View source for Borough of Rossendale

{{Short description|Borough and non-metropolitan district in Lancashire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Borough of Rossendale
| type                   = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] and [[non-metropolitan district]]
| image_skyline          = Rossendale Valley - geograph.org.uk - 5922398.jpg
| imagesize              = 280px
| image_caption          = Rossendale Valley
| image_blank_emblem     =
| blank_emblem_type      = Coat of Arms of the City Council
| image_map              = Rossendale UK locator map.svg
| map_caption            = Rossendale shown within [[Lancashire]] and England
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name       = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1      = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1      = England
| subdivision_type2      = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[North West England]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Lancashire]]
| seat_type              = Admin.&nbsp;HQ
| seat                   = [[Bacup]]
| government_type        = Rossendale Borough Council
| leader_title2          = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]:
| leader_name2           = [[Andy MacNae]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
| leader_title3          = 
| leader_name3           = 
| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       =
| founder                =
| area_rank              = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E07000125}}]]
| area_total_km2         = {{formatnum:{{English district area|GSS=E07000125}}|R}}
| coordinates            = {{Coord|53|41|00|N|02|15|00|W|type:adm3rd|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of       = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total       = {{formatnum:{{English district population|GSS=E07000125}}|R}}
| population_rank        = [[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E07000125}}]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone               = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
| utc_offset             = +0
| timezone_DST           = [[British Summer Time]]
| utc_offset_DST         = +1
| postal_code_type       = Postcode
| postal_code            = [[BB postcode area|BB]], [[BL postcode area|BL]], [[OL postcode area|OL]]
| area_code              =
| blank_name             = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
| blank_info             = <!-- GB-?? -->
| blank1_name            = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info            = 30UM (ONS)<br />E07000125 (GSS)
| blank2_name            = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_info            = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|####}} -->
| blank3_name            = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info            = <!-- UKG## -->
| blank4_name            = Ethnicity
| <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000125|title=Rossendale Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 92.4% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 5.5% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.5% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 0.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 0.2% [[Black British people|Black]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 48.8% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 40.1% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 5.2% not stated
 | 4.9% [[Islam in England|Islam]] 
 | 0.5% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.3% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.1% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.1% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 }} 
}}
'''Rossendale''' ({{IPAc-en|'|r|ɒ|z|ən|d|eɪ|l|}}) is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in [[Lancashire]], England. Its council is based in [[Bacup]] and its largest town is [[Rawtenstall]]. It also includes the towns of [[Haslingden]] and [[Whitworth, Lancashire|Whitworth]]. The borough is named after the [[Rossendale Valley]], the upper part of the valley of the [[River Irwell]].

The neighbouring districts are [[Borough of Burnley|Burnley]], [[Hyndburn]], [[Blackburn with Darwen]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury|Bury]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Bolton|Bolton]], [[Calderdale]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale|Rochdale]].

==Toponymy==
The name ''Rossendale'' is first recorded in 1292. A record of the name as ''Rocendal'' (1242) suggests [[Celtic language|Celtic]] ''ros'' "moor, heath", with [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] dalr "dale, [[valley]]", hence ''moor valley'' i.e. the valley of the [[River Irwell]].<ref>Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names; A.D. Mills; OUP 1991; {{ISBN|0-19-852758-6}}.</ref>

== History ==
Rossendale is part of the [[Forest of Rossendale]], which consists of the steep-sided valleys of the River Irwell and its tributaries, which flow from the [[Pennines]] southwards to Manchester and cut through the moorland which is characteristic of the area. It was given the designation of "forest" in medieval times denoting a hunting reserve.

The larger settlements grew into market towns, typically through the late [[Middle Ages]]. Farming and a [[cottage industry|cottage]] [[woollen]] industry developed during the reign of [[Henry VIII]], but Rossendale's population only really expanded during the period of the [[Industrial Revolution]]. The population of the area that would become the modern borough of Rossendale was 24,136 in 1801; in 1901 it had grown to 89,540.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rossendale District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10197302 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref> Its wet and damp climate are ideally suited to the development of watermills, and later to the mechanisation of the wool and cotton spinning and [[weaving]] industries in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the middle of the 19th century a [[felt]] industry developed, and from this the manufacturing of slippers so that footwear also became a major employer in the area.<ref>A Rossendale Anthology; Ronald Digby; Forest Press, Bacup 1969</ref>

The area became one of the cradles of the [[Industrial Revolution]], and was known as 'The Golden Valley'. There was great hardship among working people during this time, but many fortunes were made among the mill-owning classes.<ref>Lancashire – The First Industrial Society; Chris Aspin; Carnegie 1995; {{ISBN|1-85936-016-5}}</ref> There was large-scale immigration from Ireland to find work building the railways and in the mills, which led to several instances of serious civil disturbances between the two communities. [[Michael Davitt]], the [[Irish republican]] leader was among these immigrants, settling in Haslingden, where he received his education after losing an arm at the age of 11 in a mill accident.

