Ramsbottom

Ramsbottom
A view over Ramsbottom
Population
OS grid reference	SD790169
Metropolitan borough	Bury
District	Rossendale
Shire county	Lancashire
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BURY
Postcode district	BL0
Dialling code	01706
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Bury North

Ramsbottom is a small town on the border of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England. With a total population of 14,635, Ramsbottom is split between the Rossendale and Bury local government boroughs.

History

The name probably means "rams valley" from Old English ramm (ram) and botm (valley). However some toponymists interpret it as wild-garlic-valley, with the first element representing the Old English hramsa. A record from 1324 giving the name as Ramesbothum is inconclusive. The town was alternatively recorded as Ramysbothom in 1540.

There are a significant number of Bronze Age burial sites around Ramsbottom, the most notable of which is Whitelow Cairn, one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Ramsbottom town centre and three miles (4.8 km) north of Bury. The cairn was excavated by Bury Archaeological Group between 1960–62, under the leadership of Norman Tyson. Finds include one main cremation and seven secondary cremations, four in urns, dating to the mid Bronze Age. The artefacts found during the excavation are now housed in Bury Museum.

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 innovative in combining many such processes under one roof.

Geography

Ramsbottom lies amongst the South Pennines

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 128 feet (39.0 m) tall on Holcombe Moor. Even from the foot of the tower, there are spectacular views over West Yorkshire, North Lancashire, Greater Manchester, North Wales and the Lancashire Plain. 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 heritage railway runs diesel and steam services through the year with main stopping points at Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Bury and Heywood. The district straddles the A676, A56 and B6214 roads with its centre 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Bury, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Rawtenstall and 6 miles (9.7 km) north east of Bolton. It is interesting to note that the railway actually crosses the main street of Ramsbottom.

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.

These generally philantrophic mill owners made sure of the profits of their pub by paying their workforce in tokens that they could only redeem in the Grant Arms, part of their wage had then to be redeemed in drink.

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 funded with £250,000 of National Lottery money.

Nuttall Park

A large park with facilities for bowls, tennis, football and public events.

Culture and community

Black Pudding Throwing Championships

File:Black pudding 028small.jpg

The 2007 winner, Paul Rudge World champion black pudding thrower

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships are held annually at the Royal Oak pub on Bridge Street in the town centre. Participants have to throw (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. In August 2002 this event was staged as the Commonwealth Black Pudding Throwing Championships.

Good Friday traditions

Hundreds of people climb Holcombe Hill each year on Good Friday. 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 Holcombe 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.

Old English Gamecock Show

Since 1843 there has been an annual exhibition of game fowl, held on New Years Day at the Old Dun Horse Hotel. This competitive show replaced the annual cockfight that took place in the town square following the New Year Holcome Hunt. The exhibition, which is organised by the Holcombe Old English Game Fowl Club, is said to be the oldest gamecock show in the world.

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.

• 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
• Ramsbottom Pentecostal Church
• Ramsbottom 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
• Darul Uloom Islamic College

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
• Darul Uloom Islamic College

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. also football legend jamie balckburn that plays for the man united disableds

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.

References

Bibliography

• Nicolaisen W. F. H., Gelling M., & Richards M. (1970). The Names of Towns and Cities in Britain. B. T. Batsford Ltd. ISBN 0713401133.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• Ramsbottom Heritage Society
• Official Homepage of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships