Heywood is regarded as a town and also unparished area within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.[1] In times past part of Lancashire, at the 2001 census it stood a populace of 28,024.[2] The town is situated on the south bank of the River Roch and it's 2.4 miles (3.9 km) east of Bury, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) west-southwest of Rochdale, and 7.4 miles (11.9 km) north from the city of Manchester. The town of Middleton is to the south, whereas towards the north is the Cheesden Valley, open moorland, as well as the Pennines. Heywood's nickname is Monkey Town, an identity known to date dating back to 1857.