over the Pennines between Lancashire and Yorkshire. During the 19th century, Rochdale became one of the world's most prominent cotton processing towns rising to prominence and becoming a major centre for textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution . It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the first ever industrialised towns. By
2666-773: The United Kingdom's third largest conurbation . Like much of the British Isles , Rochdale experiences a temperate maritime climate , with relatively cool summers and mild winters. At the 2001 UK census , Rochdale had a population of 95,796. The 2001 population density was 11,186 inhabitants per square mile (4,319/km ), with a 100 to 94.4 female-to-male ratio. Of those over 16 years old, 28.2% were single (never married), 44.0% married, and 8.8% divorced. Rochdale's 37,730 households included 30.4% one-person, 36.6% married couples living together, 8.4% were co-habiting couples, and 11.1% single parents with their children. Of those aged 16–74, 37.1% had no academic qualifications , similar to
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2752-620: The metropolitan county of Greater Manchester . The council was based at Parkfield House . The Middleton parliamentary constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 . It was abolished in 1918 when Middleton became part of the Middleton and Prestwich constituency . Today Middleton forms part of the Heywood and Middleton parliamentary constituency , and the Blackley and Middleton South parliamentary constituency , represented in
2838-578: The 17 between Rochdale and Manchester, the 18 between Langley and Manchester, the 59 between Oldham and Manchester, the 125 between Middleton and Heywood, and the 163 between Bury and Manchester. Middleton is located close to junction 19 of the M62 motorway and, at Rhodes, junction 21 of the M60 motorway . Mills Hill railway station is on the eastern boundary of town, one mile east of the town centre, with direct services to Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Wigan and Leeds. It opened in 1838 and closed in 1842, it
2924-407: The 17th and 18th centuries as a result of the effect of the Industrial Revolution. Additional to this, Lord Suffield obtained a Royal Charter from King George III in 1791 to hold a weekly market and three annual summer fairs in Middleton. Suffield built a market house, warehouses and shambles in the town at his own expense. Industrial scale textile manufacture was introduced to Middleton as
3010-477: The 1940s. The statue was the first of a woman to be unveiled in Greater Manchester in more than 100 years and was part of the council's wider regeneration of the town centre. In Broadfield Park in the town centre there is a statue of John Bright MP, a British Radical and Liberal statesman, who is regarded as one of the greatest orators of his generation and a promoter of free trade policies. Bright
3096-452: The Archdeacon of Rochdale. It is about 10m tall and the top section is a catafalque , which includes a carving of a horizontal figure. Adjacent to the town hall is a statue of the late singer, comedian and actress Dame Gracie Fields . The statue was unveiled by Roy Hudd on Sunday 18 September 2016. It was created by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn , who based the statue on Fields's look during
3182-519: The Labour Party. Tony Lloyd (Labour) was elected as MP for Rochdale constituency in the 2017 general election , and represented the constituency until his death on 17 January 2024. The seat was won by George Galloway , leader and founder of the Workers Party of Britain , in the 2024 Rochdale by-election on 29 February 2024, in a campaign that was dominated by opposition to British involvement in
3268-524: The Manchester music scene such as Denise Johnson, Robbie Maddix and Barrington Stewart. Giant Star released the debut album Year of the Snake in 2013. He was also scheduled to appear at FC United of Manchester's much lauded 'club night in the afternoon' Course You Can Malcom on 25 January 2014, where he was to perform an acoustic Space Monkeys set. He currently tours as Space Monkeys with a new line up. Chas Morrison
3354-519: The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, which had a population of 211,699 in 2011. This means the town takes up almost 55% of the borough's population. As of 2021, the town of Rochdale's population was enumerated at 111,261, and its ethnic makeup was 57.2% White , 34.3% Asian , 2.6% Mixed , 3.4% Black , 2.1% Other and 0.5% Arab . The town's religious makeup was 38% Christian , 36% Muslim , 24.2% No Religion, and has small Hindu , Sikh , Buddhist and Jewish communities. More than 40% of children in
3440-553: The Middleton Arndale shopping centre . The station, with 13 stands, cost £4.5 million and replaced the previous station which dated to the 1970s. The majority of services in Middleton are operated by First Greater Manchester and serve destinations including Bury , Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside . As it is in Greater Manchester, Middleton is serviced by the new (as of 2024) Bee Network initiative, provided and run by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). Bus services include