The area is also notable for its quarrying, and Rossendale Flagstone was used widely throughout the country in the 19th century. The flagstones in [[Trafalgar Square]] in [[London]] were quarried in Rossendale.<ref>Building Blocks; D. Revell and A. Baldwin; 1985; {{ISBN|0-947738-13-4}}</ref> Upland farming is still carried out, largely of sheep but also of cattle. The history of Rossendale is well documented, largely through the efforts of the historian Chris Aspin, a specialist on the textile industry, and Derek Pilkington, whose efforts led to the preservation of Higher Mill in Helmshore, now [[Helmshore Mills Textile Museum]].

The Whitworth Doctors were local surgeons and bone setters in the late 1700s and early 1800s whose reputation spread far and wide, so that they treated patients from throughout the country. In 1819 William Hewitt described them as "the most remarkable men of their class that ever appeared in England".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Story of the Whitworth Doctors |url=https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/the-story-of-the-whitworth-doctors |website=Heritage Open Days |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref>

R.S. Ireland (The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co.) is based near Haslingden;<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.reallancashireblackpuddings.co.uk/ |website=The Real Lancashire Black Pudding Co |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> a family-run business of specialist [[black pudding]] makers, using only traditional methods and with a recipe dating back to 1879. Rawtenstall has [[Mr Fitzpatrick's]], this is the last remaining functioning [[temperance bar]] in England, that makes and sells its own non-alcoholic drinks, such as [[Sarsaparilla (soft drink)|sarsaparilla]], [[Stout|black beer]]s and blood tonic.

===Administrative history===
The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref>
*[[Bacup]] [[Municipal Borough]]
*[[Haslingden]] Municipal Borough
*[[Ramsbottom]] [[Urban district (England and Wales)|Urban District]] (North and Walmersley cum Shuttleworth{{efn|Despite the name, the Walmersley cum Shuttleworth ward did not include the settlements of [[Walmersley]] or [[Shuttleworth, Greater Manchester|Shuttleworth]], but instead covered the rural parts of the ancient [[Township (England)|township]] of Walmersley cum Shuttleworth left over after Walmersley had been absorbed by Bury in 1872 and Shuttleworth by Ramsbottom in 1883.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greater Manchester Gazetteer |url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzt2w.htm |website=Greater Manchester County Record Office |access-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144311/http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzt2w.htm#walmersley |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1895 |location=London |page=259 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFIwAQAAMAAJ |access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Walmersley cum Shuttleworth Township / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10382026 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref>}} wards only, rest went to Bury)
*[[Rawtenstall]] Municipal Borough
*[[Whitworth, Lancashire|Whitworth]] Urban District

The new district was named Rossendale, referring both to the Rossendale Valley and to the associated medieval Forest of Rossendale which had covered a similar area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=22 August 2022}}</ref> The new district was awarded [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Rossendale Borough Council
| coa_pic = 
| coa_res = 
| coa_alt = 
| coa_caption = 
| logo_pic = Rossendale Borough Council logo.svg
| logo_res = 250px
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| house_type = Non-metropolitan district
| foundation = 1 April 1974
| leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1 = Michelle Smith
| party1 = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election1 = 16 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 May 2025 |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/12292/Minutes%2520of%2520the%2520meeting%252016th%2520May%25202025 |website=Rossendale Borough Council |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Alyson Barnes
| party2 = <br/>[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| election2 = 20 May 2011
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3 = Rob Huntington
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = April 2023<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Bill |title=Rossendale Council appoints new chief executive |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23246353.rossendale-council-appoints-new-chief-executive/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=12 January 2023}}</ref>
| seats = 30 councillors
| structure1 = 
| structure1_res =
| structure1_alt = 
| political_groups1 = 
;Administration (20)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (20)
;Other parties (10)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (5)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (3)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Residents Association}}|border=darkgray}} Community First (1)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} [[Reform UK]] (1)
| voting_system1 = [[First-past-the-post voting|First past the post]]
| last_election1 = [[2024 Rossendale Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| motto = 
| session_room = "Kingfisher Centre" Futures Park, Bacup, Rossendale OL13 0BB - geograph.org.uk - 1750047.jpg
| session_res = 
| session_alt = 
| meeting_place = The Business Centre, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13{{nbsp}}0BB
| website = {{URL|www.rossendale.gov.uk}}
| constitution =
| footnotes = 
}}

