Local Studies [Rochdale Local Studies, Family History, Genealogy, Archives]
Follow the Arts & Heritage blog
Local Studies
Touchstones Rochdale
The Esplanade
Rochdale
Lancs
OL16 1AQ
Telephone: 01706 924915
Fax: 01706 924944
Email: Click here
Related Websites
Downloads
Anything and Everything you might want to discover about the history of Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and the Pennines areas.
Free Internet Access is available at Local Studies.
The Local Studies Centre at Touchstones Rochdale holds the main Local Studies and Archives collections for Rochdale Borough. This includes a wide range of material relating to the Rochdale area, and includes Castleton, Littleborough, Milnrow, Norden and Wardle.
Local Studies material for the Heywood and Middleton is held at Heywood and Middleton Libraries.
You can follow us on Facebook or on our Blog where you can can read fascinating facts about the Rochdale area.
Local Studies collect Newspapers, Books, Photographs, Archives, Maps, Posters, Postcards, Audiovisual, Special Collections and much more on the Rochdale Area.
We have produced an Index to our Parish Register Holdings.
Why not pay a visit and discover the Local History of the Rochdale Area for yourself! Alternatively why not read about the history of the area in one of ebooks we have digitised or by using Discover.
You can now also discover the Rochdale Arts & Heritage collections by searching our collections database. Currently only a selection of the collection can be searched online. This database will grow as more of our collections are digitised and our knowledge about them increases.
Please be aware that not all our collections are on display at Touchstones Rochdale at any one time and if you’re coming to see a particular object, painting or document, please contact us to check beforehand.
You can also discover the fascinating built heritage of Rochdale Town Centre by following the Rochdale Heritage Trail.
Local Studies will undertake limited research, for more detailed enquiries we advise that you use the services of a genealogist.
We advise you to contact Local Studies prior to your planned visit to book a microfilm reader.
The main archive collection is stored in an offsite store. Application must be made in advance to consult these archives.
Directions to Touchstones Rochdale
Free Admission
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm
Local Studies is closed on Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays.
Access
Touchstones Rochdale is fully accessible to people with disabilities with limited disabled parking bays outside.
The Centre is close to town centre pay and display car parks (nearest: Rochdale Town Hall). It is approximately 10 minutes from Rochdale Bus Station served by all local bus routes and 15 minutes from Rochdale Train Station. Cycle parking is provided nearby to the front of the Town Hall.
Heywood Library
Monday 10am-7.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am-5.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm
Thursday 9.30am-5.30pm
Friday 9.30am-5.30pm
Saturday 9.30am-1pm & 2pm-4pm
Middleton Library
Monday 9.30am-7.30pm
Tuesday 10am-5.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm
Thursday 9.30am-5.30pm
Friday 9.30am-5.30pm
Saturday 9.30am-1pm; 2pm-4pm
