Rawtenstall

Rawtenstall
Lancashire
St Mary's Chambers, Queen's Square, Rawtenstall
Location
Grid reference:	SD808226
Location:	53°41’56"N, 2°17’28"W
Data
Population:	22,000
Post town:	Rossendale
Postcode:	BB4
Dialling code:	01706
Local Government
Council:	Rossendale
Parliamentary constituency:	Rossendale and Darwen

Rawtenstall is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire. It is found 17½ miles north of Manchester and 22 miles east of Preston.

The name Rawtenstall has been given two possible interpretations. The older is a combination of the Middle English routen ('to roar or bellow'), from the Old Norse rauta and the Old English stall 'pool in a river' (Ekwall 1922, 92). The second, more recent one, relates to Rawtenstall's identification as a cattle farm in 1324 and combines the Old English ruh 'rough' and tun-stall 'the site of a farm' (Mills 1991, 269), or possibly, 'buildings occupied when cattle were pastured on high ground' (Mills 1976, 125).

Geography

Rawtenstall from the hill

Its 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

The earliest settlement at Rawtenstall was probably in the early Middle Ages, during the time when it formed part of the Forest of Rossendale in the Honour of Clitheroe, and consisted of simple dwellings for forest servants and animals. More substantial buildings may have followed in the 15th and 16th centuries with corn and flour mills.

The town entered a major period of growth during the Industrial Revolution, as new mills were constructed to process cotton. The climate and weather were conducive to the industry, as was the town's nearby location to the rapidly developing industrial and mercantile centre at Manchester, dubbed 'Cottonopolis'. Only a few of these mills survive today, and none are still operational. During this period, David Whitehead and his brother became important entrepreneurs in the town. They built a number of mills, including one of the earliest mills in the valley, at Lower Mill, and the still existing Ilex Mill. They also built substantial houses for themselves at Holly Mount, as well as large numbers of terraced houses for their workers. The population of Rawtenstall quadrupled in the first half of the 19th century and would double again in the second half. Other industries active in this period included quarrying and small scale coalmining, as well as an expanding commercial sector.

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. With the decline of the traditional manufacturing industries, shoemaking became one of the last survivors. The firm of H. W. Tricketts, in nearby Waterfoot, had been a major producer and exporter of footwear across the British Empire, but eventually the last shoemaking firms closed as production moved overseas.

About the town

Rawtenstall also has one of the largest indoor markets in Rossendale (a sign declaring it to be "probably the friendliest market in the world"), which suffered a serious arson attack in March 2011.

It was home to Lancashire's largest dry ski-slope, before it was closed due to funding cuts. Ski Rossendale was located five minutes from Rawtenstall town centre in the Oakenhead area, directly above Whitaker Park and Rossendale Museum. Over its 40-year existence it had seen world record attempts and was used by Olympic athletes and novice skiers. It re-opened once again in November 2011 with new funding, with a large ceremonial fireworks display on its opening day, Bonfire Night.

Here is the 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. It is the last bar of its kind in the country of Britain.

Police facilities in Rawtenstall were one of five sites used for the training of new recruits to the Lancashire Constabulary. In late 2011, due to funding cuts, Rawtenstall police station, along with various other stations in the area, closed down. Rawtenstall is also the location of the area's County Court and Magistrates' Court.

Whitaker Park

Whitaker Park is on the outskirts of the town centre, and consists of the former house of the mill owner George Hardman, set in extensive landscaped grounds.

Donated to the township in the early 20th century for the purposes of civic recreation, the house now contains the "The Whitaker" which is Rossendale's Museum and Art Gallery, whilst the gardens and surrounding land are laid out as a public park. The museum contains exhibits of local history, or displays of the house as it was originally. Part of it houses an extensive exhibition of taxidermy, whilst other areas are used to display contemporary art. The park itself has tennis courts, a bowling green, basketball court, a skateboard area and a playground as well as formal gardens and fountains.

Other

The deserted shopping centre

The Irwell Sculpture Trail also runs through the town, where four of the sculptures are located; the Whispering Wall, the Gateway, the Willow Tree and the Bocholt Tree. The last, by sculptor Bernard Tindall, celebrates Rossendale's twinning links with the town of Bocholt in Germany. The Shoe Trail also hits the outskirts of the town, and goes through nearly places such as Whitaker Park.

Rawtenstall's deserted shopping centre was often the focus of jokes around the valley. Deserted and boarded-up, the centre stands in the middle of the town defying all attempts to reopen it. The last 'deal', in February 2011, between Rossendale Council and the owners of the Rawtenstall centre, Ashcap, was said to "improve Rawtenstall town centre" and thus, in late 2011 the Shopping Centre was finally demolished giving way to a new town square area, where local markets and other events are infrequently held. The last surviving shop in the Valley Centre, Rawtenstall Post Office moved to nearby Kay Street in early February to try to spur on the development.

Sport

• Cricket: Rawtenstall Cricket Club, whose home ground is Worswick Memorial Ground.

Media

• The Rossendale Free Press

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Rawtenstall)