Early Music Venues


Early music venues There are records of musical performances in Rochdale theatres as early as 1766. One of the earliest theatres stood where the Town Hall now stands. It was in a warehouse at Waterside, which was previously used as a Wesleyan meeting hall.

In 1790 another chapel became a theatre, this time in Toad Lane, on the site of what was to become the old Central Co-operative Stores. It was at first known as �Theatre Rochdale� and later became the Theatre Royal.

Public halls and rooms in public houses were also used as venues for live music. These included the Public Hall on Ballie St and the assembly room at The Flying Horse pub on Packer St.



Public Hall Baillie




Theatre Royal c 1900




Theatre share




Theatre site developed as co-op, Toad Lane




Flying Horse Hotel












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