3526-687: The Midwife. He was a key member of the Cannes Lion Winning ITV Rebrand team and became Executive Creative Director for ITV Creative where he ran the in-house advertising agency until 2023, and now is Head of Creative marketing at the Royal Opera House. He writes for the stage and TV, with his first play The Button being produced and performed as part of the SuperNova 8 Theatre festival. He returned to music as The Infamous Beat Thief, releasing
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3612-663: The Rochdale borough are living in poverty, There are four grade I listed buildings in the town: the Town Hall, the Cenotaph, the Church of St Mary in the Baum , and St Edmund's Church . Rochdale Town Hall is a Victorian era town hall "widely recognized as being one of the finest municipal buildings in the country". It is the ceremonial headquarters of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and houses local government departments, including
3698-433: The United Kingdom, memorialising the archers of Middleton who fought at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. In 1770, Middleton was a village of twenty houses, but in the 18th and 19th centuries it grew into a thriving and populous seat of textile manufacture and it was granted borough status in 1886. Langley in the north of the town was one of Manchester City Council 's overspill council estates , whilst Alkrington in
3784-602: The administration of Lancashire County Council . In 1900, most of Castleton Urban District was added to the borough; this urban district included parts of Castleton, Hopwood and Thornham townships. In 1933, parts of Norden Urban District and Birtle with Bamford civil parish were added to the borough. Under the Local Government Act 1972 , the town's autonomous county borough status was abolished. The municipal boroughs of Middleton and Heywood and Littleborough , Milnrow and Wardle urban districts are now part of
3870-429: The administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale . In the 2021 census the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wider borough. Rochdale is in the foothills of the South Pennines and lies in the dale (valley) of the River Roch , 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Oldham , and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Manchester . Rochdale's recorded history begins with an entry in
3956-482: The area, including frontman Liam Fray . The Chameleons , a post-punk band, was formed in the area, and was described by the Middleton Guardian as "Middleton's most famous export". Sally Dynevor , an actress in the Manchester-based soap opera Coronation Street is from Middleton. Rochdale Rochdale ( / ˈ r ɒ tʃ d eɪ l / ROTCH -dayl ) is a town in Greater Manchester , England, and
4042-661: The attention of Adolf Hitler who was said to have admired it so much that he wished to ship the building, brick-by-brick, to Nazi Germany had the United Kingdom been defeated in the Second World War . The Rochdale Cenotaph , a war memorial bearing four sculpted and painted flags, is located opposite the town hall. It commemorates those who died in conflicts since the First World War . The monument and surrounding gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens . Rochdale’s cenotaph
4128-539: The borough's civil registration office . Built in the Gothic Revival style it was inaugurated on 27 September 1871. The architect, William Henry Crossland , won a competition held in 1864. The town hall had a 240-foot (73 m) clock tower topped by a wooden spire with a gilded statue of Saint George and the Dragon which were destroyed by fire on 10 April 1883. A new 191-foot (58 m) stone clock tower and spire in
4214-536: The dig at As of 2019, the building still stands derelict, surrounded by supporting scaffolding. No work has been undertaken on restoration since the arson attack. Alkrington Hall was built in 1736 and was the seat of the Lever family. Its dominant position on a wooded hillside, looks out over the Irk Valley towards Middleton. Some of the original parkland around the hall has now been developed into high end housing, while
4300-460: The early 12th century, Middleton was once an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford , and in Oldham poor law union. In 1861 commissioners were established for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge townships or civil parishes. In 1878, the township of Alkrington and parts of the townships of Hopwood and Thornham were added to the area of the commissioners. It was in 1886 this territory
4386-479: The early 18th century was described as being "remarkable for its many wealthy merchants". In the 19th century it became a mill town and centre for textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution . The town is historically within Lancashire , and was a county borough within it before 1974. The town is recorded as Recedham in the Domesday Book and Rachetham in 1193. Variations of Rechedham continue into
