Foundations of Victorian corn mill and a public weighing station among treasures unearthed at a major archaeological dig behind Rochdale Town Hall.

More than 450 Volunteers, trainees and residents from across the borough have joined archaeologists from the University of Salford as part of the Big Dig 2, which is currently taking place on the Broadfield Slopes.

The Slopes and the surrounding area played a key role in the development of Rochdale town centre, and the team have already discovered the foundations of the ‘Charles Kershaw Central Corn Mill’, thought to date from the mid 1800s, alongside a public weighing station.

Dr Colin Elder, from the University of Salford, said:

“This site would have been a hive of activity in the industrial period, with people who would have worked in the corn mill living in houses, now long gone, which lined the steps which run up the Slopes to St Chad’s Church.

“We’ve also found part of a public weighing station, where people, including merchants, would have gone to check whether they had been sold the right amount of cotton, wool or, in this case, probably corn.”

The Big Dig 2 follows a similar dig, the Big Dig, which took place in Town Hall Square in 2021.

Central to the success of the project has been the army of residents, from young to old, the volunteers and the trainees, who have been on site each day, helping to uncover their borough’s proud history.

The dig has supported the training of 5 local people, as part of a ten week archaeology course, which will enable them to potentially embark on a career in the field. This talented team has already picked up sufficient skills to enable them to essentially manage the Big Dig themselves, with support from the University of Salford.

The event is also part of a number of public activities which have been put on as part of the wider redevelopment of Rochdale Town Hall, which is due to reopen soon, following a multi-million pound restoration project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the council.