Littleborough, Lancashire

Description
Littleborough, a village and an ecclesiastical parish formed from Rochdale civil parish, Lancashire. The village stands on the river Roch, the Rochdale Canal, the L. & Y.R., and the Roman Road to York, at the foot of Blackstone Edge, 3 1/4 miles NE of Rochdale; is supposed from its position on the Roman Road, and from the discovery of some Roman antiquities in its neighbourhood, to stand on or near the site of a Roman station. It is a large place sharing in the manufactures of Rochdale, and practically a suburb of that town; and has a railway station and a post, money order, and telegraph office under Manchester. The ecclesiastical parish comprises also Shore and Feathers tall, and Calderbrook. Population, 9655. The district is governed by a local board. Much of the surface is a fine valley, gemmed with mansions and villas. The living is a vicarage, with that of Calderbrook annexed, in the diocese of Manchester; gross value, £554 with residence. Patron, the Vicar of Rochdale. The church succeeded an ancient one which belonged to "Whalley Abbey, is a modern edifice, and consists of chance], nave, and aisles, with tower and spire; the chancel was added in 1890. There is a chapel of ease at Calderbrook. A Roman Catholic chapel was erected in 1881, and there are also Wesleyan, Primitive, and United Free Methodi&t chapels.