Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Middleton has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Middleton.
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Sights in Middleton
Middleton is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, Middleton was anciently a division of the parish of Rochdale and later a chapelry within the parish of Bury. Middleton became a town in 1856. It is geographically divided from east to west by the River Irk and from north to south by the A56 roads.
At the time of the 2001 census, Middleton had a population of 42,625, making it the third largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, after Rochdale and Heywood.
The market town of Middleton, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Michelintone, developed around the 13thcentury market cross in the centre of the town. The townspeople were customers of the nearby Smithy Bride Street, which lay on the route from Manchester to Bacup. The local church dedicated to St Leonard stood on a hilltop overlooking the town, it was rebuilt in 1712.
In 1770, Middleton was a village of about 800 people, living in 150 houses. Cotton spinning and framework knitting were the main industries. By 1801, the population had increased to 1,744, and Middleton hadA become “a populous and opulent place”. When the spinning industry collapsed in the 1830s, Middleton’s weavers suffered severe financial hardship, exacerbated by the Cotton Famine of 18611865.
The boom years of the Industrial Revolution saw Middleton booms, particularly in the textile and coal mining sectors. In 1822, the world’s first steampowered textile mill was built in Middleton by Sir Robert Peel. The same year, Middleton Colliery was sunk to the south of the town, and by 1831 it had reached a depth of 1,000 feet (300 m), making it the deepest coal mine in the world at that time.
The number of Middleton’s cotton mills peaked in 1856 at 63, but the population almost quadrupled between 1850 and 1900 as housing for mill workers was built in the town.
The construction of the Manchester, Bury and Rossendale Railway in 1846 and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’s branch from Castleton Junction in 1848 brought further economic growth to Middleton.
By the end of the 19th century, Middleton had become “a prosperous place with abundant supplies of water and gas, good educational facilities and churches of various denominations”.
Middleton’s town centre was redeveloped in the 1970s, and the Heywood and Middleton Building Society moved into new premises in the centre in 1972.
In 1987, Rochdale Council bought the freehold of Middleton Shopping Centre from the Heywood and Middleton Building Society for £2.5 million. The council then embarked on a £5 million refurbishment programme, which was completed in 1989.
The refurbished shopping centre included a new covered market hall, which opened in 1990 and houses over 70 stalls. Middleton’s town centre was pedestrianised in 1993.
Middleton has a town hall, which was built in 1856. The Middleton Institute, on the corner of Manchester Road and Long Street, was built in 1859 as a Mechanics’ Institute. It was extended in 1866 and again in 1874, and was converted into a technical college in 1906. High Wood House on Manchester Road was the headquarters of the former Middleton Rural District Council from 1902 until 1974.
The Middleton Arena, on the site of the former technical college, opened in 1997. It houses a swimming pool, library, gym and sports hall.
The Townley Writing Academy, on Long Street, was founded in 1826, making it one of the oldest literary institutions in the country.
Middleton Gardens, on the banks of the River Irk, were opened to the public in 2002. They include a bandstand, skate park, tennis courts, bowling green and children’s play area.
Middleton has a towntwinning arrangement with the town of Middleton, Wisconsin, USA.
History of Middleton
Middleton is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it is situated on the River Irk 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Bury and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northwest of Oldham, bordering the village of Heywood to the southwest. Middleton had a population of 42,975 in 2011.
A former mill town, textile manufacture was the principal industry until the mid20th century when decline set in; Middleton’s fortunes changed with the growth of the nearby Manchester conurbation, and today it is a mainly residential suburb of Greater Manchester.
Vacation in Middleton
Middleton is a town located in the borough of Rossendale, Lancashire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Middleton was until 1974 a municipal borough in the county of Lancashire. It then became part of the borough of Rossendale, which itself became a unitary authority area in 1998. The town has a population of 22,293, according to the 2011 census.
Middleton is twinned with Clover, South Carolina.
Middleton is 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the M60 motorway and 5 miles (8.0 km) east of the M66 motorway.
Tourism plays a big role in the town, with visitors coming to see the Grade I listed St Leonards Church, built in 1421. The box pews, rood screen, misericords and stained glass windows are particularly noteworthy. The town is also home to theTH Middleton Railway, a heritage steam railway which runs for 2 miles (3.2 km) through the scenic valley of the River Tor. The railway has been restored and operates steam and diesel trains on a regular basis.
There are a number of hotels in the town, including the Grade II listed Rose and Crown Hotel, which dates back to the 16th century. There is also a variety of bed and breakfasts, selfcatering accommodation and campsites available.
The town centre has a number of shops, including independent retailers, as well as chain stores such as Boots, Superdrug and Wilkinson. There is also a weekly market, which sells a variety of goods including fresh produce, clothes, household items and much more.
Middleton Park, located in the centre of the town, is a popular spot for visitors and residents alike. The park covers an area of 28 acres (11 ha) and features a lake, bowling green, putting green, tennis courts and children’s play area. The park also has a number of events throughout the year, including an annual funfair, summer concerts and a Halloween festival.
So whether you’re looking for a historic town to explore, a lively town centre to shop in or a scenic park to relax in, Middleton has something to offer everyone.
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