Stories of the Gank - Rochdale Town Hall
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1AZ
Stories of the Gank is an exhibition that aims to reflection upon the working-class stories and housing conditions within area of Rochdale’s Packer Street and surrounding area. This area was historically titled the Gank due its reputation as one of the worst slums in Rochdale during the Victorian period.
In Victorian Rochdale, the streets and town centre would have looked very different compared to what we see today. With back-to-back housing and mills dominating the town, Rochdale was booming with industry and workers, but with that also comes poverty and overcrowding. Packer Street, as we have learnt from our archaeological findings, was made up of workers terraced housing and public houses, with the well-known Flying Horse being one of them! Houses were built as industry grew and people were packed in by the dozen with little sanitation. The Gank was full of families just trying to live and earn by any means how.
It was an area full of lively activity, crime and suffering as people tried to make a living. From mill workers to cottage industries and children playing in the streets, the families that called the Gank their home have some interesting stories to share!
Now after exploring local archives and uncovering archaeology clues, we would like to piece together the puzzle of Packer Street and bring to light the lived experiences of this Victorian slum.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 12 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Saturday 13 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
- Sunday 14 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
Location & directions
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1AZ
- Contact on day:
- Polly Brant
- Telephone number:
- +441706925256
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Additional information
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s)
