Belfield, Greater Manchester

Belfield

St Ann's church, Belfield
Belfield
 Belfield shown within Greater Manchester
OS grid referenceSD915135
   – London  169 mi (272 km) SSE 
Metropolitan boroughRochdale
Metropolitan county Greater Manchester
RegionNorth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town ROCHDALE
Postcode district OL16
Dialling code 01706
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°37′05″N 2°07′40″W / 53.61819°N 2.127756°W

Belfield is a locality within Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.[1] It lies at the confluence of the River Beal and River Roch, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) east-northeast of Rochdale's town centre. Belfield is bound to the east by the Rochdale Canal, which forms Rochdale's common boundary with Firgrove in Milnrow.[2]

Historically a part of Lancashire, Belfield was formerly a hamlet within the ancient township of Butterworth,[1] and for a time held in part by the Knights Hospitaller.[3] Belfield derives its name from the River Beal,[4] which flows into the area from neighbouring Milnrow.

A family with the surname Belfield were living in the locality during the reign of Edward III, when lands in Butterworth were conveyed to Adam de Belfield (1278–1279). In 1293–1294 Richard de Belfield conveyed to his brother Henry, "all his lands lying between the Bele (River Beal) and Stonneybeck (Stanney Brook)".[5]

For centuries a major landmark in the area was Belfield Hall, a historic house held by local dignitaries, including Alexander Butterworth and Richard Townley, who each served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire.[3][6]

There is a possible moated site in Belfield (grid reference SD91391362). The building on the site probably dates to c.1619 with parts rebuilt in 1752; part of the building is used as two cottages whilst the rest has been left to decay.[7]

Belfield's Anglican parish church is St Ann's. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Manchester in 1913.[8]

Belfield Bridge lies over the Rochdale Canal and is a Grade II listed structure.[9]

Belfield Community School, a primary school, lies within the locality.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Greater Manchester Gazetteer". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Places names - B. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  2. ↑ Rochdale (Map) (1908 ed.). Cartography by Ordnance Survey. Alan Godfrey Maps. 2002. § Lancashire Sheet 89.01. ISBN 1-84151-384-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 213–222. ISBN 978-0-7129-1055-2.
  4. ↑ Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. "Milnrow & Newhey". link4life.org. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  5. ↑ Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. "Belfield Hall". link4life.org. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  6. ↑ Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. "Events in Milnrow 1400–1929!". link4link.org. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  7. ↑ "Belfield". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "The 1910s". Rochdale Observer (M.E.N. Media). 11 June 2003. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "Belfield Bridge". imagesofengland.org.uk. 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  10. ↑ Belfield Community School. "Welcome to Belfield Community School". belfield.rochdale.sch.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2008.