Rossendale

Rossendale is a local government district in Lancashire, England.

It lies in the south-east of the county and comprises the towns of Rawtenstall, Bacup, Whitworth, Edenfield, Haslingden, Helmshore, Crawshawbooth and Waterfoot, along with surrounding villages in the Rossendale Valley.

Regional and geographic context

Rossendale lies between Greater Manchester, Burnley and the West Pennine Moors, in the south-east of Lancashire. The district occupies the Rossendale Valley and contains a mix of upland moorland and former industrial towns.

The area is sometimes described as part of East Lancashire, a non-administrative term used to group districts on the eastern side of the county for planning and service coordination. This term does not represent a separate county or formal boundary.

In this context, Rossendale is commonly grouped with neighbouring districts such as Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle, and in some cases Blackburn with Darwen, depending on function.

Administratively, Rossendale is one of Lancashire’s local government districts and operates within the two-tier structure alongside Lancashire County Council.

Rossendale is connected to surrounding areas via the M66/A56 corridor, providing links to Greater Manchester and to East Lancashire towns. The district borders Bury to the south, Hyndburn to the north, and Calderdale to the east.

Administrative formation of the Borough of Rossendale

Prior to 1974, the area now known as Rossendale consisted of several separate local government districts, including the municipal boroughs of Bacup, Haslingden and Rawtenstall, Whitworth Urban District, and part of Ramsbottom Urban District.

On 1 April 1974, these areas were unified to form the modern Borough of Rossendale under the Local Government Act 1972. The new borough consolidated administration across the Rossendale Valley within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire.

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