User:Jhamez84/sandbox/Oldham

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For the larger local government district, see Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.
For people named Oldham see Oldham (surname).

Template:Infobox England place Oldham is a large town in the North West of England. Located high in the Pennine Hills, it is the largest and most central settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham along north-eastern edge of the Greater Manchester conurbation.

Historically part of Lancashire, Oldham rose to prominence during the 19th Century as an international centre of textile manufacture. Oldham was a boom-town of the Industrial Revolution, and amoungst the first ever industrialised towns. At it's zenith, it was the single most productive cotton spinning town in the world.[1]

According to Census data from 2001, Oldham had a population of 103,544, including sizable communities of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage.

Oldham town centre, as seen in January 2004. The Pennine hills can be seen in the background.

Geography and administration

The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, highlighting the location of Oldham town in red.

Oldham is located high in the south-west of the Pennine mountain range, 7 miles north-east of the City of Manchester, in the north-west of England. It lies along the very edge of the historic Lancashire border, with Yorkshire close to the east.

Oldham was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1849 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 and until local government reforms of 1974, Oldham was it's own County borough. Since 1974, Oldham has been the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, of which it is the largest and most central settlement, and to which it gives it's name.

The boundaries of two parliamentary constituencies divide Oldham; Oldham East and Saddleworth, and Oldham West and Royton (which includes the town centre), which are represented by Labour Members of Parliament Phil Woolas and Michael Meacher respectively.

As a historic township, Oldham once formed part of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham.

History

Early history

Name

From the Old English "ald" and the Old Scandinavian "holme" and meaning "old promontory or outcrop", possibly describing the town's hilltop defensive position.[2]

Origins

The town can be dated from 865 AD when Danish invaders established a settlement in the locality with the name Aldehulme.[3] In 1215 much of the lands of Oldham were given to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem by Roger de Montbegon. The first known recorded use of the name "Oldham" was during the 11th century and it is to this point in history that Oldham can be traced.[4].

For centuries, Oldham was an area of insignificant chapelries and moorland for a small community of local farmers. During medieval times, Oldham was a modest centre of woollen cloth production, largely due to vast areas of open moorland, which were highly suitable for grazing sheep.

Oldham had long been on one of the major routes from Lancashire to Yorkshire, as it lies on an ancient Roman road which linked the historic cities of Manchester and York across the Pennine hills. Although this road deteriorated to little more than a muddy dirt track, by the middle of the 18th Century it was to assume a growing importance for the transportation of goods in the wake of new industrial, technological and cultural changes which were gathering pace in the area.

Industrial Revolution

Oldham owes much of its history to the Industrial Revolution; particularly 18th and 19th century cotton spinning. Much of the architecture of the town remains Victorian.

In 1770, the Oldham area was a mere scattering of small and insignificant settlements spread across the moorland and rough tracks which linked Manchester with the West Riding of Yorkshire. The area, located some 700 feet above sea level on the west side of the Pennine mountain range, had no major river or visible natural resources and was isolated from the market centre of Liverpool. The area had poor geographic attributes compared with other local rivals for the engineers and businessmen of the time, and so Oldham played no role in the initial period of the Industrial Revolution.

However, within thirty years, the moorland settlements based on manual labour were replaced by sprawling factories and industries. Oldham's population increased from 12,000 in 1801 to over 100,000 by the end of the 19th Century.

Advances in technology and textile manufacure, the avaliability of cheap land and support of excellent transportation links between Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire, a damp climate (which lent itself to breakage-free cotton spinning) and some of the world's greatest machine-makers, meant that Oldham rapidly became a thriving, prosperous industrious town.

By 1850 Oldham was confirmed as a pulsating boom-town, supplying cotton products throughout the world with an output and profitability unmatched by anywhere else. The speed of its growth is highly significant. Oldham, with little pre-industrial history to speak of, was in effect, born a factory town.

Cotton spinning

With the implimentation of mechanised spinning of raw cotton into workable yarn and thread, rural Oldham was removed forever; from a series of small-time woollen-cloth producing cottages, to a booming industrial metropolis, processing more raw cotton, and spinning more yarn than any other single centre of the textile industry.

The notion of the "Mill town" and mass production, was introduced to Oldham in the late 1770s. Using nearby prosperous Manchester as an example, Oldhamers were attracted by the chance of regular employement and unparalled success and purpose.

Oldham's first mill was Lees Hall, built about 1778 by William Clegg. Within twelve months, eleven other mills had joined Clegg's original. Newly invented Steam engines and Spinning Jennys and Spinning mules were quickly installed.

