Castleton, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castleton |
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 St Martin's has dominated Castleton's skyline since 1863 |
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 Castleton
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| Population | 10,159 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD8810 |
| • London | 168 mi (270 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROCHDALE |
| Postcode district | OL11 |
| Dialling code | 01706 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Castleton is a busy area located in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It's about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) south-southwest of Rochdale town centre and 8 miles (13 km) north-northeast of the big city of Manchester.
Long ago, Castleton was part of Lancashire. It started as a small township within the old area of Rochdale. In the 1800s, Castleton grew very quickly. It became a major mill town, which means it had many factories, mostly thanks to the Rochdale Canal being built through the area. Castleton grew so much that for a while, it was almost as big as Rochdale itself!
Today, Castleton is mostly a place where people live. It's located between junctions 19 and 20 of the M62 motorway. In 2011, about 10,159 people lived there.
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Discover Castleton's Past
The very first mention of Castleton is in the Domesday Book from 1086. This old book suggests the name "Castleton" comes from a castle. People believe Rochdale Castle was once located in the Castleton area, right by the River Roch.
In the 1200s, Castleton was often called Castletown or Castle Town. Later, when the canal was being built, some parts of Castleton were known as "Blue Pits Village." This was because of the blue clay found and mined there, where the railway is now.
How the Canal and Railways Shaped Castleton
The Rochdale Canal arrived in Castleton around 1800. This made Castleton one of the biggest industrial areas in North West England. The canal brought many jobs because it helped build several cotton mills. These mills needed engineering, so from 1892, Castleton was home to Tweedales and Smalley. They made machines for textiles. Their large factory, Globe Works, is no longer there.
The Manchester and Leeds Railway Company (later called the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) came to Castleton in 1839. This was an important railway hub where lines split off to places like Bury, Ramsbottom, and Bacup. Castleton's railway area was one of the last places to use steam trains for moving goods.
Important Buildings and Businesses in Castleton's History
Castleton Hall was a large country house owned by the Holtes family. It was built in the Elizabethan period and made bigger in 1719. Later, it became a training home for a mission, which eventually moved and is now Cliff College.
In 1903, Whipp & Bourne Ltd. started in Castleton. They made electrical switchgear, but their factory closed in 2007.
The Dunlop Rubber company also built a huge textile mill complex in Castleton in 1913. At its busiest, over 3,000 people worked there! Most of the mill was taken down in 1979, and Dunlop Textiles stopped working in 2005.
How Castleton is Governed
For a long time, Castleton was part of Lancashire. It was a township within the old area of Rochdale. Back then, Castleton was much larger than it is today, including areas like Balderstone and Marland.
In 1865, some of Castleton became part of the new Municipal Borough of Rochdale. Later, in 1894, Castleton was divided into two parts: "County Borough of Rochdale" and "Castleton-by-Rochdale." In 1896, Castleton-by-Rochdale was renamed "Castleton Urban District." By 1900, these parts were joined with Rochdale and Heywood.
In 1972, a new law changed local government. Castleton then became part of the new Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale within Greater Manchester.
Castleton's Economy and Shops
Castleton used to have a big Woolworth's warehouse and office building. However, Woolworths closed down, so the site is now empty. This old mill is near Arrow Mill, which is right next to it.
Castleton doesn't have any banks anymore. They all closed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Carcraft, a car dealership, was also based there but has now closed.
Famous Places in Castleton
Castleton is home to St. Martin's C of E church. This beautiful church is a great example of Victorian architecture. It was finished in 1863 and closed in 1991. It was later fixed up in 2002 and 2003.
Most of the buildings in Castleton are old Victorian-style houses, but some areas have been updated.
Getting Around Castleton
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Castleton railway station serves the people of Castleton. It's on the Caldervale Line, which connects Castleton to big cities like Manchester and Leeds.
Until 2007, Castleton had a Corus steel works. This was built where the old British Railways Castleton Central Materials Depot used to be.
The Rochdale Canal also runs through Castleton, right next to the railway and Queensway road. The road goes over the canal on an old brick bridge that has been fixed up. Castleton also has two of the canal's locks, which are like water elevators that help boats move up and down the canal.
Sports in Castleton
Castleton has its own rugby league and football clubs. Rochdale Mayfield A.L.R.F.C. (once called "Mayfield") plays rugby league at Castleton Sports Centre. Rochdale Town F.C. (formerly Castleton Gabriels) also played football at the same ground.
Learning in Castleton
Castleton has three primary schools: Castleton County Primary School, St. Edward's Primary School, and St. Gabriel's RC Primary School. Castleton Primary School is well-remembered by older residents. It was built in 1902 and opened as 'Castleton Board School' in 1903. A part of the school was taken down in 2003 to build a newer, better building.
Images for kids
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Arrow Mill is a former cotton mill and Grade II listed building in Castleton
