Rochdale Town Centre - Year Unknown - Rochdale History

Anyone who has an idea of what year roughly this was filmed in please let me know :-)
Features Burneys, Slendos, Bradford & Bingley, Marks & Spencer, Mothercare & Chelsea GIrls.
Any road names would be great too!
- Filmed by Keith W. Brookes - -

[@shezza5181]

I have commented on this video before. Just to say thank you once again for posting a piece of my childhood. What a wonderful place it was to grow up. I often watch it trying to spot my mum and dad but alas I cannot see them there that day. However, thanks to you, I can imagine them and all of us are walking up Yorkshire Street just like that

[@adamdyson9714]

As an 'exiled' Rochdalian who left the Town in the late 70's, & judging by the Cars & fashions etc. these scene's were most probably filmed between say 1982 & '84 at 'guesstimate'. As most viewer's probably know, the majority of the footage is at lower to middle stretch of Yorkshire Street ~ Nice bit of nostalgia. Many thanks for Posting.

[@shuddupeyaface]

I'd guess 1981.

[@fortnitesweatgod9513]

I thought around 1982/3 too looking at the clothes. Some still in late 1970s clothes, with new 80s trends/hairstyles popping up here and there...I think we can safely say it is absolutely not later than 1984 (I personally do not think it is shot as late as 1984) and definately not earlier than 1982. I went to senior school in 1985 and remember the clothes from junior school and the first years of school. The trends here and cars are still heavily 70s influenced I think we can pinpoint the film to within a couple of years. 1982-1983.

[@harryandrew1277]

I thought similar date, used to go with my Dad at weekends and go to greggs and get a cheese and onion pasty for 35p

[@toadinthehole8085]

Mk3 ford escort

[@toadinthehole8085]

I'd say 1989

[@leahwilliams418]

Thank you for putting this video up. I have fond memories of the town centre as a child. Moved away from Rochdale years ago and it's a real shame what has happened to the town particularly the town centre.

[@TypicalZain]

what happened to the town centre

[@ulysses4989]

@@TypicalZain Shitty council shut the wheatsheaf down. The Rochdale exchange used to be busy too now everything fun is gone. Markets are gone, they even got rid of the GAME store and that used to be full of college students

[@garethjohnstone8662]

​@TypicalZain It's a ghost town. The shops are all now either boarded up, vape shops, bookies, Turkish barbers, charity shops, pound shops. They've tried to regenerate it, but it's failed.

[@aaronshaw9982]

back when it was fantastic, we even had a real market, i was only a kid.

[@traceynorcross5666]

In 1975, I bought my first ever vinyl LP at that Marks & Spencer’s, Alice Coopers “ Billion Dollar Babies” for £2. 45p, still got it.

[@markhealey9409]

I never knew M&S ever sold records!! 😳😳

[@christislord2832]

@@markhealey9409me neither 😃

[@peterhoey7453]

Rochdale was absolutely fantastic back then. 👍

[@ulysses4989]

Rochdale still has potential but they're hell bent on ruining it

[@jackywhipet]

Its like Pakistan now sadly. This Rochdale has been replaced

[@Joe-fx9yj]

@@jackywhipet the busiest and most vibrant old style shopping in Rochdale is in deeplish .So thanks to the Pakistani community you can still go to a green grocers and shops that otherwise would have been overrun by tescos and the like . And your exaggeration of Rochdale being like Pakistan , have you ever been to Pakistan ?

[@michaelroberts7374]

The aerial view of Marks and Spencer is pure gold

[@fitzjon4628]

Worked in Rochdale for years lovely people

[@rhysenna]

Looking at the fashions of the day and the cars, 79 or 80. Miss old Rochdale.

[@Cleversaz]

This must be 1977. Rochdale Exchange was built in 1976 and the bus station was built in 1978 - there's no bus station on here (but it looks like the ground is being prepared) so it must be the in-between year of 1977.

[@finndebrodelegh218]

I think the bus station must have already been built. The bus is a 469 Bury to Rochdale. Before the bus station, it would have gone right at the roundabout to it’s stop on the Town Hall square, not straight on down the Butts.

[@ericsmallman1904]

Around 1981 i would say as i spotted a Mk3 Escort and they came out in 1980. Very noticible thing in the video is how much the population of the town has changed between then and now!!!

