River Roch

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The River Roch (pronounced "roach") is a river in Greater Manchester in north-west England, a tributary of the River Irwell that gives Rochdale its name.

Rising south of Todmorden in the Pennines near the source of the River Calder, it flows south through Littleborough to Rochdale where it is joined by the River Beal at the end of its short course from Milnrow, and the River Spodden from Whitworth. Turning west it runs past Heywood and Bury before meeting the River Irwell just to the east of Radcliffe.

The river gets its name from "rached", a Celtic word meaning "river by the forest".

The Doomesday Book gives the name "Recedham" for the settlement that became Rochdale.