Littleborough, United Kingdom
Littleborough is a town of 13,807 people in England, United Kingdom.
Why visit Littleborough
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 20 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Rochdale Cenotaph, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Kingsway Business Park and Falinge Park, Rochdale.
Weather in Littleborough
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Littleborough
Littleborough is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, in the upper Roch Valley by the foothills of the South Pennines, 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Rochdale and 13 miles (20.9 km) northeast of Manchester; Milnrow and the M62 motorway are to the south, and the rural uplands of Blackstone Edge to the east. According to the 2001 census, Littleborough, and its suburbs of Calderbrook, Shore and Smithy Bridge, had a population of 13,807.
From the Wikipedia article Littleborough, Greater Manchester (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Littleborough on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Littleborough
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Things to do6
Museums and landmarks5
Rochdale Cenotaph
Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi
War memorial in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, UK
Rochdale Pioneers Museum
Museum · 3.1 mi
Collection (museum), Heritage centre in Toad Lane, Rochdale
Touchstones Rochdale
Museum · 3.4 mi
Art gallery, museum and local studies library in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Ellenroad Ring Mill Engine
Museum · 3.0 mi
Stationary steam engine and museum in Milnrow, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, UK
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Falinge Park, Rochdale
Park · 3.2 mi
Public park in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, UK
Restaurants and cafes20
The Rake Inn
Bar and pub · 0.4 mi
Blackstone Edge Old Road, Littleborough
Mo-Th 17:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 17:00-21:00, Su 15:00-21:00
The Wine Press
Bar and pub · 0.7 mi
93 Hollingworth Road, Littleborough
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 11:00-22:30
8 more on the map.
History
Evidence of human activity in the area, dating to at least the Neolithic period, exists in the form of ancient flint tool and arrowhead discoveries. Rochdale Museum hold an early Iron Age bracelet made of a shale from Kimmeridge in Dorset, which was found in 1929 on Flint Hill, east of Blackstone Edge. A torc (or necklet) with ornamentation of a late-Celtic design was found in the Mawrode area of Littleborough in 1832; and the name Calderbrook is derived from an ancient Celtic language, two factors implying inhabitation by Celtic Britons.
Littleborough is supposed to have been the site of a small station along the Roman road that is routed from Mamucium (Manchester) to Eboracum (York) which skirts the town. Evidence of Roman occupation in Littleborough comes from finds of coins and pottery, and the right arm of a silver statue of Victory. Following the end of Roman rule in Britain, the remaining population came under the influence of the Anglo-Saxons. Place names indicate the Anglo-Saxon settlement of the Littleborough area, for example the 'gate' element in Lydgate and Reddyshore Scout Gate is Old English for 'road'. The name Littleborough is itself derived from the Old English lȳtel bruh (meaning small fortified place) or else lȳtel bróc (meaning small watercourse).
Read more of the history
In 1848 the population was chiefly employed in three flannel-mills, four cotton-factories, in bleachworks, six coal-pits, a stone-quarry and in brick-making.
From the History section of Littleborough, Greater Manchester on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Littleborough
Geography
At 53°38′38″N 2°5′53″W (53.644°, −2.098°), and 170 miles (274 km) north-northwest of central London, Littleborough stands roughly 623 feet (190 m) above sea level, on the western slopes of the Pennines, 13 miles (20.9 km) north-northeast of Manchester city centre, in the valley of the River Roch. Blackstone Edge and West Yorkshire are to the east; Rochdale and Milnrow are to the southwest and south.
In Littleborough are the localities and suburbs of Calderbrook, Chelburn, Durn, Featherstall, Gale, Hollinworth, Laneside, Rake, Shore, Sladen, Smithy Bridge, Stansfield, Summit and Whitelees.
From the Wikipedia article Littleborough, Greater Manchester, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Littleborough
Andy KershawEnglish broadcaster (1959–2026)Photo: Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0
Chris LuckettiEnglish footballer (born 1971)Photo: Salfordcityfc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Horace Stansfield CollierBritish Surgeon (1864-1930)Photo: Nigel Cox, CC BY-SA 2.0- Agyness DeynEnglish model
- Queenie NewallBritish archer
- Graham ClarkBritish opera singer
- Geoff BrayEnglish footballer (born 1951)
- Billy DuffFootballer (1938-2002)
- Lorna FitzsimonsBritish politician (born 1967)
- Dexter Fittoncricketer (born 1965)
- Adam CliftBritish rower
- James TaylorEnglish cricketer (1846–1915)
Born in Littleborough, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship11
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries9
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery
School · Anglican · 1.0 mi
Union Road, Rochdale
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 0.4 mi
Whitelees Road, Littleborough
Healthcare2
Map of Littleborough
65 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Manchester Airport (MAN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Todmorden 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Royton 6 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Oldham 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Saddleworth 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Rawtenstall 9 mi northwest, about 14 min by car
- Ramsbottom 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Whitefield 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Prestwich 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Burnley 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Manchester 13 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Littleborough
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Littleborough, Kram4 (Mark Henderson), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church Street, Littleborough, Mikey, CC BY 2.0
- Round-shaped building in Littleborough, Mikey from Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Wheatsheaf, Littleborough (6109500701), Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0
- Littleborough - First 60233 (W311JND), Mikey from Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Town Hall and Cenotaph, Rochdale, Tim Green, CC BY 2.0
- Rochdale Pioneers Museum A 29 July 2017, Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Edmund's Masonic Church, Rochdale, Tim Green, CC BY 2.0
- Hope Chapel, Rochdale, Plucas58, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Chad's church, Rochdale, Kram4 (Mark Henderson), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Former Rake Inn, Littleborough, Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St James, Calderbrook, Rochdale 2 (2873812382), Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0
- Royal Oak (8699103091), Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0
- Bookshop Flickr 19 May 2024, Tim Green, CC BY 2.0
- The Wine Press (2887783633), Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mappo2, CC BY-SA 4.0
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