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'Ramsbottom' is a small town on the border of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England. With a total population of 14,635,[1] Ramsbottom is split between the Rossendale and Bury local government boroughs.[2]
Ramsbottom developed during the 19th century as a mill town. It had mills for spinning, weaving, and printing. Its Square Mill was in its day innovatory in combining many such processes under one roof.
History
Toponymy
The name is generally thought to mean "the valley of wild garlic" deriving from ramson as wild garlic is often called. Ramsbottom is known by locals as "Rammy".
Geography
Ramsbottom is bounded to the south by Holcombe Brook and Summerseat; to the north by Edenfield, Irwell Vale, Stubbins and the hamlets of Chatterton and Strongstry; to the west by Holcombe and to the east by Shuttleworth and Turn Village.
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.
Landmarks
Peel Tower, Holcombe Moor
The Peel Monument looking south towards Bury
The skyline over the town is dominated by the Peel Monument, a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, a 19th century British Prime Minister best remembered as the creator of the modern British Police Force, born in neighbouring Bury. The tower itself stands tall on Holcombe Moor.[3] Even from the foot of the tower, there are spectacular views over West Yorkshire, North Lancashire, Greater Manchester, North Wales and the Lancashire Plain. It is said 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, legislation that had driven up the price of bread for the working masses.
East Lancashire Railway
LMS 'Jinty' 0-6-0T No. 47324 at Ramsbottom station
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 north of Bury, south of Rawtenstall and north east of Bolton.
Grant Arms Hotel
The Grant Arms Hotel in the Market Place was at one time the home of William and Daniel Grant, brothers and 19th century industrialists, who settled in the area after leaving their native Scotland. It is said that the Grant brothers were the inspiration for the ''Cheeryble brothers'' in Charles Dickens' ''Nicholas Nickleby''.[4]
Until 1944, Grant's Tower, erected in 1828, stood on the eastern side of the valley (above Park Congregational Chapel) in memory of the Grant brothers.
Tilted Vase
Edward Allington's sculpture "Tilted Vase" in the centre of Ramsbottom
Ramsbottom is on the path of the Irwell Sculpture Trail. The 'Tilted Vase' by Edward Allington, a sculpture both classical in shape to reflect the surrounding buildings but apparently bolted together to reflect the old industries, is located in the Market Place. This piece of work, weighing around two tons, was controversially funded with over £1 million of National Lottery money.
Nuttall Park
A large park with facilities for bowls, tennis, football and public events.
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 owned by Mondi Packaging Ltd. The factory recycles and produces brown paper.
Traditions
Black Pudding Throwing Championships
The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships are held annually at the Royal Oak pub on Bridge Street in the town centre. Participants have to toss (underarm) 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 most yorkshire puddings in three attempts. The competition started at the now defunct Corner Pin pub in nearby Stubbins, but it is said that the contest has its roots in an apocrphyal event in the War of the Roses, when the opposing forces from Lancashire and Yorkshire hurled black puddings and yorkshire puddings at each other after they had exhausted their ammunition. In August 2002 this event was staged as the Commonwealth Black Pudding Throwing Championships
★ Official Homepage of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships
Good Friday traditions
Hundreds of people climb Harcles Hill, known locally as Holcombe Hill, each year on Good Friday.[5] Historically this gathering had a principally religious purpose as the hill is said to be strikingly similar to Calvary, the hill on which Jesus was crucified. A smaller gathering of people also keep alive the tradition of egg rolling before starting the climb. The large gatherings on the hill are clearly visible from miles away, and occasionally attract unorthodox religious preachers, who sometimes preach on the hill.
In recent years the celebrations have become more secular, with the public house at the bottom of Harcles Hill attracting as many as 3,000 visitors if the weather is good. This has led to complaints from local residents and to restrictions being imposed by the local council.[6]
Rammy Mile
A locally famous pub crawl stretching from 'The Eagle and Child' pub in Shuttleworth 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 Good Samaritan, 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.
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.
Religion
The Ramsbottom and Edenfield Team Ministry exists to share out the few reverends and priests that serve in the Ramsbottom and Edenfield areas, to make sure that all churches receive regular services.[7]
★ Christ Church Baptist Methodist Church
★ Dundee United Reformed Church
★ Edenfield CE Parish Church
★ Edenfield Methodist Church
★ Emmanuel Church Centre, Holcombe Brook
★ Emmanuel Holcombe CE Church, Holcombe
★ Greenmount United Reformed Church, Greenmount
★ Holcombe Brook Methodist Church
★ Olivet Pentecostal Church
★ Ramsbottom Independent Evangelical Church
★ St. Andrew's CE Church
★ St. Mary's CE Church, Hawkshaw
★ St. John in the Wilderness CE Church, Shuttleworth
★ St. Joseph's RC Church
★ St. Paul's CE Church
★ St. Philip's CE, Chatterton
Education
★ Edenfield CE Primary, Stubbins Community Primary, St Joseph's RC Primary, St Andrew's CE Primary, Hazelhurst County Primary, Emmanuel Holcomce CE Primary, Holcombe Brook Community Primary, Summerseat Methodist Primary, Peel Brow Primary
★ Woodhey High School
Sports
Ramsbottom Cricket Club play in the Lancashire League. The team has included professional players such as Chris Harris (New Zealand), Brad Hodge (Australia and Lancashire CCC, and Ian Harvey (Australia and currently Derbyshire CCC). Its ground, close to Ramsbottom Railway Station, has a reputation as being one of the best and most picturesque in the north west of England. Ramsbottom United Football Club play in the North West Counties Football League Division One (level 9 in the English Football League System). The club's home games are played at its floodlit pitch, the ''Riverside Ground'', adjacent to the cricket ground.
Arts and entertainment
Summerseat Players
Ramsbottom's non-professional dramatic group is called the Summerseat Players, a registered charity that is run entirely not-for-profit. It typically puts on five performances in each season, as well as a number of other events such as performances by local schools and dance groups, along with the company's own youth theatre groups.
The group has 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.[8]
References
1. 2001 census data
2. A Brief History of Rossendale, www.rossendale.gov.uk, 2007. URL accessed March 20, 2007.
3. Bury Council reference to Peel Tower, Holcombe Moor
4. Charles Dickens - writing from life
5. Easter Traditions
6. Bury Council
7. Team Ministry
8. Summerseat Players
External links
★ Ramsbottom Heritage Society
★ The Rotary Club of Ramsbottom
★ Rambottom United F.C.
★ Summerseat Views
★ Ramsbottom Cricket Club
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