Recall the heyday of the canal and later the trams and railway, as the changes forced by the Industrial Revolution altered landscapes, and buildings swallowed up the countryside surrounding the town. Above all, witness the working days and leisure pursuits of the ordinary people who lived through this period of extraordinary change. All the images in this book were chosen from the extensive photographic collections of Rochdale Local Studies Library, including photographs taken by the town's amateur and professional cameramen between the late 1840s and mid-1950s. Many of the photographs are unique to the collection, including rare interiors, parades, the fairground, street scenes, buildings, workplaces and, of course, the people of Rochdale, at work and play.