Belfield, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belfield |
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 St Ann's church, Belfield |
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 Belfield
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| OS grid reference | SD915135 |
| • London | 169 mi (272 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROCHDALE |
| Postcode district | OL16 |
| Dialling code | 01706 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
Belfield is a small area located in Rochdale, which is part of Greater Manchester, England. It's a place where two rivers, the River Beal and the River Roch, meet. This meeting point is called a confluence. Belfield is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) east-northeast of Rochdale's town centre. To the east, you'll find the Rochdale Canal, which acts as a border between Belfield and Firgrove in Milnrow.
Belfield gets its name from the River Beal. Long ago, it was a small village, or hamlet, within a larger area called Butterworth. For a time, some parts of Belfield were even owned by the Knights Hospitaller, a famous group of knights from history.
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A Glimpse into Belfield's Past
Belfield has a long and interesting history. It was once part of Lancashire, a historic county in England.
Early Families and Land
Records show that a family named Belfield lived in this area during the time of King Edward III (who ruled in the 1300s). For example, in 1278–1279, some land in Butterworth was given to Adam de Belfield. Later, around 1293–1294, Richard de Belfield gave all his land between the River Beal and Stanney Brook to his brother Henry. This shows how important families like the Belfields were to the area's early development.
Belfield Hall: A Grand House
For many centuries, a very important building in Belfield was Belfield Hall. This was a large, historic house where important local people lived. These included Alexander Butterworth and Richard Townley. Both of them served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire. A High Sheriff was a very important official who helped the king keep law and order in the county.
The Moated Site Mystery
There's also a possible moated site in Belfield. A moated site is where a building was once surrounded by a ditch filled with water, like a small castle. The building on this site might have been built around 1619. Parts of it were rebuilt in 1752. Today, part of the building is used as two small homes, while other parts are no longer used.
Important Places in Belfield Today
Belfield has several key buildings that are important to the community.
St Ann's Church
The local Anglican church in Belfield is called St Ann's. It's a beautiful church that was officially opened in 1913. The Bishop of Manchester (a senior church leader) performed the special ceremony to open it, which is called consecration.
Belfield Bridge
You can find Belfield Bridge crossing over the Rochdale Canal. This bridge is a Grade II listed structure. This means it's a building or structure that is historically important and protected by law. It's recognized for its special architectural or historical interest.
Belfield Community School
Belfield also has its own school, Belfield Community School. It's a primary school for younger students in the area.
