Haunted Rochdale brims with ghost stories and supernatural legends. GEMMA JOHNSON explores the eerie and mysterious locations in this spooky part of Greater Manchester.
Haunted Places to Visit in Rochdale
When our wonderful Editor, David, invited me to write about Haunted Rochdale in Greater Manchester, I decided to focus on some of the lesser-known places. There are so many spooky tales, myths, and legends within our humble valley town that choosing just five is a challenge.
Champness Hall
Champness Hall sits on Drake Street, one of the main thoroughfares in and out of the town centre. I have the absolute honour of having Champness Hall as my office space, the HQ of Junior Paranormal Events, and I am one of the Trustees responsible for our glorious building.
Built in 1925 as a memorial to an iconic Primitive Methodist Preacher named Thomas Champness, it served as a beacon for the religious community, attracting people from far and wide and packing out the huge auditorium every Sunday. In later years, it became a performance space, most notably for Dame Gracie Fields, a Rochdale-born singer, actress, and entertainer.
Champness Hall is a much-beloved building, so it is no surprise that many spirits still visit it. There is always a hum of activity within the walls, not always by the living, with most of the activity focused on the auditorium. Pictures of spirits have been captured within the space, the most well-known being ‘Mary,’ a former sister of mercy who likes children and young people.
Healey Dell Nature Reserve
Healey Dell Nature Reserve is a 40-hectare sanctuary a few miles away from Rochdale Town Centre. It nestles along the curves of the River Spodden, which runs through the heart of the nature reserve. Among all the places to explore in ‘The Dell,’ it is the Fairy Chapel that draws the most attention. The chapel sits within a rock formation, a natural structure that gives the appearance of a small cave hidden inside.
The tale centres around Robert, heir to the Earl of Huntingdon, and a coven of witches. Robert needed to produce a ring to prove that he was the true heir, but it had already been taken by his cousin. A witch promised Robert she could get it for him if he did what she said.
Sensing that the witch was trying to take advantage of him, Robert tried to kill her, but she cast a spell on him and flew away. When Robert awoke, he found he had been saved by a small man who called himself ‘The Fairy King.’ Together, the two banished all the witches in ‘The Dell’ to the Fairy Chapel, where they would remain for eternity, unable to practice their wicked deeds. There is a stunning tearoom within Healey Dell which is well worth the trip too!
Owd Betts
Owd Betts is a pub set within the countryside on the outskirts of Rochdale near Norden. The history on the site dates back to 1796 when the pub was originally named the Hare and Hounds. The name ‘Owd Bett’ comes from the landlady Betty Ashworth, who took over running the pub in 1869 after the death of her husband John. The pub had been passed from generation to generation within the Ashworth family, and Betty was the last of the legacy. Betty was nicknamed ‘Owd Bett’ by locals, friends, and family. The pub was officially renamed ‘Owd Betts’ in 1950 in honour of Betty.
Owd Bett loved the pub so much that it is rumoured she returns to visit, keeping a watchful eye on the current landlords and customers. Footsteps are heard in empty rooms and along the corridors and rooms in the upstairs living accommodation. Shadows and a sense of being watched have been reported by staff and visitors alike. The current owners have been careful to ensure that the character of the pub has been maintained to Owd Betts’ liking. It certainly has a quirky, mysterious quality to it – and if you visit, do try the Cheese and Onion pie, it is legendary!
St Mary in the Baum
The church of St Mary in the Baum is situated on St Mary’s Gate in the heart of Rochdale Town Centre. Built in 1744, the church that stands on the grounds today was constructed in 1911. The site has served as a central location for worship and gathering for 280 years. However, it is the name ‘Baum’ that has supernatural connections.
Baum is local slang for ‘Balm,’ a herb that grew within the fields surrounding the church grounds. Legend has it that the ghost of a white rabbit roamed the church grounds. Described by witnesses as being as ‘white as the snow,’ it would appear most often under the light of a full moon. Attempts were made to try to shoot the rabbit and capture it, but it would disappear before the eyes should it be approached.
While the Baum Rabbit did not appear to be a malevolent spirit, locals suspected it was a boggart connected to witchcraft. The area next to St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, holds ‘Baum Rabbit’ Easter Hunts each year.
Hare Hill House
Hare Hill House is an 18th-century building that served as the family home of the Newall family for four generations. It is located in Littleborough, a few miles away from the town centre. The most well-known local legend of Hare Hill House relates to a monkey that was once a pet of the Newall family, named Mephisto. Mephisto has a small grave within the grounds, and a housemaid has been seen walking to his grave with flowers on the day of his anniversary.
Otherworldly visitors are said to include a former nanny of the house who dresses in green, a Georgian man who likes people to introduce themselves when they enter his cellar, and a lady in black who roams the building.
Have you seen a ghost in Rochdale? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
