Ramsbottom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ramsbottom | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 17,352 (2001 census) | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | SD790169 | |
| Administration | ||
| Metropolitan Borough: | Bury/Rossendale | |
| Region: | North West England | |
| Constituent country: | England | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Ceremonial county: | ||
| Historic county: | Lancashire | |
| Services | ||
| Police force: | Greater Manchester | |
| Fire and rescue: | Greater Manchester | |
| Ambulance: | Greater Manchester | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | Bury | |
| Postal district: | BL0 | |
| Dialling code: | 0170682 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Bury North | |
| European Parliament: | North West England | |
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Ramsbottom is a small town on the border of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.
Ramsbottom developed during the 19th century as a mill town. It had mills for spinning, weaving, printing etc although the Square Mill was in its day innovatory in that it combined many such processes under one roof.
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[edit] Geography and administration
Ramsbottom is bounded to the South by Holcombe Brook & Summerseat; to the North by Edenfield, Irwell Vale, Stubbins and the hamlets of Chatterton & Strongstry; to the West by Holcombe and to the East by Shuttleworth and Turn Village. The total population of the area is 17,352. For local government purposes it is split between the Metropolitan Borough of Bury and the Borough of Rossendale.
The area is characterised by its position in the Rossendale Valley and The West Pennine Moors. The high ground rises sharply on either side of the town with Holcombe Moor, Harcles Hill and Bull Hill to the west and Top O' Th' Hoof, Harden Moor, Scout Moor and Whittle Hill to the east.
[edit] History
[edit] Etymology
The name is generally thought to mean "the valley of wild garlic" deriving from ramson as wild garlic is often called.[citation needed] Ramsbottom is known by locals as "Rammy".
[edit] Landmarks
[edit] Peel Tower / Harcles Hill
The skyline over the town is dominated by the Peel Monument, a highly visible memorial to Sir Robert Peel. The Tower itself stands 128 feet tall on top of Harcles Hill. Even from the foot of the 39 metre tower there are spectacular views over towards West Yorkshire, North Lancashire, Greater Manchester, North Wales and the Lancashire Plain. It is boasted that from the top of the tower it is possible to see Blackpool Tower on a clear day.
The Tower was completed in 1852 at a cost of almost £1,000. This cost was met from public subscriptions by a people grateful for Peel's role in the repeal of The Corn Laws (i.e. legislation which placed a heavy tax on corn, driving up the price of bread for the working masses). Sir Robert Peel a 19th century British Prime Minister best remembered as the creator of the modern British Police Force, who was born at neighbouring Bury.
[edit] East Lancashire Railway
A popular way to visit Ramsbottom is via the East Lancashire Railway during weekends and public holidays. This preserved historic railway runs diesel and steam services through the year with main stopping points at Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Summerseat, Bury and Heywood. The district straddles the A676, A56 and B6214 roads with its centre 4 miles north of Bury, 4 miles south of Rawtenstall and 6 miles north east of Bolton.
[edit] The Grants Brothers / The Grants Arms Public House
In the Market Place is the Grants Arms, which commemorates the 19th Century industrialists the Grant Brothers who settled in the area after leaving their native Scotland. Charles Dickens immortalised them as the 'Cheeryble Brothers' in Nicholas Nickleby:
- These generally philantrophic mill owners made sure of the profits of their pub by paying their workforce in tokens that they could only redeem in the Grant Arms, part of their wage had then to be redeemed in drink.
Until 1944 there also used to be a tower, Grant's Tower, on the eastern side of the valley (above Park Congregational Chapel) to honour the memory of the Grant's Brothers. The tower was erected in 1828.
[edit] The Tilted Vase
Ramsbottom is placed on the Irwell Sculpture Trail and in the Market Place is the 'Tilted Vase' by Edward Allington. This two ton sculpture is classical in shape to reflect the surrounding buildings but also bolted together to reflect the old industries. The 'Tilted Vase' was funded using over £1 million worth of Lottery money.
[edit] Nuttall Park
A very large park with space for many full size football pitches.
