Borough of Rossendale | |
|---|---|
 Rossendale Valley | |
 Rossendale shown withinLancashire and England | |
| Coordinates:53°41′00″N02°15′00″W / 53.68333°N 2.25000°W /53.68333; -2.25000 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | North West England |
| Ceremonial county | Lancashire |
| Admin. HQ | Bacup |
| Government | |
| • Type | Rossendale Borough Council |
| • MPs: | Andy MacNae (Labour) |
| Area | |
• Total | 53 sq mi (138 km2) |
| • Rank | 171st |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 73,045 |
| • Rank | Ranked 283rd |
| • Density | 1,370/sq mi (529/km2) |
| Ethnicity(2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion(2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| Postcode | |
| ONS code | 30UM (ONS) E07000125 (GSS) |
Rossendale (/ˈrɒzəndeɪl/) is alocal government district withborough status inLancashire, England. Its council is based inBacup and its largest town isRawtenstall. It also includes the towns ofHaslingden andWhitworth. The borough is named after theRossendale Valley, the upper part of the valley of theRiver Irwell.
The neighbouring districts areBurnley,Hyndburn,Blackburn with Darwen,Bury,Bolton,Calderdale andRochdale.
The nameRossendale is first recorded in 1292. A record of the name asRocendal (1242) suggestsCelticros "moor, heath", withOld Norse dalr "dale,valley", hencemoor valley i.e. the valley of theRiver Irwell.[2]
Rossendale is part of theForest of Rossendale, which consists of the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries, which flow from thePennines southwards to Manchester and cut through 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 lateMiddle Ages. Farming and acottagewoollen industry developed during the reign ofHenry VIII, but Rossendale's population only really expanded during the period of theIndustrial Revolution. The population of the area that would become the modern borough of Rossendale was 24,136 in 1801; in 1901 it had grown to 89,540.[3] Its wet and damp climate are ideally suited to the development of watermills, and later to the mechanisation of the wool and cotton spinning andweaving industries in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the middle of the 19th century afelt industry developed, and from this the manufacturing of slippers so that footwear also became a major employer in the area.[4]
The area became one of the cradles of theIndustrial 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.[5] 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 the two communities.Michael Davitt, theIrish 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 inTrafalgar Square inLondon were quarried in Rossendale.[6] Upland farming 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, nowHelmshore 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 the country. In 1819 William Hewitt described them as "the most remarkable men of their class that ever appeared in England".[7]
R.S. Ireland (The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co.) is based near Haslingden;[8] a family-run business of specialistblack pudding makers, using only traditional methods and with a recipe dating back to 1879. Rawtenstall hasMr Fitzpatrick's, this is the last remaining functioningtemperance bar in England, that makes and sells its own non-alcoholic drinks, such assarsaparilla,black beers and blood tonic.
The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were abolished at the same time:[9]
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.[13] The new district was awardedborough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[14]
Rossendale Borough Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1974 |
| Leadership | |
Rob Huntington since April 2023[16] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 30 councillors |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
| Plurality at-large | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | 4 May 2028 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| The Business Centre, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Rossendale Borough Council providesdistrict-level services.County-level services are provided byLancashire County Council. Whitworth is also acivil parish, which forms a third tier of local government in that part of the borough.[17][18]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[19][20]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| No overall control | 1974–1976 | |
| Conservative | 1976–1986 | |
| Labour | 1986–2000 | |
| Conservative | 2000–2002 | |
| Labour | 2002–2003 | |
| No overall control | 2003–2004 | |
| Conservative | 2004–2007 | |
| No overall control | 2007–2008 | |
| Conservative | 2008–2011 | |
| No overall control | 2011–2012 | |
| Labour | 2012–2021 | |
| No overall control | 2021–2022 | |
| Labour | 2022–present | |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Rossendale. Political leadership is instead provided by theleader of the council. The leaders since 2004 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Steen[21] | Conservative | Dec 2004 | ||
| Duncan Ruddick[21][22] | Conservative | 16 Dec 2004 | 19 Dec 2007 | |
| Tony Swain[23][24] | Conservative | 19 Dec 2007 | 8 May 2011 | |
| Alyson Barnes[25] | Labour | 20 May 2011 | ||
Following the2024 election,[26] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to June 2025, the composition of the council was:[27]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 20 | |
| Conservative | 5 | |
| Green | 3 | |
| Community First | 1 | |
| Reform | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | |
The next election is due in 2026.[27]
Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 30councillors representing 10wards, 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.[28][29]
The council is based at The Business Centre on Futures Park in Bacup.[30] 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.[31][32]
Prior to 2009 the council was based atRawtenstall Town Hall at the corner of Bacup Road and Lord Street. It had been built in 1876 as the "Exchange Club" and was subsequently acquired in 1890 by the RawtenstallLocal Board (predecessor of the Rawtenstall Borough Council) for use as its offices.[33] The building was later extended into the offices of an adjoining tramway depot.[34]
The borough is linked by the motorway network to Manchester, Burnley andBlackburn via theA56/M65 andM66 motorways.