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#17328770780044472-434: The end of the 19th century Rochdale had woollen mills, silk manufacturers, bleachers and dyers , though cotton spinning and weaving were the dominant industries in the community. The socioeconomic change brought by the success of Rochdale's textile industry in the 19th century led to its rise to borough status and it became an important regional town based upon this economic success. The Rochdale Pioneers opened
4558-421: The figure for all of Rochdale, but higher than that of 28.9% in all of England. Rochdale has the highest number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants in Greater Manchester, with 6.1 per cent of its adult population claiming the benefit in early 2010. In 2011, Rochdale had a population of 107,926 which makes it about the same size as Salford and Stockport . The population increased from 95,796 in 2001. Rochdale
4644-610: The first Cooperative shop in Toad Lane in 1844. The reformer and Member of Parliament , John Bright (1811–1889), was born in Rochdale and gained a reputation as a leader of political dissent and supporter of the Anti-Corn Law League . By the middle of the 20th century, Rochdale's economy was in decline, reflecting the broader economic situation in other textile manufacturing towns in the North West England . This decline
4730-612: The front mill when, during demolition of the back mill, the back of the engine house for the front mill was accidentally demolished. The front mill is currently occupied by a local ice cream parlour. Middleton is host to many local sports clubs, including Middleton Cricket Club who are currently playing in the Lancashire League (cricket) . Four golf clubs are within easy reach of the town centre: North Manchester Golf Glub, The Manchester Golf Club (at Slattocks), Heaton Park Golf Club and Blackley Golf Club. In January 2009, Middleton saw
4816-559: The guise of "Munki", and Chas Morrison joined avant-garde drum and bass group RSL. Tony Pipes is now a creative director, working in advertising, broadcasting and design. He is responsible for designing the 11th & 12th Doctor's incarnation of the Doctor Who logo and has worked across brands and advertising for both the BBC and ITV. He created the original British drama strand for the BBC as well as launching key titles such as Luther and Call
4902-614: The hundred of Salford and the county of Cheshire. At that time, Rochdale was under the lordship of Roger the Poitevin . Before 1212, Henry II granted the manor to Roger de Lacy whose family retained it as part of the Honour of Clitheroe until it passed to the Dukes of Lancaster by marriage and then by 1399 to the Crown . In medieval times, weekly markets were held from 1250 when Edmund de Lacy obtained
4988-480: The large chapelry of Saddleworth , which lay entirely in Yorkshire , the parish of Rochdale had an area of 65.4 square miles (169.4 km ). In 1825, commissioners for the social and economic improvement of the town were established. The town became part of a parliamentary borough in 1832. As there were no existing township boundaries, the commissioners and later the parliamentary constituency were deemed to cover
5074-400: The late 19th and early 20th centuries. Rochdale's Town Hall , seven large tower blocks (locally nicknamed 'The Seven Sisters') and a number of former cotton mills mark the town's skyline. The urban structure of Rochdale is regular when compared to most towns in England , its form restricted in places by its hilly upland terrain. Much of Rochdale's built environment is centred around
5160-456: The local Cardinal Langley Grammar School, later known as Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School . Bernard Manning (1930–2007), Manchester-born ( Ancoats ) comedian, lived in Alkrington . Gold selling music producer Louis Gibzen attended Middleton Technology School ; Radio 1Xtra 's DJ Semtex is also from the town. All four members of the indie-rock group The Courteeners are also from
5246-436: The local library of every publication since 1908. JW Lees houses its brewery at Middleton Junction. The brewery owns several pubs in the Greater Manchester area. The town was linked to the national rail network until 1964 when Middleton and Middleton Junction railway stations closed to passengers. Mills Hill and Moston are now the nearest stations. Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire from
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#17328770780045332-506: The north-northeast. The towns name is derived from Middle-town, from its situation midway between Manchester and Rochdale. It is situated on an ancient road between those places. Middleton town centre is around 220 feet (67 m) above sea level . Middleton experiences a temperate maritime climate , like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout
5418-407: The opening of a large Tesco Extra supermarket on July 6th, 2013. Middleton is also home to Rochdale Triathlon Club. Weekly coached swimming sessions are currently held at Middleton Arena, Tuesday 7-8pm and Thursday 9-10pm. The Hopwood Hall College offers a gym to both its students and members of the general public. In 2005, the new Middleton bus station was opened to replace the old one, next to
