Rossendale Valley

The Forest of Rossendale is an upland area of north west England, principally in Lancashire. Despite its name it is mainly open moorland.

The Rossendale Valley lies to the south of the "forest" and consists of the steep-sided valley of the River Irwell and its tributaries. The valley bottoms are characterised by four main settlements, each with a number of villages and hamlets around them. These settlements are Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. Most of the development in the area has been built since the time of the Industrial Revolution although the sites of some buildings date from agricultural uses and the activities of landowners in earlier times, in some cases as far back as the 13th century.

External Link
*Rossendale Online