Todmorden is a market town in the Upper Calder valley and is 27 kilometres from Manchester. The town is at the confluence of three steep sided Pennine valleys and is surrounded by moorlands.
Originally a producer of woollen textiles the industrial revolution saw the town switch from wool to cotton with and several large mills and other impressive buildings were erected mostly by the Fielden family.
Places to Visit
Platform One Gallery – is located at the station, and is run run by Todmorden Art Group, which is a non-profit making organisation. It runs exhibitions on a 4-weekly cycle, and is open to the public Thursday-Sunday 11:00 to 16:00. It has 11 studios and 2 painting groups.
Todmorden Markets – a 5/10 minute walk from the station brings you to the two markets, indoor and outdoor. The market’s present site was purchased in 1868 and the market hall was constructed and opened for business in 1879. In the market today people can buy everything from locally grown fruit and vegetables to speciality sausages, and from flowers, to second hand shoes.
Discover Amazing Women by Rail
Discover Amazing Women by Rail is a project initiated by the Mid Cheshire Line CRP and invites people to leave their car at home and use the train (along with buses and trams) to explore the fascinating, and often hidden, histories of women who lived and worked in areas along the Mid Cheshire and Calder Valley railway lines, including the Blackburn to Manchester via Todmorden route.
The project is supported with a website (www.amazingwomenbyrail.org.uk) by an A5 booklet available from local stations, tourist information offices and libraries. The booklet can also be downloaded using this link: Amazing Women by Rail
Other Landmarks
Town Hall – Todmorden has a Greek Revival town hall (built 1866–1875) which dominates the centre of the town. The building straddles the Walsden Water, a tributary of the River Calder, and was situated in both Lancashire and Yorkshire until the administrative county boundary was moved on 1 January 1888.
Rochdale Canal – first opened in 1804 it was the first Trans-Pennine canal linking Leeds to Manchester and passes through the town.
Gauxholme Viaduct – accessible using the canal towpath the viaduct is about a 20 minute walk from the town centre. The viaduct carries the railway over the canal on 17 low arches built by George Stephenson.