Ramsbottom became an area of scattered woods, farmsteads, moorland and swamp with a small community of families until the late 18th century.

Ramsbottom developed during the 19th century as a manufacturing and mill town on the road from Bury to Haslingden by the River Irwell, its suburbs stretched south to Hazelhurst and north to Stubbins.

With a readily available source of water power, Sir Robert Peel purchased land in Ramsbottom in the late 18th century to commence a major manufacturing career.

It is this exchange that effectively founded Ramsbottom as a homogeneous settlement; the factory system, and Industrial Revolution facilitated a process of unplanned urbanisation in the area, contributing to it becoming an important and populous mill town.

The landlord converted the tokens into cash, but only after deducting threepence per person, which had to be spent on beer, a variation on the truck system.

[12] The Grant Arms Hotel closed in 2018 and is currently being developed as offices, this has now been completed to a high standard that compliments the area.

A network of roads and railways routed through Ramsbottom allowed for a series of diverse industries, including calico-printing, cotton spinning, machine-making, rope-making and iron and brass founding.

From the Middle Ages Ramsbottom was an area in the township of Lower Tottington, in the parish of Bury, and Salford hundred in Lancashire.

In 1883 parts of Elton, Tottington Higher End and Walmersley with Shuttleworth townships were added to the area of the Local Board.

In line with the national swing in 2019, Bury North was lost back to the Conservatives, and it is now the most marginal constituency in England, with a majority of 105 votes.However the Bury North constituency was regained by Labour in the 2024 UK general election by James Frith with 19625 votes, a majority of 6944 votes.

This piece of work, weighing around two tons and locally known as "the Urn" or "Urnie", was funded with £250,000 of National Lottery money.

The park hosts regular fun fairs and family events, and is a popular attraction with locals and tourists alike.

Its ground, close to Ramsbottom railway station, has a reputation as being one of the best and most picturesque in the North West of England.

In recent years the celebrations have become more secular, with the public house at the bottom of Holcombe Hill attracting as many as 3,000 visitors leading to complaints from residents and restrictions being imposed by the council.

[26] Ye Olde Gamecock Show, an exhibition of game fowl is held in the town on New Year's Day.

The show was held at The Old Dun Horse from 1843 until it closed in 2010 and has since been hosted by the Ramsbottom branch of the Royal British Legion.

[27] This competitive show replaced the annual cockfight that took place in the town square after the New Year Holcome Hunt.

[28] The exhibition, organised by the Holcombe Old English Game Fowl Club, is said to be the oldest gamecock show in the world.

In 1990, with donations and loans from members and enthusiasts, the company purchased the Theatre Royal on Smithy Street in Ramsbottom.