Books for all

The Town Hall housed the first library in Rochdale that was free for all residents.

In 1856 a campaign began for Rochdale to have its own Free Public library and Museum. In 1870 1,000 ordinary Rochdalians signed a petition asking the mayor to adopt legislation which allowed enabled councils to raise funds for public libraries.

A library committee was set up and by 1871 the first books had been bought. The library was opened by the mayor on Wednesday 18th September 1872. It boasted a collection of 14,396 books and by 1874 had issued 2,998 borrower’s cards.

The clocktower fire of 1883 caused significant damage and many books were destroyed. A temporary library was set up above a shop on the corner of Lord Street until a new public library costing £6,000 was opened on the Esplanade in 1884. In 1903 the library was enlarged and an art gallery and museum were added, today this is home to Touchstones.