5504-426: The opening of a new £13 million sports and leisure venue in the town centre. The Middleton Arena is a joint venture by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and supermarket chain Tesco . The facility has replaced the old Middleton Civic Centre and Middleton Leisure Centre, allowing the site formerly occupied by these buildings to be cleared for further development into a supermarket. Said development resulted in
5590-421: The people of Rochdale. The Rochdale constituency was created by the Reform Act of 1832 . The constituency was held for two decades during the 20th century by Cyril Smith , first of the Liberal Party and then of the Liberal Democrats . Following the 2010 general election , the town was represented by Simon Danczuk , who was elected as a Labour MP but was subsequently suspended and under investigation by
5676-433: The powers of the improvement commissioners. In 1872, the remaining area of Wardleworth township and parts of Castleton, Wuerdle and Wardle, Spotland and Butterworth townships were added to the borough. When the administrative county of Lancashire was created by the Local Government Act 1888 , Rochdale was elevated to become the County Borough of Rochdale and was, in modern terms, a unitary authority area exempt from
5762-454: The process of buying the property from the owner for a nominal sum with a view to restoration. The North West Building Preservation Trust, a registered charity, is likely to take over its long term maintenance. Middleton Archaeological Society (MAS) has been undertaking research into Tonge and Tonge Hall. The first of these investigations took place in August 2012 and work is ongoing. The MAS website has more information including photographs of
5848-451: The rest is a Local Nature Reserve , Alkrington Wood Situated below the parish church, on Long Street, this was originally a coaching inn on the road between Chester and York . It is said to date from at least 1632 and parts of it date back to the 1500s. This building is situated on Oldham Road, opposite the Middleton office of the Greater Manchester Police. Warwick Mill was a cotton mill built in 1907, with 5 machine floors within. It
5934-421: The same year, parts of Unsworth were amalgamated with Middleton, whilst part of it was moved to Royton Urban District . It was proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report that Middleton become part of a new Metropolitan Borough of Oldham , however, following the Local Government Act 1972 , the Municipal Borough of Middleton was abolished and its territory became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale within
6020-465: The single "StereobookElectronook" in October 2018. In December 2018, he released "Year of the Dog", a new single with Richard McNevin-DufF and continues to release tracks. He returned to the band in 2022, performing at a 25th Anniversary show at Gorilla, Manchester. Richard McNevin-Duff has recently returned to music with his band Giant Star which, alongside full-time members John Whittaker and James Ritchie, also features guest appearances from friends from
6106-408: The south and Moston to the south east. Historically part of Lancashire , Middleton's name comes from it being the centre of several circumjacent settlements. It was an ecclesiastical parish of the hundred of Salford , ruled by aristocratic families. The Church of St Leonard is a Grade I listed building . The Flodden Window in the church's sanctuary is thought to be the oldest war memorial in
6192-501: The south is a suburban area. In 616, Æthelfrith of Bernicia , an Anglo-Saxon King, crossed the Pennines with an army and passed through Manchester to defeat the Brythons in the Battle of Chester . A wave of Anglian colonists followed this military conquest and their settlements are identified by the " ton " Old English suffix to local place names. Royton , Crompton , Moston , Clayton , Ashton , Chadderton and Middleton are
6278-498: The south, and passes to the east of Middleton's town centre before continuing on northwards to Rochdale. Varyingly agreed divisions and suburbs of Middleton include Alkrington , Bowlee , Boarshaw, Cheapside, Greengate, Hebers, Hollin, Hopwood, Jumbo, Langley , Moorclose, Rhodes , Stake Hill , Middleton Junction , Thornham and Tonge . Mills Hill is an area shared between Middleton and Chadderton. Industrial polymer , thermoplastics and nonwovens producer The Vita Group have
6364-455: The style of Manchester Town Hall was designed by Alfred Waterhouse , and erected in 1888. Art critic Nikolaus Pevsner described the building as possessing a "rare picturesque beauty". Its stained glass windows, some designed by William Morris , are credited as "the finest modern examples of their kind". It has been described as one of the United Kingdom's finest examples of Victorian Gothic revival architecture. The building came to
6450-526: The textile industry was rooted in the domestic system , but towards the end of the 18th century mills powered by water started to appear. Water power was replaced by steam power in the 19th century and local coal became important. The Deardens who were lords of the manor were among the local coal mine owners. By the mid-1800s, the woollen trade was declining and the cotton trade was rapidly growing in importance. Cotton manufacturing took advantage of new technological developments in spinning and weaving. In 1804,
