Before the Town Hall

Rochdale on the up and up

In the 1850s, life was changing in Rochdale. These changes started with the way the town was run and how it saw itself.

Rochdale became a municipal borough in 1856 and was now governed by a Town Council, a Mayor, Councillors and Aldermen.

The council took control of many different functions in the town, and there were calls for a new building that reflected this new status. It would also make governing the town easier. At the time different services, departments and committees met in an array of different buildings across the town.

All under one roof

Many people wanted a one-stop-shop for all council business - everything under one roof. The Town Hall would bring together everything from lighting and sanitation, to policing, to looking after the poor and dispensing justice. Quite a tall order for a single building, and that was before deciding what would it look like and how much it would it cost.

A council divided

But a Town Hall was not at the top of everyone’s list of priorities, they thought that basic public health was more important.

Yes, Rochdale was on the up – but not for everyone. Many Rochdalians lived in poor housing without running water and basic sanitation. Toilets were shared between several houses and waste was collected manually not taken away by sewers.

Opposing sides

Alderman Edward Taylor campaigned to sort out the sewers. Others felt that rate payers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for an extravagant new building. Arguments raged in the committee room and spilt out into the press.

The debate continued throughout the building project and is brought to life by four carved caricatures in the Mayor’s Reception Room, where you can find out more.

Finally, those in favour of a new building won the day and one of its early opponents became its biggest supporter.

Councillor George Leach Ashworth changed his mind and by the end of 1858 was chairman of the sub-committee tasked with making plans for the building.