[@markhealey9409]

Oh,i said the same thing..i spotted the mark 3 escort estate...but the rest of the cars looked 70s

[@shezza5181]

I would say late 70s to early 80s. What a wonderful vibrant town we had. Makes me think of the song Our Town, Iris Dement (covered by Kate Rusby in great Northern tones)

[@moon1val]

Something different...cnt quite put my finger on it

[@AbueesaAsif]

The good old days.. I remember this like it was yesterday..

[@shuddupeyaface]

I went and visited the town centre yesterday for the first time in a long while. Even with those new buildings, it seems to have lost its soul somehow. Just a feeling of sadness and despair seems to permiate. Like a peacock showing off, despite losing all its feathers. It's very sad.

[@MrSouzy]

I don't live in Rochdale anymore but as kid I used to love going into town. Sometimes I would go off on my own and meeting my parents back a the sheep. I heard that they have a large shopping complex where the old bus station is and Yorkshire street is basically dead. Marks and Spencers is no longer there. That is a real shame.

[@HalfWomanHalfHobNob]

There's a new M & S on the shopping street that's been built, was in there today. But the Wheatsheaf shopping centre which can't be more than 30 years old was permanently shut just before last Christmas. Typical Rochdale, 2 steps forward & 10 back. 😒

[@Angela-wx5qh]

I have lived in Rochdale all my life Born on Bury Road. Lived in milnrow until 1980 . Beautiful village . Then moved to Rochdale . times have changed I'm thinking of leaving 🤔.

[@markhealey9409]

The new shopping centre there & new council complex w/the library is really nice,& there's an M&S with clothes,home,food hall & café(overlooking the new council building & river) it's really nice!

[@christislord2832]

@@Angela-wx5qhdid you leave? X

[@hjp1hjp22]

GMT bus in old orange and white livery, possibly TNB756K that was withdrawn about 1984/85. The main A58 road went through the town past the town hall, instead of past the flats further up the hill.

[@franciscarabini7660]

1985 I'm guessing..loved living in Rochdale..very fond memories

[@markhealey9409]

I didn't notice ANY mid 80s cars. Newest i noticed was a mark 3 escort estate...so i think 1981

[@ajs41]

@@markhealey9409 I think it's about 1987 or 1988. Some places like Rochdale were always a few years behind other places in terms of things like new cars.

[@rachelbuchan5407]

Late 70s is what it looks like. Middleton Building Society only operated as a business between 1971 and 1980.

[@davidchristian8218]

This must have been around the time I was born - 1979, if not before. Incredible!

[@michaelroberts7374]

Great history

[@wolfcooltown2999]

Good video I love this

[@80schild20]

Used to be quite a bustling town afraid now it’s full of druggies and pound shops rmbc give yourself a big pat on the back

[@ianedwards60]

I think Thatcher is to blame for that

[@barrychuckle5565]

@@ianedwards60 no, Tony Blair and his smug plan to open the borders to anyone and everyone.

[@ulysses4989]

@@barrychuckle5565 nope

[@barrychuckle5565]

@@ulysses4989 clearly you haven't a clue then or you're blinded by ideology.

[@christislord2832]

Everywhere is sadly, all over the world, every town n City

[@Curiosityuk]

I would say this was late 70s early 80s. Great bit of film though... brings back so many memories.

[@finndebrodelegh218]

The year is 1980 - and what a great game working it out! I’ve lived in Rochdale for 57 years, and know t well. Nostalgia always has Rose-tinted glasses, but replacing the old markets with modern tat was a disaster. Why 1980? The Mk 3 Escort came out and the Middleton Building Society closed. Additional clues narrow it down - there is an Edwin P Lees electrical, closed Jan ‘83. The Bus station (opened 1978) must be open,the 469 Bury bus goes straight on down the Butts instead of turning right into the Town Hall square where it’s stop was before it was built. There is a Redifusion TV rental and a Mothercare, but no McDonalds, and so on. On a brighter note, the new town centre is actually shaping up quite well. Unfortunately no one will come, as the council hate cars and make no provision for them whatsoever :(

[@christislord2832]

How did you get to move out?

[@finndebrodelegh218]

@@christislord2832I didn’t.

[@markanthony4655]

And "they" say progress is better. I much prefer the Rochdale of yesteryear than the Rochdale of today.

