Browse Sections

• Rochdale 150 
  • Shopping
  • Education
  • The Observer
  • Work
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Housing
  • New rochdalians
  • Motoring
  • Council
• Useful information
• Nostalgia
• Looking back
• Rochdale canal
• Web links
• Family notices
• Property price guide
• Traffic cameras
• Travel news
• Speed cameras
• Rochdale expats
• Obituaries

No sinking feeling here

18/ 7/2006

AT THE time it was the biggest single contract let by Rochdale Corporation - and the locals were afraid it would sink.

When the bulldozers, diggers and cranes began to move onto the Meadway site in the summer of 1958 the doubters questioned the wisdom of building on what was such marshy land.

But the agent for contractors Wimpey, Mr A W White, had no worries about the state of the ground.

He said: "We have had much more frightening sites than this, I can assure you, but we have always managed to cope."

Preparation work had seen the whole area drained and the stream on the Manley Road side culverted.

That done, work was continuing at a brisk pace on the £525,000 scheme to build 344 dwellings, 92 garages and two shops.

Despite some poor weather, before long roadways and sewers had been built, foundations laid and the shells of several buildings erected.

Many living nearby had been surprised at the swift progress of the work.

The buildings were known as 'Wimpey No-Fines' as the concrete did not contain any sand, the mixture being confined to gravel and cement to improve insulation.

Mr White said: "The houses are very warm in winter and cool in the summer."