Post by admin on Dec 20, 2006 12:34:46 GMT 1
Rawtenstall
Rawtenstall is a town of industrial origin located at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire. It is the seat for the borough of Rossendale, in which it is located.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Geography
Rawtenstalls neighbouring communities in the valley are Bacup, Haslingden and Ramsbottom. The area is bounded to the north by Loveclough and Whitewell Bottom, to the east by Waterfoot and Cowpe and to the south by Townsend Fold and Horncliffe. The River Irwell passes through the town on the first part of its route between Bacup and Manchester. Over recent years the area has become increasingly popular with visitors, attracted by historic buildings, dramatic landscapes and fine walking country.
History
Rawtenstall had many textile mills, one such Mill was Lower Mills on St Mary's Road. At the top of the now redeveloped site stands the Listed building Holly Mount House – historic home of the former textile mill empire Whitehead family
By the turn of the 19th century, footwear manufacture had become a major local employer and remained so throughout the 20th century.
Rawtenstall was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891. As with many small mid-Lancashire towns it saw a population decline in the 20th century, going from 30,000 inhabitants in the 1911 census to 21,500 in the 1971 census. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the town became part of the Rossendale district with other settlements
Mill machinery at the lower mills site, St Mary's Road, now asda.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Facilities
The Rossendale Free Press,Rossendale Valley's local newspaper is based here.
Rawtenstall also has one of the largest indoor markets in Rossendale (a sign declaring it to be "probably the friendliest market in the world")
Main shopping facilities are on bank street and The Valley Centre off Bank Street which has plans for redevelopment.
Rawtenstall has a new Asda store and a new Tesco store, Both opened 2006.
On Bank street is traditional Herbalist and Temperance Bar Fitzpatrick's Herbal Health, who claim to be the oldest brewers of sarsaparilla and dandelion and burdock in the country. Fitzpatrick's gained television acclaim in April 2005 when managers Gareth "G" Hawden and Chris Law won The Famous Sarsaparilla taste-off on ITV.
[img src="![]()
i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Navbits/magnify-clip.png" width=160 height=120 src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Images/Rawtenstall Rossendale/Fitzpatricks_Rawtenstall_DSC06051.jpg"]
Fitzpatricks at Rawtenstall
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Economy
Rawtenstall is well known for it's mill trade upon which the town was built, nowadays however the mills have mostly been demolished or converted into flats or other businesses. Rawtenstall still has several businesses trading in slippers and shoes Be in Manufacture, import or wholesale. The Scottish dance shoe company on NewChurch Road are one such company. www.scottishdanceshoe.co.uk
Rawtenstall has not expanded in recent years like surrounding towns, where towns such as Accrington have grown by adding new housing estates, Rawtenstall hasn't, maybe due to it being landlocked in the valley by the hills.
Rawtenstall has an ongoing regeneration project to revitalise the towns main shopping leisure and business areas. The valley shopping centre in Rawtenstall is due for redevelopment which is hoped will revitalise the main shopping centre. Chain stores in Rawtenstall include Asda, Tesco, Focus, Woolworths and Boots all in or at the edge of the town centre the majority of of other outlets are small individual shops and business's. Rawtenstall has no out of town shopping areas, All major retail businesses are in the central business district of the town which was originally Bacup road but due to past expansion grew upwards on to kay street and Bank street to form an L shape. A new out of town Diy store Fitness complex, swimming pool, restaurants offices and workshops have been given planning permission to be built on land at new Hall hey off Edenfield Bypass. A redeveloped bus station is also planned for the town centre as part of the town centre regeneration.
Tourism is also a major part of local economy with several tourist attractions being in Rawtenstall, A steam Railway, Museums as well as being on the Irwell valley Sculpture Trail.
Politics
Rawtenstall has one seat in the House of Commons(Rossendale and Darwin), currently occupied by Labour MP Janet Anderson. County council is currently Labour controlled.The local council ,Rossendale Borough Council is currently under Conservative control.
Transport
Rawtenstall is located on the the A681 Burnley Road and A682 Haslingdon to Todmorden Road Close to the A66.
Rawtenstall has a large Bus Station with services going to...
Rawtenstall also has a preserved Railway which serves Rawtenstall, Irwell Vale, Ramsbottom, Summerseat, Bury and Heywood. Residents Permits are available to adult residents of the Boroughs of Bury, Rossendale and Rochdale, providing half price travel off the normal travel fares. Up to four children accompanying each permit holder may also travel at half of the normal child's fare.
There is an annual fee of £5.00 for each permit.
Sports & Recreation
Rawtenstall Cricket Club is a cricket club in the Lancashire League. They plays their home games at the Worswick Memorial Ground in Rawtenstall. For the 2007 season The clubs captain is Andrew Payne, and its professional is Sanjay Bangar of India
Rawtenstall is home to the North of England's largest dry ski-slope.