As world demand for cotton grew, so Oldham's share of mills and spindleage increased. By 1890, Oldham's share of the spindleage had risen to 11.4 million out of 87.7 million - some 13% of the entire world's cotton production. At the peak of the town's cotton industry, over 360 mills operated night and day.[5] By the end of the 19th century, as a result of a mill building booms during 1860s-1870s, Oldham was confirmed as the most productive cotton-spinning town in the world, overtaking Manchester and Bolton.[6] Oldham dominated the world's cotton spinning industry at the end of the 19th Century.

However, following the events of the two world wars, and increased foreign competition, there was a (terminal) depression in the British cotton industry. Economically, Oldham was very much dependent on this single industry, and manufacture, affluence and employment opportunities steadily declined in the town during the first half of the 20th century. The last cotton to be spun in Oldham was in the mid-1990s, and the now redundant mills (many now split into small, rented industrial units) still mark the Oldham skyline today.

Coal mining

While it would be a truism to say that Cotton created modern Oldham, it would be a mistake to think this was the town's only industry. Oldham began to produce its own coal in the 19th century.

Engineering

Oldham developed an extensive engineering industry, strongly linked to the cotton industry. Platt Brothers originated in nearby Saddleworth but moved to Oldham, developing large works on two sites, at Greenacres Moor and at Werneth. It became the largest textile machine makers in the world employing over 15,000 people, twice the size of their nearest rivals, Dobson & Barlow in Bolton and Asa Lees on Greenacres Moor, Oldham. Although textile engineering declined with the industry, leading to the demise of Platts in 1982, other engineering firms arrived, notably Ferranti in 1896 representing the 20th century electrical and, later, electronics industry. Ferranti went into receivership in 1993 but some of its former works continue in other hands, notably the original Hollinwood site now operated by Siemens.

Historic events

Oldham lays claim to being the birthplace of the chip shop (though possibly not in the sense it is understood today of 'fish-and-chip shop' - the combination is thought to have been first offered by Joseph Malin at his premises in London circa 1860), from which the fast food industry's origins may be traced. The chip shop in question was on the site of what is now the Tommyfield indoor market.

Politial history

In 1900, Winston Churchill was elected as the member of Parliament for Oldham. He held the constituency for the Conservative Party until 1906.

Recent history

From 1963 to 1965, the town was overshadowed by the terrible Moors Murders whose victims were buried on nearby Saddleworth Moor.

Oldham was the birthplace of the world's first baby to be born by in vitro fertilization- Louise Brown in 1978.

Immigration

Following the events of the two World Wars, and increased foreign competition, Oldham's industries suffered from an economic depression.

Citizens from the wider British Commonwealth were encouraged to migrate to parts of England, including Oldham, to fill the shortfall of indigineous employees.

Oldham Riots

The town was overshadowed once again in May 2001 by the Oldham Riots. Much of the violence occurred in the Glodwick district of Oldham and is said to have stemmed from long term underlying interracial tensions. News and pictures were broadcast both nationally and internationally, and similar riots took place by communities in English northern towns over the following days.

The 2001 riots prompted a number of governmental and independent inquiries (The Ritchie Report being one of those) which collectively agreed on a number of community relations improvements and considerable regeneration schemes for the town.

Landmarks

File:OldhamParishChurch.jpg
Oldham Parish Church

Oldham Parish Church

The "Oldham Parish Church of St. Mary with St. Peter", in its present form, dates from 1830 and was designed in the Gothic Revival Style by Richard Lane, a Manchester born Architect. It was linked with St. Mary's Church in Prestwich and together the sites were principal churches of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham.

A church building had existed on the site since 1280 A.D. During this time, a small chapel stood on the site to serve the local historic townships of Oldham, Chadderton, Royton and Crompton. This was later replaced by an Early English Gothic Church in the 15th Century.

With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the population of Oldham increased at a dramatic rate, (from under 2,000 in 1714, to over 32,000 by 1831). The rapid growth of the local populations warrented that the building be rebuilt in to the structure which stands today.

The cost of building was £30,000; one third of which was spent on the crypt structure. Alternative designs by Sir Charles Barry, the designer of the Houses of Parliament, although far superior, were rejected.[7]

The Church is of Anglican denomination, and is active in it's use for worship.

Oldham War Memorial

Erected as a permenant memorial to the men of Oldham who were killed in World War I, the Oldham War Memorial consists of a granite base surmounted by a bronze sculpture depicting five soldiers making their way along the trenches in order to go into battle. The main standing figure, having climbed out of the trenches, was shown calling on his comrades to advance. The base serves to house books containing the roll of honour of the 1st, 10th and 24th Battallions, Manchester Regiment. The pedestal has two bronze doors at either side.[8]

Comissioned in 1919 by the Oldham War Memorial Committee, the Oldham War Memorial was conceptualised and fabricated by Albert Toft, and unveiled by General Sir Ian Hamilton on April 28, 1923, before a crowd estimated at over 10,000.