Rossendale Borough Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Lancashire County Council]]. Whitworth is also a [[civil parish]], which forms a third tier of local government in that part of the borough.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Rossendale" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=gain>{{cite news| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/30um.stm | title = Rossendale | access-date = 2009-09-18 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date=19 April 2008}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1974–1976
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1976–1986
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1986–2000
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2000–2002
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2002–2003
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2003–2004
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2004–2007
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2007–2008
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2008–2011
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2011–2012
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2012–2021
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2021–2022
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2022–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Rossendale. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 2004 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Peter Steen<ref name=LT20Dec2004/> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right| || align=right|Dec 2004
|-
| Duncan Ruddick<ref name=LT20Dec2004>{{cite news |title=New leader's vow to transform council |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5804177.new-leaders-vow-transform-council/ |access-date=30 July 2025 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=20 December 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New council leader at the helm |url=https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/local-news/new-council-leader-helm-1709495 |access-date=25 August 2022 |work=Rossendale Free Press |date=14 December 2007}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|16 Dec 2004 || align=right|19 Dec 2007
|-
| Tony Swain<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 December 2007 |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/2613/Minutes%2520of%252019.12.07 |website=Rossendale Borough Council |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=Vanessa |title=Conservative chief loses seat as party suffers in Rossendale |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9013078.conservative-chief-loses-seat-party-suffers-rossendale/ |access-date=30 July 2025 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|19 Dec 2007 || align=right|8 May 2011
|-
| Alyson Barnes<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 20 May 2011 |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/5402/Minutes%2520of%2520the%2520meeting%252020th%2520May%25202011 |website=Rossendale Borough Council |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|20 May 2011 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Rossendale Borough Council election|2024 election]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/may/02/local-elections-2024-full-council-results-for-england |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to June 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Rossendale |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=rossendale |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center|20
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Community First}}
| align=center|1
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}}
| align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|30
|}

The next election is due in 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Elections===
{{see also|Rossendale Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2024 the council has comprised 30 [[councillor]]s representing 10 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four year term of office. [[Lancashire County Council elections]] are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Rossendale (Electoral Changes) Order 2024|year=2024|number=4|access-date=11 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LGBCE |title=Rossendale {{!}} LGBCE |url=https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/rossendale |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=www.lgbce.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at The Business Centre on Futures Park in Bacup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Council offices |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/council/council-offices |website=Rossendale Borough Council |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref> It was built as commercial offices called the Kingfisher Business Centre in 2003. The council took some office space in the building before creating a council chamber there in 2009 and consolidating its functions at the site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Committee report, 5 October 2009 |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/4057/b4_2009406_kingfisher_business_centre_futures_park_newchurch_road_bacup |website=Rossendale Borough Council |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Willmott |first1=Alex |title=Rossendale council chamber move given go-ahead |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4667426.rossendale-council-chamber-move-given-go-ahead/ |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=6 October 2009}}</ref>

Prior to 2009 the council was based at [[Rawtenstall Town Hall]] at the corner of Bacup Road and Lord Street. It had been built in 1876 as the "Exchange Club" and was subsequently acquired in 1890 by the Rawtenstall [[Local board of health|Local Board]] (predecessor of the Rawtenstall Borough Council) for use as its offices.<ref>{{cite news |title=Proposed purchase of the Exchange Club for public offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=Rossendale Free Press |date=21 December 1889 |location=Rawtenstall |page=8}}</ref> The building was later extended into the offices of an adjoining tramway depot.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grieve |first1=Jonathan |title=A look inside the renovated Rawtenstall town hall |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/16950046.look-inside-renovated-rawtenstall-town-hall/ |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=29 September 2018}}</ref>

== Transport ==
The borough is linked by the motorway network to Manchester, Burnley and [[Blackburn]] via the [[A56 road|A56]]/[[M65 motorway|M65]] and [[M66 motorway|M66]] motorways.

