As soon as I was old enough, I darted out
of my home town and went to live in the big city. The older I got though, the
fonder I became of the place I grew up. That place is Rochdale in Greater
Manchester – a former cotton town that was central to the industrial
revolution. Nowadays, Rochdale is often in the news for all the wrong reasons,
but I’ve recently spotted that the town has become a regular fixture for
location filming on Coronation Street, particularly in and around the town hall. Rochdale has quite a few links to Corrie
actually…
AIDAN’S INQUEST
Last Friday was the emotional final part of
Aidan Connor’s story. The family gathered to hear and share details of his
final hours. Much of Friday’s episodes were filmed at Rochdale Town Hall, both inside and
out. Here you can see a stunning stained glass window inside the gothic building, which depicts the Kings and Queens of England and was reportedly admired by Adolf Hitler, who basically wanted to nick it:
BILLY IS STABBED
Billy’s graphic stabbing several months ago took
place not far from the Town Hall next to Rochdale police station.
 |
| ROCHDALE POLICE STATION |
 |
| MADISONS (ranked 19 of 325 restaurants in Rochdale) |
ROSIE’S BACK
Shortly after Helen Flanagan returned to the Street, the Websters were spotted filming in and around Rochdale Town Hall.
The Manchester Evening News reported them being spotted back in February 2017.
CURRENT CAST MEMBERS FROM ROCHDALE
Sinead Tinker is played by Katie McGlynn,
who is from Rochdale. She actually went to the same high school as me but
clearly benefited from the teachings of Drama head Mr Carroll more than I did.
 |
| Katie McGlynn |
FORMER CAST MEMBERS FROM ROCHDALE
Michelle Holmes can currently be seen in
old episodes of Classic Corrie on ITV3, playing Rovers barmaid Tina Fowler.
Michelle was also in Emmerdale and most recently Hollyoaks.
 |
| Michelle Holmes |
Emma Edmondson played Mel Morton, part of the short lived Morton family in Corrie. She also went to Wardle High School in Rochdale and was in the year above me. Come to think of it, I’m starting to think Mr Carroll had favourites at that school. Although he did give me the part of Charlie Bucket in a production of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and if I remember rightly, Emma was an Oompa Loompa. So I win.
 |
| Emma Edmondson, bottom centre right |
Bob Mason, a writer from Rochdale, started his Corrie journey as character Terry Bradshaw (brother of Renee Roberts) in the seventies. Then in the eighties he became the soap’s first regular writer. According to Corriepedia he is one of only eight people to both write and appear in the show. Bob died in 2004.
 |
| Bob Mason |
And of course the great Julie Goodyear,
Corrie’s Bet Lynch is from Heywood just outside Rochdale. Last year Julie was
awarded the Freedom of Rochdale, whether she wanted it or not.
Julie, who last appeared
in Coronation Street in 2003 said of the gong: “I am honoured, delighted and
thrilled to accept this award from Rochdale council. I was born in Heywood and
lived here all my life and never wanted to leave and live anywhere else so this
is a very special award from the council. Rochdale
is one of the best-known towns in the country and some very famous people have
come from here so it will be truly wonderful to be given this honour.”
 |
| Julie Goodyear with the Freedom of Rochdale |
Aside
from it’s stunning town hall and the founding of the Co-Operative movement, Rochdale
is also famous for actor Anna Friel, singer Lisa Stanfield, the first global
superstar Gracie Fields...and my legendary blogs.
What's the Coronation Street connection to your home town?
@StevieDawson
Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
