Rochdale

Rochdale ( ROTCH-dayl) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and 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) north-west of Oldham and 10 miles (16 km) north-east of Manchester. Rochdale's recorded history begins with an entry in 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 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 lies within the historic county of Lancashire and was a county borough within it before 1974.