[@pegcailla4625]

I googled "UK's lost towns" and got this

[@sambobrooklyn316]

1983, im in the video, and now aged 42.

[@amarsiddiq2814]

Rochdale council have done a great job in making the place look very unattractive.

[@barrychuckle5565]

They should be unbelievably ashamed, but they're probably too busy rolling around in their takings.

[@retrovintageboy]

Judging by the cars and the presence of Chelsea Girl shortly after Littlewoods moved into the old Lewis's store, I'd say this is probably around 1978. You would definitely get off the bus to shop here then.

[@markhealey9409]

I am quite sure i spotted a mark 3 Escort estate....they came out in 1981,so i think it may be '81...i didn't actually notice any other obviously 80s vehicles....most are 70s,so i can see why you thought late 70s

[@Whh1978]

I really miss the old England of the 80s before the child groomers, spongers and tattooed grey tracksuit wearing zombies. Just heartbreaking what has become of old Blighty.

[@Angela-wx5qh]

When Rochdale had people in the shopping centre. It had a really good indoor and outdoor market. I don't know who came up with the idea to move it . Mistake huge mistake..

[@tony_wong_tong7353]

Wow! no pound shops , happy days

[@andrewsmith7317]

Rochdale born and bred

[@leeandrew8987]

Same

[@corablunt-zy2be]

Yes

[@mikeMCSG]

On further consideration, it must be after May 1978 when the bus station opened. Prior to that you'd have seen buses all over the place in the first minute as most of the bus stops were near to the Town Hall.

[@vic0495]

I live not far from here. A modern comparison vid would be depressing.

[@sbsbme]

Later 1980 , Morris ital British Gas van 1980 first year of production. My brother had one

[@DizyD73]

At 4.28 a group of lads walk up Yorkshire St with a tandem bicycle

[@user-gz8fk9eo6u]

Look like decent presentable people walking around, sadly a different story now.

[@VCanisMajorisY]

Before the Marxist Nirvana

[@mikeMCSG]

Animal Magic ! I remember going there for tropical fish in the early part of 1977. Don't know how long it lasted. I can't see any punks or mods so I'm guessing 76-77 or after 81.

[@sazz1975]

It looks so lively, full of shops and people. To what we have now. No soul, empty and no decent shops .

[@pestyone2774]

Thing is, if you're not from that area (like me, America) it's impossible to judge accurately a time/year/Era, since clothing and vehicles are totally different from Country to Country during the same time period. Wonder if they had any Chinese Restaurants back then?

[@markhealey9409]

Early 80s i would guess,i saw a 3rd generation Ford Escort...there would have been Chinese restaurants & takeaways then,for sure. The medium sized rural town where i live in Lincolnshire had several in the 80s...one of them,Hop Sing,opened in the late 60s in a Tudor building,and is still running!

[@Whh1978]

3:00 it was a nice town once.

[@jamesmudriczki9288]

Filmed last week.

[@nick0046]

Thank you for sharing 83-85?

[@StuartHowardCofield]

Can't place the year, early to mid-80s? First scene is just to the left of the town hall on The Esplanade, with the old grey post office building on the left. The majority of the street scenes, m&s, ratners etc are Yorkshire st.

[@Sion.Ryan.Green.]

I'd forgotten about Chelsea Girls! I reckon mid to late 80's!

[@rizsarwar2713]

like vatican rome christ enslaved millions.

[@christislord2832]

@@rizsarwar2713Christ set us free…false religion enslaved us

[@nigelwatson2750]

Bradley's Records!

[@rickhardman7376]

2..27 .... A comman sound in Roachdale... At chav spitting a greeney out

[@paulbuckley339]

The newest car I saw was a mark 3 1980-81 escort estate .

[@abuubaydullah1]

I think its late 70s as baillie street is cobbled road and the car like the Austin Maxi(light blue)76-81 and mk1 ford fiesta 76-83 mk2 ford escort 74-80 there was all so mk 1 ford escort est 67-75 and a mk3 escort est 80-86 this was lovly to watch i left rochdale 1989.

[@Br1tp0pp]

to be alive in the 80-90s

[@Whh1978]

Peak England in the early to mid 80s. Most kids still playing outside then. The rot started in the very late 80s and 90s the decay accelerated.