[edit] Paper Mill
Situated by the train tracks and opposite a pleasant park where the trainspotters gather lies a paper mill. Formerly 'Danisco' paper mill and currently branded by 'Mondi Packaging Ltd'. The factory recycles and produces brown paper.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] Black Pudding Throwing Championships
The Black Pudding Throwing World Championships are held annually at the Royal Oak pub on Bridge Street in the town centre. Participants have to toss the puddings in an attempt to dislodge a stack of Yorkshire Puddings placed on plinths on two levels (one for children, the other for adults). The winner is the one who dislodges more Yorkshire Puddings in three attempts. The competition was originally started at the now defunct Corner Pin pub in nearby Stubbins, but it is apocryphally said the contest stems from the War of the Roses in which opposing forces from Lancashire and Yorkshire are said to have hurled black puddings and Yorkshire puddings at each other when they ran out of ammunition. In August 2002 this was held as the Commonwealth Black Pudding Throwing Championships
[edit] Good Friday Pilgrimage
Hundreds of people climb Holcombe Hill tradionally each year on Good Friday. Historically this gathering had a principally religious purpose since the hill is said to be strikingly similar to the hill that Jesus is said to have climbed before he was crucified on Good Friday (Calvalry Hill). The large gatherings on the hill are clearly visible from miles away on Good Friday. There are occasionally unorthodox religious preachers who preach on the hill, e.g. an eccentric gentleman holding up an L.P. record and shouting, "your soul.... is like this record... it has scratches!..."
In recent years, due to the rise of British 'drink culture', and the fact that Good Friday is inherently a bank holiday, the celebrations extend to a day of outdoor drinking at a pub situated at the bottom of the hill called the 'Hare and Hounds', especially when the weather is rewarding. The modern day celebrations are therefore somewhat ironic and contradictory to the religious belief that Good Friday is a day of 'fasting and abstinance'
[edit] The Rammy Mile Pub Crawl
A locally famous pub crawl stretching from 'The Railway' pub at one end of Ramsbottom ending with the 'Hare and Hounds' which marks the end of Ramsbottom in Holcombe Brook. Despite the fact that there are long stretches with NO pubs at all this is a very popular pub crawl, especially on Christmas Eve and Good Friday. Pubs include The Railway, The Royal Oak, The Grey Mare, The Grants Arms, Callenders (formerly The Clarence), The Major, The Old Dun Horse, The Masons Arms, The Fusilier, The Brook, The Hare and Hounds and routes sometimes may also include The Rose and Crown and The Shoulder of Mutton.
[edit] Old English Gamecock Show
Since 1843 there has been an annual exhibition, held on New Years Day, of game fowl organised by the Holcombe Old English Game Fowl Club. This competitive show replaced the annual cockfight that took place in the town square following the New Year Holcombe Hunt. The oldest gamecock show in the world, it is now held at the Old Dun Horse Hotel.
[edit] Religion
- Edenfield CE Parish Church
- Emmanuel Holcombe CE Church, Holcombe
- Holcombe Brook Methodist Church
- Ramsbottom Independent Evangelical Church
- St. Andrew's CE Church
- St. John in the Wilderness CE Church, Shuttleworth
- St. Joseph's RC Church
- St. Paul's CE Church
- St. Philip's CE, Chatterton
[edit] Education
- Edenfield CE Primary, Stubbins Community Primary, St Joseph's RC Primary, St Andrew's CE Primary, Hazelhurst Community Primary, Emmanuel Holcomce CE Primary, Holcombe Brook Community Primary, Summerseat Methodist Primary
- Woodhey Community High School
[edit] Sport
Ramsbottom has its own FA league football team, Ramsbottom United. They are currently in the North West Counties Football League Division One (level 9 in the English Football League System). They play home games at their own floodlit pitch - the Riverside Ground.
[edit] Rotary Club
An active local service organisation is the Rotary Club of Ramsbottom, which works on projects of benefit to individuals and groups both locally and internationally.
[edit] Arts and Entertainment
[edit] Summerseat Players
Ramsbottom's largest (and possibly only) amateur dramatic group is called the Summerseat Players. The Players are a registered charity and entirely not-for-profit. They typically put on 5 performances in each season, as well as a number of other events such as performances by local schools and dance groups, as well as the company's very own youth theatre group.
The group have existed since 1968 and originally performed at the St. Winifred's Church Hall in Summerseat. In 1990, with donations and loans from members and enthusiasts, the company purchased what is now the Theatre Royal on Smithy Street, Ramsbottom.