There was once a rail link south to Manchester via Bury, but this was closed in 1966 as part of cuts following theBeeching Report. Part of the old railway reopened in 1991 as theEast Lancashire Railway operating a service from Rawtenstall to Bury via Ramsbottom andSummerseat, and manned by volunteers. In September 2003 an eastbound extension from Bury toHeywood was opened.
In March 2015, it was proposed to reintroduce a rail service between Rawtenstall, Bury and Manchester. This would use the current route of the East Lancashire Heritage Railway.[35]
The area is well served by public road transport, with bus services provided mainly byRosso andBurnley Bus Company. These provide regular services toBurnley,Blackburn,Accrington,Bolton,Bury,Manchester andRochdale as well asTodmorden and other local destinations.
Rossendale contains multiple secondary schools, these are:
In addition, there isAccrington and Rossendale College, based inAccrington.
In terms of television, the area is served byBBC North West andITV Granada. Television signals are received from theWinter Hill TV transmitter.[36]
Local radio stations areBBC Radio Lancashire,Heart North West,Capital Manchester and Lancashire,Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire, andRossendale Radio, a community based radio station which broadcasts from studios inRawtenstall.[37]
The area is served by local newspaper,Lancashire Telegraph.[38]
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 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 theHorse and Bamboo Theatre Company who specialise in visual theatre, often using distinctivepuppets andmasks. The painters and other artists who make up 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 theIrwell Sculpture Trail runs from Deerplay, above Bacup, to Stubbins. The actressJane Horrocks was born in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, and the composerAlan Rawsthorne was born in Haslingden.Betty Jackson, the fashion designer, is a native of Bacup.
In the 18th and 19th centuries theLarks of Dean were an unusual group ofworking class musicians whose music-making at theBaptist Chapel in Goodshaw Fold became an important local feature. There is also abrass band tradition as well as an amateur theatre scene. There 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 is home to a unique dancing troupe, theBritannia Coconut Dancers, formed in the mid-19th century, and who traditionally dance along the local roads every Easter.
There has been a long tradition ofdialect poetry and writing in Rossendale.[39] Local poets have includedAndrew Houston (The Rossendale Bard), Walter Hargreaves (Shepster) and Clifford Heyworth (Bill o' Bows). Waugh's Well, above Edenfield andCowpe, marks the spot whereEdwin 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 a design competition managed byRIBA Competitions which was launched in 2003. It is lit after dark using low-energy LEDs powered by an adjacentwind turbine. It is the fourthPanopticon 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 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 comedyThick 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 theLancashire 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 a smallrugby union club playing in the lower leagues, but in recent years the club has gained two promotions to take them intoRegional 1 North West. Notable players such as Daniel Collins, Dave Wood andTim Fourie now play at the valley side.
The area's only semi-pro non league football team areBacup Borough F.C. who play their home games at West View and are members of theNorth West Counties League Division One. The area's other major non league sideRossendale United, who played their home games at nearby Newchurch nearRawtenstall, folded in 2011. The only other semi-pro team from the Rossendale area areRamsbottom United who play in theNorthern Premier League Division One North. Previously there had beenHaslingden F.C., playing at Ewood Bridge, on the outskirts of Haslingden, until they folded in 1998. Their ground was later used briefly byStand 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 – theWest Lancashire Football League (Rossendale FC & 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 was Bacup itself, whichJeremy Dyson (writer) andSteve 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 thanRoyston Vasey".[41]
Various towns within the Rossendale Valley were used for filming scenes of the BBC TV seriesHetty Wainthropp Investigates during the 1990s.
The 1980's BBC drama seriesJuliet 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 seriesSurvivors including the Airtours site and other sites inHelmshore and Bank Street inRawtenstall.
Local radio stationRossendale Radio broadcast throughout the valley from 2010, before shutting down on 5 March 2012 due to financial difficulties.[42] It then re-launched on 22 December 2018.[43]
The Rossendale Male Voice Choir formed in the valley in 1924.[44]
In the2001 census the population of Rossendale was 65,652,[45] spread between the towns ofBacup,Haslingden,Whitworth andRawtenstall; the villages ofCrawshawbooth,Edenfield,Helmshore andWaterfoot; and as well asBritannia,Broadclough,Chatterton,Cloughfold,Cowpe,Irwell Vale,Loveclough,Newchurch,Shawforth,Stacksteads,Stubbins,Turn andWeir. The population at the 2011 Census had risen to 67,922.[46]
Much of the borough forms part of theAccrington/Rossendale built-up area which extends into the neighbouring borough ofHyndburn. The Accrington/Rossendale built-up area extends from the towns ofRawtenstall andBacup toAccrington 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 the parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".[47] The rest of the borough is anunparished area.[18]
For notable past residents see individual towns and villages
Rossendale Borough Council is twinned with:[49]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
