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Amy unmoved by wave of change

18/ 7/2006

THE tide of progress was sweeping through the centre of Rochdale, devouring everything in its path.

Modern life was coming and as it advanced decades of history were crumbling before it.

By June 1965 the huge redevelopment programme had seen street upon street in the town centre reduced to rubble then swept away.

However in the vast wasteland there was one last pocket of resistance, one defiant warrior who refused to get in step with the march of time.

The last house standing in Toad Lane belonged to Mrs Amy Abbott - and she wasn't budging.

Mrs Abbott - mother of Councillor Frank Abbott - was due to swap her home, believed to be between 80 and 100 years old, for a new bungalow being built on the Joy Street estate.

But the bungalow was not ready so Mrs Abbott, who was living with another son in Leicester at the time, refused to allow Rochdale Corporation to move her furniture from the terrace, which by now had become detached.

Councillor Abbott said: "I know people have said that if I had not been on the council the house would have been down by now, but I have had nothing to do with it."

Councillor Smith, chairman of the estates committee, said: "We offered to store the furniture for Mrs Abbott but she declined to move into anything else other than a bungalow in Joy Street and said she would prefer to leave the furniture there until the bungalow was ready."