- a borough of Greater Manchester, in N England: site of one of the earliest cooperative societies 1844.
- a town in NW England, in Rochdale unitary authority, Greater Manchester: former centre of the textile industry. Pop: 95 769 (2001)
- a unitary authority in NW England, in Greater Manchester. Pop: 206 600 (2003 est). Area: 159 sq km (61 sq miles)