The inscriptions on the memorial read:

Over doors: "MORS JANUA VITAE, 1914-1918" (death is the gate of life) Opposite side: "TO GOD BE THE PRAISE"

Civic Centre

Whilst not a landmark in the classical sense, the "Civic Centre" tower is the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham's centre of local governance. The fifteen storey white-brick building has housed the vast majority of the local government's offices since its completion in 1977. Standing at the summit of the town, the tower stands over 200 feet high and was built at a cost of £6,800,000.[9]

The Civic Centre can be seen from as far away as Salford and Trafford, and offers paroramic views across the city of Manchester and the Cheshire plain.

Present day

Culturally Oldham is quite varied, being home to sizeable Pakistani (13,754/6.3%), Bangladeshi (9,817/4.5%) and Indian (1,562/0.7%) communities.

Ethnic minority populations number around 26,000. Population Statistics for Oldham (See page 3) (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The town's Latin motto is sapere aude - "Dare to be wise" which belonged to bishop Hugh Oldham. A perched owl dominates Oldham's coat of arms, and is a symbol of the town.

Nightlife

Oldham has a vibrant night life, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night, with several nightclubs around the Yorkshire Street area in the town centre. Until recently, however, Yorkshire Street had the dubious distinction of being 'the second most violent street in Europe'. This was not due to any kind of rioting and the street still has relatively high levels of violence which are suppressed by a heavy police presence. It also now has a 'battlefield hospital' type triage centre.

Theatre

The town has a lively theatrical culture, and is possibly the most vibrant in the Greater Manchester area outside of the city of Manchester. It is home to the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, the Grange Arts Centre and the Oldham Theatre Workshop.

Art

Oldham is now home to a newly built state-of-the-art art gallery, Gallery Oldham, which was completed in February 2002 as the first phase of the Oldham Cultural Quarter to the south of the town centre.

Later phases of the development saw the construction of an extended Oldham Library, a lifelong learning centre and there are plans to include a performing arts centre.

Music

Artists/bands to emanate from Oldham include Barclay James Harvest, Grandad Roberts and his son Elvis, Gary Mounfield (of Stone Roses and Primal Scream fame), Inspiral Carpets, Mark Owen (of Take That), N-Trance and Puressence as well as celebrated composer Sir William Walton.

Famous people

Oldham has had many famous residents, both of national and international aclaim. Due to the confusion/interchangability of Oldham town and Oldham borough, some people listed below may be from the wider Oldham area.

Past

Present

Sport

The town is home to a number of sports teams including Oldham Athletic Football Club and Oldham Roughyeds Rugby League Club.

In addition the town is host to several league cricket teams with a number of semi-professional league clubs including Oldham CC, Royton CC and Werneth CC in the Central Lancashire League and Saddleworth CC, Austerlands CC, Uppermill CC and Greenfield CC in the Saddleworth & District League.

Schools

This is a list of schools in Oldham town; for schools in the rest of the borough, see Metropolitan Borough of Oldham.

There are also two colleges of further education in Oldham. These are:

Transport

Mumps Bridge, Oldham

Oldham is about 4 miles from the major M62 motorway, but is linked to it by the M60 and A627(M). Central Oldham once had five railway stations but now has three, Oldham Werneth, Oldham Mumps and Derker. It is planned to link the town to Manchester's Metrolink tram network, but plans are currently in abeyance due to government refusal to meet the escalating costs of the required engineering work. Should the extension be completed, however, Oldham could become the largest town in the United Kingdom not to have a conventional railway station.

Oldham has a newly built central bus station with frequent services to other parts of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Twin Towns

Oldham is twinned with three European towns:

See also

References and citations

  1. ^ Gurr & Hunt (1998). The Cotton Mills of Oldham, Oldham Education & Leisure. Pg 4. ISBN 0902809466
  2. ^ The Town & Borough of Oldham, www.manchester2002-uk.com, November 26, 2005, URL accessed June 20, 2006
  3. ^ The Town & Borough of Oldham, www.manchester2002-uk.com, November 26, 2005, URL accessed June 20, 2006
  4. ^ Oldham Heritage, www.visitoldham.co.uk, URL accessed June 20, 2006
  5. ^ Visit Oldham - The History of Oldham, www.visitoldham.co.uk. URL accessed June 28, 2006
  6. ^ Spinning The Web - Oldham
  7. ^ Oldham Parish Church - History, oldhamparishchurch.org, March 21, 2005. URL accessed June 25, 2006
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ The Town & Borough of Oldham - Contemporary Oldham, www.manchester2002-uk.com, September 10, 2003, URL accessed June 26, 2006

External links

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