Visitor Information
The thriving market town of Todmorden is situated in the Calderdale region of West Yorkshire next to the border with Lancashire. In fact, the old border used to run right through the town centre. The statues on the Town Hall depict the cotton trade of Lancashire on the left and the woollen trade of Yorkshire on the right. This is why Todmorden, although officially in West Yorkshire, has a Lancashire postal address.
In the present post-industrial climate the town has plenty to offer to residents and visitors alike in terms of quality of lifestyle, heritage, urban regeneration and a splendid landscape offering many outdoor recreational opportunities.
Town Map
Nearest main cities:
Manchester and Leeds are less than an hour by rail (2 trains per hour in each direction).
Visitor Information Centre: Tel 01706 818181
Market Hall: Monday to Saturday 9.00am-5.30pm (early closing Tues 1.00pm)
Outdoor Market: Wed, Fri, Sat. Flea Market on Thursdays. Mixture of various stalls on Sundays.
Development profile of Todmorden:
Pre-industrial
Isolated hilltop agricultural settlements, packhorse routes marked by ancient and mystical stones of which many still survive today.
Textile Industry
Originally produced wool or worsted but turned to cotton due to close proximity to Manchester. The Fielden family "dynasty" changed the town forever by establishing several large mills and impressive houses and chapels.
Transport
The introduction of the Rochdale Canal (1804) and Manchester-Leeds Railway (1841) - incorporating the (then) longest tunnel in the world - were crucial factors in promoting industrial growth in the area.
Todmorden's most famous landmark is the Stoodley Pike Monument which was built in 1815 to commemorate the Napoleonic War. It was rebuilt in present massive form in 1854 after the original wooden monument was struck by lightening.
Stoodley Pike dominates the entire area and has come to be adopted as a regional symbol as well as for Todmorden.
Social development
Strong non-conformist, co-operative and self-help movements typical of the independent spirit of Todmordians, which is alive and well to this day with dozens of thriving clubs, societies, sporting and cultural organisations and a disproportionally large number of small businesses.
Regeneration
The canal is fully restored after many years and millions of financial input.
Walkers, cyclists and riders are attracted in growing numbers by the rugged splendour of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Currently many new housing developments and refurbishment/re-use of industrial buildings for residential purposes. Regeneration projects include the market, railway station, sports centre and canal wharf.
Todmorden was the first rural telephone exchange in Britain to be broadband-enabled due to public demand. Much of the area has been declared a sight of special scientific interest (SSSI). The population of the town now stands at around 12,000 with many incomers attracted by everything that the area has to offer.