Ashworth, Greater Manchester

Ashworth
Ashworth Hall
Ashworth Location within Greater Manchester
Metropolitan borough	Rochdale
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROCHDALE
Postcode district	OL11
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Heywood and Middleton
List of places UK England Greater Manchester 53°36′56″N2°13′41″W / 53.6155°N 2.2280°W / 53.6155; -2.2280

Ashworth is a hamlet within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in the Ashworth Valley, on the western edge of Rochdale, set amongst the Pennines. It is separated from Rochdale by the Naden Brook.

History

The name "Ashworth" means 'Ash-tree enclosure'. ^[1] Historically a part of Lancashire, Ashworth is first recorded in 1180-90 when it was a holding of the Lord of Middleton. In c1349, the Ashworth heiress Matilda married Hugh of Holt, and the Holt family held Ashworth until c1700. By 1767, it was in the ownership of the Egerton family. ^[2]

Ashworth was formerly a township and chapelry in the parish of Middleton, ^[3] in 1866 Ashworth became a separate civil parish, on 31 December 1894 the parish was abolished and merged with Birtle cum Bamford ^[4] within the Municipal Borough of Heywood. ^[5] In 1891 the parish had a population of 137. ^[6] In 1974 it became part of Rochdale metropolitan district in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.

St James Chapel was founded in about 1514, with the present building dating from 1789. ^[7]

References

1. "Ashworth Key to English Place-names". The University of Nottingham. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
2. "Townships: Ashworth Pages 176-180 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5". British History Online. Victoria County History, 1911. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
3. "History of Ashworth, in Rochdale and Lancashire". A Vision of Britain through Time . Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. "Relationships and changes Ashworth CP/Ch through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
5. "Townships: Birtle-with-Bamford Pages 174-176 A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5". British History Online. Victoria County History, 1911. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
6. "Population statistics Ashworth CP/Ch through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
7. "St James". The Benefice of Norden, Ashworth and Bamford. Retrieved 2 January 2025.