Ski Rossendale is located five minutes outside of Rawtenstall town centre in the Oakenhead area, directly above Whitaker Park and Rossendale Museum.
Whitaker park Consists of an early Victorian Country house set in extensive landscaped grounds,over looking New Hall Hey woolen mill, with formal gardens to the front, Recreational Facilities to side and rear with open park further back. It has been the major public open space since 1901 when Oak Hill house, built for New Hall Hey mill owner George Hardman in 1840, was donated to the town by Richard Whitaker . It has has a range of facilities including refreshments kiosk,picnic area, Band Stand, Bowling Green, tennis courts,children's play area, bird and rabbit enclosure and Bmx track and commands some fine views across the valley. The formal garden have several monkey puzzle trees and ornamental fountain That is now disused and planted with bedding plants.
The museum opened in 1902 houses Displays an extensive natural history collection (Taxidermy),which include a python, Tiger and a young African elephant. paintings, fine arts and furniture
and late Victorian drawing room. The local and social history galleries cover numerous aspects of Rosendale's history. Displays include Neolithic flints, local industries, clog making, toll boards, domestic bygones and costume. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year.
The East Lancs Railway is a preserved railway line . It was opened in 1846 to link the Manchester to Bolton line with Radcliffe and was a popular passenger and freight route which served the Irwell Valley from Bury, via Ramsbottom, to Rawtenstall and beyond.
[img src="![]()
i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Navbits/magnify-clip.png" width=160 height=120 src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Images/Rawtenstall%20Rossendale/DSC06058.jpg"]
Rawtenstall East Lancs Railway Station
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
1972 saw the last passengers travel on the Bury to Rawtenstall section, and that would have been the end of an era had the East Lancashire Preservation Society not been committed to restoring the line to its former glory.
With assistance from Bury and Rossendale Councils, the line was reopened in 1991. The traditional station buildings and developments along the tracks have contributed to the Society being presented with a number of environmental awards. Work continued to finally complete the railways extension to Heywood.
The Irwell Sculpture Trail has several Sculptures in the Rossendale Valley and Four of which are in Rawtenstall...
Whispering Wall
Inspired by the water board’s installations in the Rossendale valley, this sculpture brings together elements of local quarrying, redundant pipe work and the ever-present sound of running water. A 4000 litre underground tank acts as a central echo chamber for 36 metres of pipe radiating outwards to holes cored in the external, riven, flagstone wall. Drawn by an intense blue light, visible through the holes, the observant passer-by can hear a shifting montage of whispered voices and sound textures sourced from the local ecology.
John Easterby “Whispering Wall” 2000, Ewood Bridge
©2003 Commissions in the Environment
Gateway
Railway lines were shaped to form the archway of the gates and steel panels cut with images of steam train wheels to reflect the usage of the immediate area and local history. Funded by Groundwork Rosendale, and English partnerships in association with East Lancashire Railway.
Materials: Steel, mosaic and cobblestone.
Gateway, Chrysalis Arts 1994, East Lancashire Railway
©2003 Commissions in the Environment
Willow Tree
The Willow Tree sculpture is a large environmental maze that spreads over a hillside in a series of tunnels. To either side are large turf kilns: a beehive shaped one from smelting and a ziggurat one for burning charcoal. There are also two detached chimneys for which Rosendale used to be famous. The sculpture has become an open air environmental classroom.
Materials: Living Willow.
Willow Tree Ian Hunter 1987, Groundwork Countryside Centre
Bochalt Tree
The Bocholt Tree celebrates Rossendale's award-winning links with it's German twin-town. the sculpture is a symbol of unity between the people of Rossendale and Bocholt, as a reminder to the people of Rossendale that they have friends in other parts of Europe. Bocholt's civic symbol is a the tree.
Materials: Painted Metal
Bocholt Tree, Bernard Tindall, Raku Works Sculptural Arts 1992, Rawtenstall Roundabout.
Bochalt Tree in 2006.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Trivia
The actress Jane Horrocks was born in Rawtenstall
Rawtenstall was featured with Jane Horrocks in the television programme "Who Do You Think You Are?" which was aired on BBC2 at 9PM on 2nd February 2006.
The M62 from Hull ends in Rawtenstall. Travel south on the A682 from Rawtenstall , keep going straight on at every junction and you'll eventually end up in hull after travelling around the Manchester Orbital Motorway Anti clockwise. There's traffic lights but no roundabouts until A1165 in Hull.
External Links
Rawtenstall is a town of industrial origin located at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire. It is the seat for the borough of Rossendale, in which it is located.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Geography
Rawtenstalls neighbouring communities in the valley are Bacup, Haslingden and Ramsbottom. The area is bounded to the north by Loveclough and Whitewell Bottom, to the east by Waterfoot and Cowpe and to the south by Townsend Fold and Horncliffe. The River Irwell passes through the town on the first part of its route between Bacup and Manchester. Over recent years the area has become increasingly popular with visitors, attracted by historic buildings, dramatic landscapes and fine walking country.
