County Borough of Rochdale
"Rochdale was, from 1856 to 1974, a local government district coterminate with the town of Rochdale in the northwest of England.
Municipal borough
In January 1856 the inhabitant householders of the Parliamentary Borough of Rochdale, Lancashire, petitioned the Privy Council for the grant of a charter of incorporation under the Municipal Corporations Act constituting the town as a municipal borough. The petit In 1858 the borough corporation took over the powers of the Rochdale Improvement Commissioners, which had been established by private act of parliament in 1825 to watch, light and cleanse the town. The borough was extended in 1872
County borough
The Local Government Act 1888 constituted all municipal boroughs with a population of more than 50,000 as "county borough"s. Accordingly, the County Borough of Rochdale came into existence in 1889, with the powers of both a borough and a county council. Rochdale remained within Lancashire for certain purposes such as lieutenancy and administration of justice.
In 1900 the county borough absorbed the bulk of the neighbouring Castleton Urban District by mutual agreement. The borough boundaries were extended again in 1933 by a county review order.
The county borough was abolished in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972. Its area formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale in the new county of Greater Manchester.
Borough council
Under the charter of 1856 the borough was governed by a town council consisting of a mayor, ten aldermen and thirty councillors. The borough was divided into three wards: Castleton and Wardleworth represented by twelve councillors and four aldermen each, and Spotland with six councillors and two aldermen. One third of the councillors in each ward were elected annually by the burgesses or local government electors. The aldermen were elected to a six-year term by the council itself, with half the aldermanic bench retiring every three years. The mayor was elected annually by the council from among their membership.
When the borough was extended in 1872, the council seats were redistributed and the borough was divided into ten wards, each with three councillors and one alderman, with the size of the council remaining at forty. When Castleton Urban District was absorbed in 1900, an eleventh ward of Castleton Moor was added, and the council increased to thirty-three councillors and eleven alderman. In 1933 the bulk of Norden Urban District was added to the borough as a twelfth ward, and the council consisted of thirty-six councillors and twelve aldermen until its abolition in 1974."
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The former fire station now holds The Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum.
"This unusual museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of fire fighting within Greater Manchester. It includes many varied exhibits, including fire appliances in period settings, such as a Victorian street, fire station and 1940 Blitz scene.
The museum is based in the 1930s Rochdale Fire Station, an interesting architectural building itself.
The museum is open every Friday, and themed open days are held on the first Sunday of every month."
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The Coat of Arms
"The arms were officially granted on February 20, 1857.
The fleece, woolpack, cotton and millrind stand for the local wool, cotton and iron industries. The martlets are from the arms of the Rashdale and Derden families. The Deardens came into possession of the Rochdale Manor in 1823. The motto Crede Signo, is based on that of Lord Byron of Rochdale."
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The arms were superceded in 1974 when the county borough became the much large Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale and new arms were granted.