Rochdale was described in the 19th century this way: Rochdale is a market town and parish in the hundred of Salford, 11 miles N.N.E. from Manchester, 195 from London. The original town of Rochdale was to the south of the river Roch, entirely within the township of Castleton, where still remains a lofty artificial mound, the site of the keep of an ancient Saxon castle.

In 1795 the estimated population of the town was 10,000. The manor has been held by various great families, and for the last three centuries by the Byrons. It was sold by Lord Byron, the celebrated poet, in 1823.

The church, dedicated to St. Chad, is an ancient building, probably of the twelfth century.