History
Rawtenstall had many textile mills, one such Mill was Lower Mills on St Mary's Road. At the top of the now redeveloped site stands the Listed building Holly Mount House – historic home of the former textile mill empire Whitehead family
By the turn of the 19th century, footwear manufacture had become a major local employer and remained so throughout the 20th century.
Rawtenstall was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891. As with many small mid-Lancashire towns it saw a population decline in the 20th century, going from 30,000 inhabitants in the 1911 census to 21,500 in the 1971 census. Under the Local Government Act 1972, the town became part of the Rossendale district with other settlements
Mill machinery at the lower mills site, St Mary's Road, now asda.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Facilities
The Rossendale Free Press,Rossendale Valley's local newspaper is based here.
Rawtenstall also has one of the largest indoor markets in Rossendale (a sign declaring it to be "probably the friendliest market in the world")
Main shopping facilities are on bank street and The Valley Centre off Bank Street which has plans for redevelopment.
Rawtenstall has a new Asda store and a new Tesco store, Both opened 2006.
On Bank street is traditional Herbalist and Temperance Bar Fitzpatrick's Herbal Health, who claim to be the oldest brewers of sarsaparilla and dandelion and burdock in the country. Fitzpatrick's gained television acclaim in April 2005 when managers Gareth "G" Hawden and Chris Law won The Famous Sarsaparilla taste-off on ITV.
[img src="
i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Navbits/magnify-clip.png" width=160 height=120 src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Images/Rawtenstall Rossendale/Fitzpatricks_Rawtenstall_DSC06051.jpg"]Fitzpatricks at Rawtenstall
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Economy
Rawtenstall is well known for it's mill trade upon which the town was built, nowadays however the mills have mostly been demolished or converted into flats or other businesses. Rawtenstall still has several businesses trading in slippers and shoes Be in Manufacture, import or wholesale. The Scottish dance shoe company on NewChurch Road are one such company. www.scottishdanceshoe.co.uk
Rawtenstall has not expanded in recent years like surrounding towns, where towns such as Accrington have grown by adding new housing estates, Rawtenstall hasn't, maybe due to it being landlocked in the valley by the hills.
Rawtenstall has an ongoing regeneration project to revitalise the towns main shopping leisure and business areas. The valley shopping centre in Rawtenstall is due for redevelopment which is hoped will revitalise the main shopping centre. Chain stores in Rawtenstall include Asda, Tesco, Focus, Woolworths and Boots all in or at the edge of the town centre the majority of of other outlets are small individual shops and business's. Rawtenstall has no out of town shopping areas, All major retail businesses are in the central business district of the town which was originally Bacup road but due to past expansion grew upwards on to kay street and Bank street to form an L shape. A new out of town Diy store Fitness complex, swimming pool, restaurants offices and workshops have been given planning permission to be built on land at new Hall hey off Edenfield Bypass. A redeveloped bus station is also planned for the town centre as part of the town centre regeneration.
Tourism is also a major part of local economy with several tourist attractions being in Rawtenstall, A steam Railway, Museums as well as being on the Irwell valley Sculpture Trail.
Politics
Rawtenstall has one seat in the House of Commons(Rossendale and Darwin), currently occupied by Labour MP Janet Anderson. County council is currently Labour controlled.The local council ,Rossendale Borough Council is currently under Conservative control.
Transport
Rawtenstall is located on the the A681 Burnley Road and A682 Haslingdon to Todmorden Road Close to the A66.
Rawtenstall has a large Bus Station with services going to...
- Accrington Via Haslingdon
- Blackburn via Haslingdon and Helmshore
- Burnley via Crawshaw Booth and Loveclough.
- Burnley General Hospital via Newchurch, Waterfoot, Whitewell Bottom, Water, Towneley, Burnley,
- Todmorden via Waterfoot, Stacksteads, Bacup and Sharneyford.
- Rochdale via Waterfoot, Stacksteads, Bacup and Whitworth
- Bury via Edenfield, Ramsbottom, Holcombe Brook, Greenmount, Tottington and Walshaw.
- Fairfield Hospital via Edenfield, Walmersley and Bury.
- Bolton Via Ramsbottom.
Rawtenstall also has a preserved Railway which serves Rawtenstall, Irwell Vale, Ramsbottom, Summerseat, Bury and Heywood. Residents Permits are available to adult residents of the Boroughs of Bury, Rossendale and Rochdale, providing half price travel off the normal travel fares. Up to four children accompanying each permit holder may also travel at half of the normal child's fare.
There is an annual fee of £5.00 for each permit.
