Page 49 - RR-Issue-One

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ROCHDALE VICTORIAN BUILDINGS

TOWN CENTRE DISCOVERED

A n archaeological dig in A supervising

archaeologist from
Rochdale Town Centre
uncovered previously the University of
demolished Victorian buildings Salford commented: “What we
from John Street along Baillie have found here is completely
Street and Kelsall Street, different to anything we have
directly across from the Mecca seen before.
Bingo building.
“What we came here to excavate
As work got underway for the was the remains of some back-to-
new Riverside retail and leisure back housing which were partially
development, builders came to KELSALL cellared and a congregational
a halt when the three areas they church.
terraced rows of 19th century STREET “One row of houses was fronted
dug at excavated back-to-back

workers housing and the mid- THEY HAD A COAL CHUTE IN THE towards Mecca Bingo (on Kelsall
19th century Milton Congrega- WALL, SO THE CELLARS WERE MOSTLY, Street) and the others back to
tional Church, which was opened IN THIS CASE, FOR STORING THE COAL these (on Baillie Street) were the
in 1854. ones that were partially cellared.”