News, Manchester
More than 600 people have taken part a community dig to uncover the history of Rochdale town centre.
Previous excavations of the site, known as Broadfield slopes, have found the foundations of an 18th century corn mill, a weighing station, and glass bottles.
Local school children and voluntary organisations were invited to get involved in the dig, which lasted two weeks.
It was part of a wider project to research and regenerate the area between the town hall and a church.
Pupils from Marland Hill primary school were among those who took part in the ‘Big dig’, a project which is just the latest investigation at the site.
There have been a series of excavations of the land since 2021, and they have discovered artefacts from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Lead archaeologist, Dr Colin Elder, said: “There’s so much. It’s a site that just keeps on giving, which is why we’ve got so many digs out of it.
“Because we have such a long presence of human existence and activity on this slope, marked by the medieval church and then chopped and changed so drastically by the Georgians and the Victorians, we’re hitting different time periods as we’re coming down.”
Dr Elder and his team visited schools and community groups to talk to volunteers before they went to the site.
He added: “As much as the archaeology is super impressive, it’s the community engagement in this project that really stands out.”
This dig is part of a wider £3 million project, with £1.4 million, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, spent to open the slope up and get the public using the area again.
There will be new stone steps, landscaping and a restoration of the Packer Spout Fountain once the dig is complete.
Daniel Meredith, Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is a knock on from the work on the (renovation of the) town hall.
“It’s part of a wider picture of what we’re doing in this area to make it look nice for the people of Rochdale so they can be proud of where they live.”
Helen Featherstone, the director, for England North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Broadfield Park Slopes project, and that it is giving the communities of Rochdale the opportunity to get truly hands-on with their local heritage, and discover some of the fascinating stories of the history of their hometown.”
The Big Dig is one of a number of events taking place across the borough during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.