Sports & Recreation
Rawtenstall Cricket Club is a cricket club in the Lancashire League. They plays their home games at the Worswick Memorial Ground in Rawtenstall. For the 2007 season The clubs captain is Andrew Payne, and its professional is Sanjay Bangar of India
Rawtenstall is home to the North of England's largest dry ski-slope.
Ski Rossendale is located five minutes outside of Rawtenstall town centre in the Oakenhead area, directly above Whitaker Park and Rossendale Museum.
Whitaker park Consists of an early Victorian Country house set in extensive landscaped grounds,over looking New Hall Hey woolen mill, with formal gardens to the front, Recreational Facilities to side and rear with open park further back. It has been the major public open space since 1901 when Oak Hill house, built for New Hall Hey mill owner George Hardman in 1840, was donated to the town by Richard Whitaker . It has has a range of facilities including refreshments kiosk,picnic area, Band Stand, Bowling Green, tennis courts,children's play area, bird and rabbit enclosure and Bmx track and commands some fine views across the valley. The formal garden have several monkey puzzle trees and ornamental fountain That is now disused and planted with bedding plants.
The museum opened in 1902 houses Displays an extensive natural history collection (Taxidermy),which include a python, Tiger and a young African elephant. paintings, fine arts and furniture
and late Victorian drawing room. The local and social history galleries cover numerous aspects of Rosendale's history. Displays include Neolithic flints, local industries, clog making, toll boards, domestic bygones and costume. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year.
The East Lancs Railway is a preserved railway line . It was opened in 1846 to link the Manchester to Bolton line with Radcliffe and was a popular passenger and freight route which served the Irwell Valley from Bury, via Ramsbottom, to Rawtenstall and beyond.
[img src="
i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Navbits/magnify-clip.png" width=160 height=120 src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/Madhatter1uk/Forum/Images/Rawtenstall%20Rossendale/DSC06058.jpg"]Rawtenstall East Lancs Railway Station
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
1972 saw the last passengers travel on the Bury to Rawtenstall section, and that would have been the end of an era had the East Lancashire Preservation Society not been committed to restoring the line to its former glory.
With assistance from Bury and Rossendale Councils, the line was reopened in 1991. The traditional station buildings and developments along the tracks have contributed to the Society being presented with a number of environmental awards. Work continued to finally complete the railways extension to Heywood.
The Irwell Sculpture Trail has several Sculptures in the Rossendale Valley and Four of which are in Rawtenstall...
Whispering Wall
Inspired by the water board’s installations in the Rossendale valley, this sculpture brings together elements of local quarrying, redundant pipe work and the ever-present sound of running water. A 4000 litre underground tank acts as a central echo chamber for 36 metres of pipe radiating outwards to holes cored in the external, riven, flagstone wall. Drawn by an intense blue light, visible through the holes, the observant passer-by can hear a shifting montage of whispered voices and sound textures sourced from the local ecology.
John Easterby “Whispering Wall” 2000, Ewood Bridge
©2003 Commissions in the Environment
Gateway
Railway lines were shaped to form the archway of the gates and steel panels cut with images of steam train wheels to reflect the usage of the immediate area and local history. Funded by Groundwork Rosendale, and English partnerships in association with East Lancashire Railway.
Materials: Steel, mosaic and cobblestone.
Gateway, Chrysalis Arts 1994, East Lancashire Railway
©2003 Commissions in the Environment
Willow Tree
The Willow Tree sculpture is a large environmental maze that spreads over a hillside in a series of tunnels. To either side are large turf kilns: a beehive shaped one from smelting and a ziggurat one for burning charcoal. There are also two detached chimneys for which Rosendale used to be famous. The sculpture has become an open air environmental classroom.
Materials: Living Willow.
Willow Tree Ian Hunter 1987, Groundwork Countryside Centre
Bochalt Tree
The Bocholt Tree celebrates Rossendale's award-winning links with it's German twin-town. the sculpture is a symbol of unity between the people of Rossendale and Bocholt, as a reminder to the people of Rossendale that they have friends in other parts of Europe. Bocholt's civic symbol is a the tree.
Materials: Painted Metal
Bocholt Tree, Bernard Tindall, Raku Works Sculptural Arts 1992, Rawtenstall Roundabout.
Bochalt Tree in 2006.
©2006 Rawtenstall-web
Trivia
The actress Jane Horrocks was born in Rawtenstall
Rawtenstall was featured with Jane Horrocks in the television programme "Who Do You Think You Are?" which was aired on BBC2 at 9PM on 2nd February 2006.
The M62 from Hull ends in Rawtenstall. Travel south on the A682 from Rawtenstall , keep going straight on at every junction and you'll eventually end up in hull after travelling around the Manchester Orbital Motorway Anti clockwise. There's traffic lights but no roundabouts until A1165 in Hull.
External Links