Milnrow
From Free net encyclopedia
Milnrow is a small town in northern England, situated at the foot of the Pennines, between Rochdale and Oldham adjacent to Junction 21 of the M62 motorway. Milnrow forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester.
While a map from 1292 shows "Milnehouses" at Milnrow's current location, the village name is believed to be a corruption of the old pronunciation of "Millner Howe", a water driven corn mill mentioned in deeds of 1568 at a place called Mill Hill on the River Beal. Some parts of Milnrow used to fall within the ancient parish of Hundersfield.
For centuries, Milnrow's economy was primarily agrarian, though small-scale hand loom weaving of woollen goods was also common. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the River Beal was harnessed to power large weaving mills. Around 1860, Milnrow's main industry changed from wool to cotton, which became the staple industry of the village until its general demise in the 1960s.
Modern industry includes engineering, packaging materials, dyeing and finishing, and ink manufacture. Milnrow has taken the form of a main street (Dale Street) with developments on either side into the surrounding countryside. The village has numerous shops, churches and pubs, and Hollingworth Lake Country Park is close by.
Although part of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Milnrow is represented in the House of Commons as part of the parliamentary constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth, by Phil Woolas MP.