[@andylittlewood3050]

Looking at the start, I noticed a yellow Ford Fiesta. These came on in 1976, so the earliest it can be is then.

[@richardhammer187]

Good spot, cars are easiest way to date old photos and footage, so as you say, it's impossible for this to be any earlier than 1976.

[@philippoole1716]

Hi, l left in 1974-1977 Uni and then again permanently in 1979. I recognise the orange and cream livery of the buses as those of SELNEC. South East Lancs North East Cheshire l used to catch them outside Broadfield School in the Town Hall Square each lunchtime. The cost to my Bury Road stop was 3p old money. The reliant robin, ford Capri and original looking mini probably offer the best pointers. To the economist the deli shop window prices that l was too slow to clock are probably a good indicator. As others have said the town was never the same after they demolished the old outside and inside markets. I think l may have spotted a shoplifting outfit there. I mean what was the cross hand boogie stuff by the two,apparent old dears exiting the class C Marks and Sparks store there and making off at high speed…… not! I guess 1972-1974.

[@StephenLever]

The town has been overrun it’s very sad 😢

[@thrashpilot]

My sister used to go to Chelsea girls. Memories. All shite now.

[@markt0370]

It's definitely before 86 as the middleton building society on corner of cheetham st merged that year

[@franciscarabini7660]

Remember Tiffany's nightclub too haha

[@tometoyou58]

The video brings back lots of good memories, but you will never see Rochdale like that again, the council has totally destroyed Rochdale, not even a shadow of it's former self, I can't wait to leave it is so depressing.

[@RobertLund-d7d]

I would say this was around 1978

[@corrinecummings3538]

The latest model car is a 1980 Astra on the parade.

[@toadinthehole8085]

3rd ford escort estate mk3 at the beginning drives up to the zebra crossing in white

[@richardmoores]

They’ve opened up the river roach again now

[@anthonyobrien7210]

**The river Roch, the river Roach is in Essex 👍🏼

[@richardmoores]

@@anthonyobrien7210 ok, yes sorry

[@SteveMullington]

Does anybody recognise anyone?

[@peterhoey7453]

Yeah me.

[@Shogun89jazz]

Looks like the early 80s tell by the cars

[@richardhewer335]

VW golf was produced 1974. So not before then. Transition of fashion and material suggests 77/78.

[@nicholasfawcett3319]

Middleton building society operated from 1971-1980 and it’s clearly open here , so the latest this vid could be is 1980

[@markspacecube3143]

Nothing changes much in Rochdale this is 2019 :-/

[@ajs41]

Around 1985 I'd guess.

[@richardmoores]

It looks early eighties to me

[@ulysses4989]

Late 70s

[@timkeiley1068]

The people are mainly well dressed and no sign of obesity. Haven't we lost our character 😥🙄

[@matycath1502]

1976?

[@YangSing1]

If I was to guess, it's 1980 exactly

[@manchester01613]

OMG IV JUST SEEN MY MUM 🤣😂🤣

[@thekylagracieshow]

Everyones seen your mum

[@manchester01613]

@@thekylagracieshow .what u mean ?

[@thekylagracieshow]

@@manchester01613 just a old only fools and horses joke

[@moonlighthowl]

@@thekylagracieshow roflmao

[@javidrashed2553]

Mini metro 1982

[@shuddupeyaface]

Great footage. It's such a shame what this town has become. People are in denial about it, through decent pride really. But it's a scandal.

[@shuddupeyaface]

Remember Burneys

[@andrewleecy7982]

I remember no closed shops a decent market mostly nice people.

[@javidrashed2553]

Or 1977

[@masoodhussain2194]

A bus passes buy at 0:50 it has a movie poster for the realise of the movie Identifie the movie and it's realise date identifie the the year or even the mouth ot was taken in

[@juliestreet8688]

The bus at 0.50 has Vernons Pools £1Million on the side

[@Curiosityuk]

Keith did you shoot this?

[@keithwalterbrookes]

Hi there, yes Keith shot it all himself.

[@frankzappa951]

@@keithwalterbrookes Well done. Where can I see more please?

[@derekb4731]

This is controversial, but it's got to be early 70s, no immigrants on show

[@paulgoodwin3440]

Can't see the McDonald's so it's before 1983.

[@1967AJB]

Oh, Burneys hot meat pies! Heaven.