There was once a rail link south to Manchester via Bury, but this was closed in 1966 as part of cuts following the [[Beeching Report]]. Part of the old railway reopened in 1991 as the [[East Lancashire Railway]] operating a service from Rawtenstall to Bury via Ramsbottom and [[Summerseat]], and manned by volunteers. In September 2003 an eastbound extension from Bury to [[Heywood, Greater Manchester|Heywood]] was opened.

In March 2015, it was proposed to reintroduce a rail service between Rawtenstall, Bury and Manchester. This would use the current route of the East Lancashire Heritage Railway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/rossendale-rail-link-could-connect-8768137 | publisher=Rossendale Free Press | title=Rossendale rail link could connect Valley to Manchester in 37 minutes| date=4 March 2015 }}</ref>

The area is well served by public road transport, with bus services provided mainly by [[Rosso (bus company)|Rosso]] and [[Burnley Bus Company]]. These provide regular services to [[Burnley]], [[Blackburn]], [[Accrington]], [[Bolton]], [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]], [[Manchester]] and [[Rochdale]] as well as [[Todmorden]] and other local destinations.

== Education in Rossendale ==
Rossendale contains multiple secondary schools, these are:
* [[All Saints' Catholic High School, Rawtenstall|All Saints' Catholic High School]]
* [[Alder Grange School]]
* [[Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School]] (selective state school)
* [[Haslingden High School]]
* [[The Valley Leadership Academy]]
* [[Whitworth Community High School]]
* Rossendale School (Specialist Autism School)

In addition, there is [[Accrington and Rossendale College]], based in [[Accrington]].

== Media ==
In terms of television, the area is served by [[BBC North West]] and [[ITV Granada]]. Television signals are received from the [[Winter Hill transmitting station|Winter Hill]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Winter_Hill |title=Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter |date=May 2004 |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Lancashire]], [[Heart North West]], [[Capital Manchester and Lancashire]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire]], and [[Rossendale Radio]], a community based radio station which broadcasts from studios in [[Rawtenstall]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rossendaleradio.com/|title=Rossendale Radio |access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

The area is served by local newspaper, ''[[Lancashire Telegraph]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-nw/lancashire-telegraph/|title=Lancashire Telegraph|date=30 May 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref>

== Arts ==
[[File:Wwell.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Waugh's Well]]Rossendale is the home to a large community of artists with several painters' studios, many of which are centred on the area around Waterfoot. Rossendale's only traditional theatre is in Bacup. The Royal Court Theatre first opened in 1893 and has a thriving Youth Theatre called The Rossendale Musical Theatre Academy. The theatre and arts centre known as 'The Boo' as well as being a regular venue for family theatre shows, music and a wide range of community arts events, is the home of the [[Horse and Bamboo Theatre]] Company who specialise in visual theatre, often using distinctive [[puppets]] and [[masks]]. The painters and other artists who make up the major studios within the valley – Globe Arts, Prospect Studio, Valley Artists – along with the Boo, the Whitaker, Apna Rossendale, and individual artists now work together to open their studios and premises each year at the Rossendale Art Trail Open Studios weekend in late summer.

The first part of the [[Irwell Sculpture Trail]] runs from Deerplay, above Bacup, to Stubbins. The actress [[Jane Horrocks]] was born in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, and the composer [[Alan Rawsthorne]] was born in Haslingden. [[Betty Jackson]], the fashion designer, is a native of Bacup.

In the 18th and 19th centuries the [[Larks of Dean]] were an unusual group of [[working class]] musicians whose music-making at the [[Baptist]] Chapel in Goodshaw Fold became an important local feature. There is also a [[brass band]] tradition as well as an amateur theatre scene. There was once over 40 bands in and around Rossendale, including the Irwell Springs Band whose fame was at a peak at the turn of the 19th century. There are currently the Haslingden and Helmshore Band, Rossendale Encore Concert Band, Goodshaw Band, Stacksteads Band, Water Band, 2nd Rossendale Scout Group Band, Whitworth Vale & Healey Band, Whitworth Youth Band, Haslingden Concert Band and the Whitworth Veterans' Band. Rossendale is home to a unique dancing troupe, the [[Britannia Coconut Dancers]], formed in the mid-19th century, and who traditionally dance along the local roads every Easter.
[[File:Halo in Haslingden, Rossendale, England.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Haslingden Halo]]

