About Radcliffe in Greater Manchester

Radcliffe is a town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Irwell. It lies in the Irwell Valley 2.5 miles (4 km) south-west of Bury and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north-north-west of Manchester. Historically a part of Lancashire, Radcliffe was a mill town and had a large cotton industry.

Radcliffe is recorded in the Domesday Book as "Radeclive", from Old English words meaning "red cliff". The name refers to the red sandstone cliffs near the town.

Radcliffe was originally a small hamlet within the parish of Bury. It grew rapidly in the 18th century as the textile industry developed. By the early 19th century it had become a town, with a population of over 10,000. The coming of the railways in the mid-19th century led to further growth, and by 1901 the population had reached 24,000.

The town has two railway stations, Radcliffe East and Radcliffe West, both on the Manchester–Bolton line. Radcliffe is bounded to the west by the River Irwell, and to the east by the M60 motorway.

The town centre has a pedestrianised precinct and a variety of shops. There is a twice-weekly market, and a number of pubs and clubs. The East Lancashire Paper Mill is located on the outskirts of the town.

Radcliffe has a number of primary schools and two secondary schools, Radcliffe High School and Radcliffe Riverside School. There are also several churches, including St Mary's Church, which dates from 1754.