[@kollusion1]

Pasties

[@petermizon4344]

CHECK NUMBER PLATES WILL GIVE YOU A NEAR ENOUGH

[@808music3]

Year approximately is 1985-87

[@johnoliver3753]

Late 80s. Still busy and lots of shops, sadly mostly gone now.

[@abuubaydullah1]

I think its the late 70s as baillie street still cobbled road and the cars like the Austin Maxi (light blue)76-81and mk1 ford fiesta 76-83 mk2 ford escort 74-80

[@frankzappa951]

No it’s early 80s I’d say. I remember being a wee one walking around with my beautiful mum and kid brother. Blessed times.

[@ulysses4989]

It's late 70s

[@uswahm.10]

I live there and I have no idea

[@calthedragon5686]

I’m sorry for you

[@rickhardman7376]

Neither do half the residents coz they are spaced out on drugs

[@ulysses4989]

@@calthedragon5686 this video looks to be shot in the late 70s most peoples parents in their 50s and grandparents would only recognise this

[@biggykhan2672]

Its defo rochdale Yorkshire st.

[@ianhistory6239]

Re. the orange & white bus shown in the early part of the video; it has a logo on the side, behind the drivers' window. The logo is consistent with being a large 'M' with the words 'Greater Manchester Transport' in small letters next to it. GMT did not exist until April 1974. Prior to that, in the Rochdale area it was called SELNEC (there's a name from the past). In 1986 GMT became GM Buses and the bus logos were changed. This doesn't pin the date down but helps set the boundaries to 1974-86. The only word I can read on the poster on the side of the bus is BOOKS which doesn't help. The zig zags at the crossing came about in 1971, so that doesn't help either. The guys who are good at years for car colours might nail it down further.

[@juliestreet8688]

It says Vernons Pools £1Million on the bus x

[@sjaakmcd1804]

1978

[@philippoole1716]

Hi flared trousers, long hair on some of the guys, Middleton BS, l think the mid seventies as well.

[@buttersstotch3251]

So weird... seeing no kebab shops

[@marekgregory4512]

This is an observation not a criticsm, where are all the Asian family's?!

They came in like the 1990's and still increasing

[@thesopranosdynasty]

1:14

[@mdanyal8736]

Oh we flooded Rochdale like there was no tomorrow

[@thesopranosdynasty]

GO TO 1:14

[@ulysses4989]

The Asians in the video are grandparents now probably worked in mills

[@jas8796]

Early 80s possibly???

[@carlosguimaraes3505]

E hoje só vemos enchentes e favelas, lamentável KKKKK And today, only see floods and favelas, unfortunately kkkkk

[@richardhammer187]

Selective memory is quit a thing, I feel people are in too much of a hurry these days. But no one was hanging about there, in cars or on foot! Can't even say people have become more ignorant, look at that girl barging the lady out the way at 2.03, no apology. Surprised, and in a way, pleased, we may not be descending into oblivion quite as quickly as I thought we were.

[@CaptainMav]

Richard Hammer i thought the video was sped up but you’re right I can’t believe how fast people are driving down the esplanade. If you did that now you’d be stopped by the police, vosa, traffic wombles and then while you’re stopped get a parking ticket too!

[@TheTayfurbest]

Id say between 76 and 79

[@davidherbert4349]

Yep

[@lifeclip9878]

Mid 80's

[@tossr4716]

ground-level is not ground-level.

[@leeandrew8987]

I hated Rochdale I went to knowl view School and I'm so happy I'm in Yorkshire

[@ralphmctell5210]

Pre macdonalds by look of it.

[@garethjohnstone8662]

Really sad to see this. We've supposedly become more "vibrant and multicultural". But go and see the result of that in current day rochdale

[@fatamy8597]

This is crazy...

[@davecollins494]

I would go for 63 to 85 as well, Frank Howard butchers looks like it just closed.

[@richardmoores]

Dave Collins that’s a window of 22 years you gave yourself. I think it’s somewhere between 1912 and 2014 myself.

[@jerrywallop5647]

Titter thee not

[@gdronfield]

david collins i went to school with you this is in the mid 70's, they had got rid of the old ouside market, and made it into that shit market it is now,..they ruined the town and the town centre, i still lived in Rochdale till 72 and the old outside market was still there then behind H Samuals Jewelers........