6536-555: The textile industry. Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire since the early 12th century , Rochdale was recorded in 1066 as held by Gamel, one of the twenty-one thegns of the Hundred of Salfordshire . The ancient ecclesiastical parish of Rochdale was divided into four townships: Butterworth , Castleton , Hundersfield and Spotland . Hundersfield was later divided into four townships: Blatchinworth, Calderbrook , Wardleworth and Wuerdle and Wardle. Excluding
6622-414: The thirteenth century when the first element's termination is dropped as Rachedam became Racheham . This change was soon followed with the suffix -ham (homestead) changing to -dale (wide valley). Rachdale is recorded as a name for the town in 1242, but may have been used earlier as a name for the valley, Hundred and Parish. The Domesday Book's rendering of the name led Eilert Ekwall to suggest
6708-445: The year. Middleton is watered by two confluent streams which have their rise in the immediate district. Much of Middleton's built environment is characterised by its 19th-century red-brick terraced houses , the infrastructure that was built to support these and the town's former cotton mills , although from the middle of the 20th century the town saw the growth of its outlying residential areas of Langley , Hollin and Boarshaw which
6794-499: Was incorporated as a borough , giving it Borough status in the United Kingdom . Following the Local Government Act 1894 parts of Great Heaton and Little Heaton townships were added to the newly created Municipal Borough of Middleton , a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire. In 1933 there were exchanges of territory between the borough of Middleton, the City of Manchester and Chadderton Urban District . In
6880-877: Was a radical writer and politician. He led the Middleton contingent to the meeting at St Peter's Fields in August 1819, pressing for parliamentary reform, which ended in the Peterloo Massacre . Joel Halliwell (1881 – 1958) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War I. Lee Rigby, British soldier and victim of the 2013 Woolwich attack , was from Middleton. Steve Coogan , John Richmond , Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets , Maartin Allcock of Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull , Brendan and Martin Coogan all attended
6966-461: Was described as "a red-brick building of no architectural distinction, on the north side of the river opposite the town hall" and sometimes referred to as the Manor House. It was demolished in 1922. Rochdale is a product of the Industrial Revolution , though the manufacture of woollen cloth, particularly baize , kerseys and flannels , was locally important as far back as the 1500s. At that time
7052-490: Was designated a Grade I listed building in 1957. Middleton Archaeological Society (MAS) have been investigating Clarke Brow, a public field next to St Leonard's Square, and carried out its first dig there in August and September 2013. An account of the Society's research can be found on their website Tonge Hall is a grade II* listed Tudor structure badly damaged by an arson attack in 2007. Rochdale Council are now (2012) in
7138-412: Was largely driven by the global availability of cheaper textile product offerings from abroad. During the 1950s and 1960s Rochdale's lack of a diverse economic base became very apparent, with the closure of numerous textile manufacturing facilities. Textile manufacturing did remain a major contributor to the local economy, even into the 1970s. Regionally, numerous companies still have some connection to
7224-457: Was later re-opened in 1985 and remains in use. Middleton railway station , near the town centre, was the terminus of a short branch line, which closed to passengers in 1964. A car chase scene of the 2001 British-made Samuel L. Jackson film The 51st State was filmed on a stretch of the M60 motorway, which runs alongside Rhodes and through Alkrington, just outside the centre of the town. In May 2021
7310-604: Was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent in March 1972. The Parish Church of St Leonard was completed in 1524, incorporating two stone arches made of stonework from an earlier Norman church. A wooden Saxon church is believed to have occupied the site long before the Norman church was built, in about 1100. The present church was built by Sir Richard Assheton , in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VIII for his part in
7396-533: Was recorded especially for and features in the soundtrack of the Gwyneth Paltrow movie Sliding Doors . The band went on to record a second album, Escape from the 20th Century , which included tracks produced by legendary hip hop producer Prince Paul . However, due to the collapse of Factory Records and other problems, the album was shelved and remained unreleased until 2013. The band disbanded in 2000. McNevin-Duff, Pipes and Walsh went on to release an EP under
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