Old Fold Gardens, Rawtenstall

Old Fold Gardens in Rawtenstall are situated alongside the busy St. Mary's Way.

The site was formerly the location of Holly Mount School, built in 1839 by local businessman and benefactor David Whitehead. Although charging the normal school fee for children attending the school, Whitehead paid all this money into a trust fund. When a person reached the age of 21, the amount of the fees paid was returned to the them in an effort to encourage a culture of saving.

Records are not clear as to when the school closed, however the premises were later used as a car showroom. In 1932 it became the Astoria Dance Hall.

The latter was closed in the 1960s to make way for the construction of St. Mary's Way, the bypass for the town.

The clock tower was retained, together with the original datestone and in 1979 this small area became Old Fold Gardens. The picture (right) shows the modern stone plaque to commemorate the event.