There has been a long tradition of [[dialect]] poetry and writing in Rossendale.<ref>A Bacup Miscellany : Prose and Verse by Local Writers Past and Present. Ed. Harry Craven. {{ISBN|978-0-9502527-0-4}}</ref> Local poets have included [[Andrew Houston]] (''The Rossendale Bard''), Walter Hargreaves (''Shepster'') and Clifford Heyworth (''Bill o' Bows''). Waugh's Well, above Edenfield and [[Cowpe]], marks the spot where [[Edwin Waugh]] wrote many of his poems, and is a favourite spot for walkers – a popular activity in Rossendale that does not appear to be in decline.

The Halo is an artwork in the form of an 18m-diameter steel lattice structure supported on a tripod overlooking Haslingden, positioned to be clearly visible from the M66 and A56 approach to Lancashire. Designed by John Kennedy and selected as part of a design competition managed by [[RIBA Competitions]] which was launched in 2003. It is lit after dark using low-energy LEDs powered by an adjacent [[wind turbine]]. It is the fourth [[Panopticons|Panopticon in Lancashire]]. It, and the adjacent landscaped area at Top o'Slate, was opened to the public in September 2007, and was designed by John Kennedy of LandLab and engineered by Booth King Partnership.

Rossendale is also home to touring theatre company Hard Graft.  Established in 1999 Hard Graft found notoriety in the UK touring non theatre venues.  Their first tour was with their award-winning comedy [[Steven Arnold|Thick As Thieves]], touring living rooms throughout the UK.  They then toured 56 charity shops with Burt n Joyce turning each shop into a theatre for the evening.

== Sports and entertainment ==
[[File:Lee quarry.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.9|[[Lee Quarry]] now contains a purpose-built mountain bike trail.<ref>{{Cite web | title = News : The Adrenaline Live! Weekend Takes Shape | url = http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/news/press_releases/y/m/release.asp?id=200807&r=PR08/0411 | date = 2008-07-02 | publisher = lancashire.gov.uk | access-date = 2009-03-15 }}</ref>]]Three Rossendale towns have cricket clubs in the [[Lancashire League (cricket)|Lancashire League]] – Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall. The overseas professionals who are associated with the League have therefore often lived in the Rossendale Valley. For example, [[Everton Weekes]] was long associated with Bacup; [[Clive Lloyd]] with Haslingden. Edenfield Cricket Club are also associated with the Lancashire League but only participate in the leagues T/20 competition.

[[Rossendale RUFC|Rossendale rugby club]] for many years had been a small [[rugby union]] club playing in the lower leagues, but in recent years the club has gained two promotions to take them into [[Regional 1 North West]]. Notable players such as Daniel Collins, Dave Wood and [[Tim Fourie]] now play at the valley side.

The area's only semi-pro non league football team are [[Bacup Borough F.C.]] who play their home games at West View and are members of the [[North West Counties League]] Division One. The area's other major non league side [[Rossendale United]], who played their home games at nearby Newchurch near [[Rawtenstall]], folded in 2011. The only other semi-pro team from the Rossendale area are [[Ramsbottom United]] who play in the [[Northern Premier League Division One North]].  Previously there had been [[Haslingden F.C.]], playing at Ewood Bridge, on the outskirts of Haslingden, until they folded in 1998.  Their ground was later used briefly by [[Stand Athletic F.C.]] before they vacated and moved back to Whitefield in Greater Manchester.  Other clubs around the Rossendale area are all from Step 7 (Level 11) and below, and so playing in various leagues at this level – the [[West Lancashire Football League]] (Rossendale FC & Haslingden St Mary's), East Lancashire League (Stacksteads St Joseph's, Water FC), [[Lancashire Amateur League]] (Rossendale FC, Whitworth Valley, Valley United).

The popular comedy series, ''[[The League of Gentlemen]]'', is apparently based upon Rossendale (and perhaps Bacup in particular), playing upon stereotypes and exaggerations of the area. Subsequently, the producers filmed in various northern towns, one of which was Bacup itself, which [[Jeremy Dyson]] (writer) and [[Steve Pemberton]] (actor) proclaimed, "Bacup was the furthest we went into Lancashire. Bacup was our hot favourite, but it was too frightening – when we arrived there was this cartoon drunk with a bottle shaking his fist at us. Bacup in real life was worse than [[Royston Vasey]]".<ref>The League of Gentleman Blog; https://web.archive.org/web/20091018215755/http://geocities.com/gwaddingham/log.htm</ref>

Various towns within the Rossendale Valley were used for filming scenes of the BBC TV series ''[[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]]'' during the 1990s.

