Fireground

“The volunteer team are to be commended on their commitment to preserving and sharing the history of the Fire Service in Greater Manchester and their customer focus.” - VisitEngland Assessor

LOCATION

Rochdale, Greater Manchester

Assessed by
Visit England Logo
Awards
award
Book Direct

Our View

The Museum is currently closed for major rebuilding work to make a brand new museum in the 1933 heritage fire station building on the same site. The museum expects to re-open in a much larger and improved facility in the Spring of 2021. The new Museum will have more than four times the floor area of the present one, additional facilities such as education suite, children's play area, library and archive, interactive displays, full-time cafeteria and the re-installation of many of the 1933 period features back into their original building which will be restored to its former splendour. Situated just outside Rochdale town centre, the Museum tells the proud story of firefighting in the Manchester region. As well as the main collection of more than twenty fire engines – the oldest dating from 1741 – visitors can explore medals, uniforms, firefighting equipment and models. The Museum opens weekly (Fridays) and on the first Sunday in the month with special events taking place throughout the year. Admission is free. Refreshments and free parking are available.

Awards, accolades & Welcome Schemes

award
Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
Fireground
Old Fire Station, Maclure Road, ROCHDALE, Greater Manchester, OL11 1DN

Features

Children
  • Suitable for children of all ages
Facilities
  • Parking nearby
Accessibility
  • Fully accessible
Opening times
  • Open all year
  • Opening Times: Museum currently closed due to major rebuilding

About the area

Discover Greater Manchester

The Greater Manchester conurbation incorporates the towns of Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport and Wigan, and has the vibrant city of Manchester as its administrative headquarters.

Manchester was founded in Roman times, and developed during the 17th century as a textile town, becoming the centre of the English cotton industry. Its magnificent Victorian Gothic public buildings are reminders of Manchester’s prosperous heyday. The Manchester Ship Canal was completed in 1894, linking the Mersey with the sea and bringing ocean-going vessels into Manchester, enabling the city to compete with its rival, Liverpool.

The city of Manchester today is alive with a vibrant youth culture (it has England’s largest student population), a flourishing club scene, and a whole range of multi-cultural festivals and events. To take in the atmosphere, take a stroll around one of Britain’s largest Chinatowns, or wander down to Rusholme to take in the tempting aromas of curry houses and browse among the sari shops, Asian grocers and Indian sweet shops. The city is also home to the world’s longest-running soap opera – Coronation Street.

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