the arts
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THE FASCINATING STORIES BEHIND
ROCHDALE'S MURALS Rochdale town centre is home to a variety of murals, many of which were created as part of last year's Rochdale Uprising mural festival, and a couple of new additions by Rochdale artist, Doodlher. The vibrant murals have brightened up the town centre while also celebrating Rochdale's rich heritage. Here are the fascinating stories behind a few of the murals.
Another mural packed with Rochdale history is artist Tank Petrol's tribute to the women of the cotton weaving industry (pictured below). The huge piece can be seen at the rear of The Wheatsheaf Centre, which back in 1910 was the site of a woollen mill. Based on a photograph from the 1950s, it shows a woman ironing and mending the cloth, which would have likely just come off the loom.
Let's start with Philth Blake’s giant 'Rochdale' mural (pictured above), on Water Street, which is a difficult one to miss! The mural pays homage to Rochdale’s cotton weaving past. The seven opened cotton bolls were inspired by the iconic Seven Sisters and St Edmunds Church; when the church was built in 1870 it was possible to see seven visible planets with the naked eye over Rochdale. The unopened boll represents the future and a new start. The colour and style of the piece is influenced by the interior of Rochdale Town Hall. The Latin typography is inspired by the latin inscriptions in the town hall and St Edmunds Church. The Latin inscription ‘Semper Paratus’ on the top of the church translates to ‘Always Ready’, which ties in with Philth’s ‘Numquam Paratus’ meaning ‘Never Ready’. 18 | Rochdale Style
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