The 1980's BBC drama series ''[[Juliet Bravo]]'' was filmed in Rossendale with the exterior of Bacup police station serving as the fictional Hartley police station.

During autumn 2008 areas around Rossendale were used in the filming of the BBC TV series ''[[Survivors (2008 TV Series)|Survivors]]'' including the Airtours site and other sites in [[Helmshore]] and Bank Street in [[Rawtenstall]].

Local radio station [[Rossendale Radio]] broadcast throughout the valley from 2010, before shutting down on 5 March 2012 due to financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lancashire's Rossendale Radio closes down |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/03/lancashires-rossendale-radio-closes-down/ |access-date=20 April 2022 |work=RadioToday |date=5 March 2012}}</ref> It then re-launched on 22 December 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Community radio launches with help from Big Lottery |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/17319998.rossendale-community-radio-launches-help-big-lottery/ |access-date=20 April 2022 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=26 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

The Rossendale Male Voice Choir formed in the valley in 1924.<ref>{{cite news |title=90 years of harmony for celebrated Rossendale choir |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11447632.90-years-harmony-celebrated-rossendale-choir/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=2 September 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

== Settlements ==
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale
 |caption={{center|Towns, villages and hills in the Borough of Rossendale}}
 |float=center
 |width=550
 |alt=Map of Rossendale
 |places = 
    <!-- Towns -->
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.704|long=-2.199|label_size=100|position=left  |label='''[[Bacup]]'''|marksize=12}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.705|long=-2.328|label_size=100|position=left  |label='''[[Haslingden]]'''|marksize=12}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.699|long=-2.291|label_size=100|position=left  |label='''[[Rawtenstall]]'''|marksize=12}}
   <!-- villages & suburbs: please keep the list below in alphabetical order to ease maintenance-->
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.690|long=-2.289|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Balladen]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.691|long=-2.319|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Bent Gate]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.690|long=-2.175|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Britannia, Lancashire|Britannia]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.712|long=-2.203|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Broadclough]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.662|long=-2.319|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Chatterton, Lancashire|Chatterton]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.699|long=-2.270|label_size=85 |position=top   |label=[[Cloughfold]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.682|long=-2.245|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Cowpe]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.725|long=-2.287|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Crawshawbooth]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.663|long=-2.310|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Edenfield]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.729|long=-2.288|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Goodshaw]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.683|long=-2.333|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Helmshore]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.676|long=-2.316|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Irwell Vale]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.741|long=-2.287|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Loveclough]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.720|long=-2.247|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Lumb, Rawtenstall|Lumb]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.698|long=-2.254|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Newchurch, Lancashire|Newchurch]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.726|long=-2.332|label_size=85 |position=bottom|label=Rising Bridge}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.715|long=-2.180|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Sharneyford]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.683|long=-2.166|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Shawforth]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.693|long=-2.221|label_size=85 |position=bottom|label=[[Stacksteads]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.665|long=-2.317|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Strongstry]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.659|long=-2.319|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=[[Stubbins]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.660|long=-2.289|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Turn Village]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.728|long=-2.241|label_size=85 |position=right |label=[[Water, Lancashire|Water]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.692|long=-2.251|label_size=85 |position=bottom|label=[[Waterfoot, Lancashire|Waterfoot]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.726|long=-2.198|label_size=85 |position=bottom|label=[[Weir, Lancashire|Weir]]}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.710|long=-2.250|label_size=85 |position=left  |label=Whitewell Bottom}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.663|long=-2.177|label_size=85 |position=left|label=[[Whitworth, Lancashire|Whitworth]]}}
   <!-- please keep the list above in alphabetical order to ease maintenance
        hills below -->
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.670|long=-2.251|label_size=85 |position=left  |mark=Green Fire.svg|label=''[[Hail Storm Hill]]''}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.683|long=-2.348|label_size=85 |position=left  |mark=Green Fire.svg|label=''[[Musbury Tor]]''}}
   {{Location map~|United Kingdom Borough of Rossendale|lat=53.665|long=-2.154|label_size=85 |position=bottom|mark=Green Fire.svg|label=''[[Brown Wardle Hill|Brown<br />Wardle]]''}}
}}

In the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]] the population of Rossendale was 65,652,<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/30um.asp Government census records]</ref> spread between the towns of [[Bacup]], [[Haslingden]], [[Whitworth, Lancashire|Whitworth]] and [[Rawtenstall]]; the villages of [[Crawshawbooth]], [[Edenfield]], [[Helmshore]] and [[Waterfoot, Lancashire|Waterfoot]]; and as well as [[Britannia, Lancashire|Britannia]], [[Broadclough]], [[Chatterton, Lancashire|Chatterton]], [[Cloughfold]], [[Cowpe]], [[Irwell Vale]], [[Loveclough]], [[Newchurch, Lancashire|Newchurch]], [[Shawforth]], [[Stacksteads]], [[Stubbins]], [[Turn Village|Turn]] and [[Weir, Lancashire|Weir]]. The population at the 2011 Census had risen to 67,922.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=6275215&c=Rossendale&d=13&e=62&g=6442507&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1452767691953&enc=1|title=Non metropolitan district population 2011|access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref>

=== Urban Area ===
Much of the borough forms part of the [[Accrington/Rossendale built-up area]] which extends into the neighbouring borough of [[Hyndburn]]. The Accrington/Rossendale built-up area extends from the towns of [[Rawtenstall]] and [[Bacup]] to [[Accrington]] which takes in parts of the boroughs of Hyndburn and Rossendale. The urban area was recorded at having a population of 125,059.

=== Civil parishes ===
[[File:Borough of Rossendale parishes map.svg|thumb|{{legend|#ffebeb|Whitworth parish shown within Rossendale|outline=silver}}]] Whitworth is the only civil parish in Rossendale. The parish council has declared the parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".<ref>{{cite web |title=Whitworth Town Council |url=http://www.whitworth.gov.uk/ |access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref> The rest of the borough is an [[unparished area]].<ref name=electionmaps/>

== Notable current and past residents ==
<small>''For notable past residents see individual towns and villages''</small>
* [[Agyness Deyn]]&nbsp;– model
* [[Natalie Casey]]&nbsp;– actress/presenter (''[[Hollyoaks]]'')
* [[Jane Horrocks]]&nbsp;– actress
* [[Ted Robbins]]&nbsp;– actor/comedian ([[Phoenix Nights]])
* [[William Roache]]&nbsp;– actor
* [[Phil Neville]]&nbsp;– footballer ([[Everton F.C.|Everton]])
* [[Sam Aston]]&nbsp;– actor (''[[Coronation Street]]'')
* [[Jennie McAlpine]]&nbsp;– actress (''Coronation Street'')
* [[Andy Kershaw]]&nbsp;– DJ/reporter
* [[Liz Kershaw]]&nbsp;– DJ
* [[Karl Burns]]&nbsp;– [[Punk rock|punk]] drummer from [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]]
* [[David Trippier]]&nbsp;– Former [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] environment minister
* [[Michael Carr (Liberal Democrat politician)|Michael Carr]]&nbsp;– Former Liberal Democrat [[List of United Kingdom MPs|MP]]
* [[Frankee Connolly]]&nbsp;– member of music duo [[Mini Viva]]
* [[Phil Lester]]&nbsp;– YouTuber, author, and former [[BBC Radio 1]] presenter
* Chris Allen&nbsp;– lead vocalist, [[the Troggs]]
* [[Sophie Lancaster]], murder victim<ref>{{cite web |last= Hodkinson |first= Mark |date= 3 August 2008 |title= United in the name of tolerance |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/aug/03/ukcrime.sophielancaster |website= [[The Guardian]] |publisher= [[Guardian Media Group]] |access-date= 21 June 2025}}</ref>

== Twin town ==
Rossendale Borough Council is twinned with:<ref>[https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/info/210159/about_the_council/10542/town_twinning   Rossendale Borough Council, Town Twinning] retrieved 21 January 2019</ref>
*  [[Bocholt, Germany]]

== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/site/index.php Official web site]
{{Commons category|Borough of Rossendale}}

{{Rossendale}}
{{Borough of Rossendale buildings}}
{{Borough of Rossendale culture}}
{{Lancashire}} 
{{NW_England}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rossendale, Borough Of}}
[[Category:Borough of Rossendale| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Lancashire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]