Oldham
Oldham Town Centre This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ... Image File history File links OldhamTownCentre. ...
Oldham shown within Greater Manchester
Population	103,544 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD922053
- London	164 miles (264 km) SSE
Metropolitan borough	Oldham
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OLDHAM
Postcode district	OL1-OL2, OL4, OL8-OL9
Dial code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Oldham East and Saddleworth
	Oldham West and Royton
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°32′40″N 2°07′01″W / 53.5444, -2.1169 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England which has a population of 2. ... UK Census 2001 logo A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A modern compass card. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of English administrative division used for the purposes of local government. ... Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England which has a population of 2. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... North West England is one of the nine regions of England. ... Constituent countries is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a number of countries make up a larger entity or grouping; thus the OECD has used the phrase in reference to the former Yugoslavia[1], the Soviet Union and European institutions such as the Council of... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The OL postcode area, also known as the Oldham postcode area,[1] is a group of postal districts in North West England that are sub-divisions of eight post towns. ... The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Numbering Plan, is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. ... Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, in North West England. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the county-wide emergency fire & rescue service for the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, England. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust was formed on 1 July 2006 as part of Health Minister Lord Warners plans to reduce the number of NHS ambulance service trusts operating in the United Kingdom to 12. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Oldham East and Saddleworth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Oldham West and Royton is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... North West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places within counties List of places in Bedfordshire List of places in Berkshire List of places in Buckinghamshire List of places in Cambridgeshire List of places in Cheshire List of places in Cleveland List of places... This is a list of cities, towns and villages in the county of Greater Manchester, England. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Oldham is a large town within Greater Manchester, in North West England.^[1] Rising amongst the Pennine hills, 6.9 miles (11.1 km) northeast of the city of Manchester, it is the largest and most populous settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England which has a population of 2. ... North West England is one of the nine regions of England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... Typical Pennine scenery. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ...

Historically part of Lancashire, Oldham rose to prominence during the 19th century as an international centre of textile manufacture. Oldham was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, and amongst the first ever industrialised towns. At its zenith, it was the single most productive cotton spinning mill town in the world.^[2][3] The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... With the establishment of overseas colonies, the British Empire at the end of the 17th century/beginning of the 18th century had a vast source of raw materials and a vast market for goods. ... A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. ... The Industrial Revolution was a major shift of technological, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions that occurred in the late 18th century and early 19th century in some Western countries. ... A factory in Ilmenau (Germany) around 1860 Industrialisation (also spelt Industrialization) or an Industrial Revolution is a process of social and economic change whereby a human society is transformed from a pre-industrial (an economy where the amount of capital accumulated per capita is low) to an industrial state (see... A hand-turned spinning wheel in action Cones of yarn for industrial use Spinning is the process of creating yarn (or thread, rope, cable) from various raw fiber materials. ... Amoskeag Canal, 1948, by Charles Sheeler A mill town is a community that grew up around one or more mills or factories, usually on a river that was used as a source of power in the days before electricity. ...

Since the mid 20th century, Oldham has lost all of its traditional textile industry, but is marked architecturally by several surviving large cotton mills, and other buildings and infrastructure linked to the sector. A centre for further education and the performing arts, Oldham today is a predominantly residential town, with a total population of 103,544.^[4] This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Further education (often abbreviated FE) is post-secondary, post-compulsory education (in addition to that received at secondary school). ... The performing arts are those forms of art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artists own body, face and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some... This is a list of the largest cities and towns of England ordered by population. ...

History

Toponymy

Oldham (pronounced [ōl'dəm]) is a derivative of Aldehulme, and is possibly from the Old English "ald" and the Old Scandinavian "holmi" and meaning "old promontory or outcrop", possibly describing the town's hilltop defensive position.^[5] Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon[1], Old English: ) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ...

Altholm (recorded in about 1226–8) may also mean "promontory near a slope or cliff", combining the Celtic "alt", meaning "slope or cliff" with the Old Scandinavian for an "island, promontory, raised ground in marsh, river-meadow".^[6] The Celtic languages are the languages descended from Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, a branch of the greater Indo-European language family. ...

Early history

The town is believed to date from 865 AD when Danish invaders established a settlement in the locality with the name Aldehulme.^[7] 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.^[8] Baron Vassiliev, a 19th-century Knight Commander The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, the Knights of Malta, the Knights of Rhodes, and the Chevaliers of Malta) was an organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in... Roger de Montbegon[1] (d. ...

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. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Species See text. ...

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. Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... York is a city in North Yorkshire, England, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss. ...

Industrial Revolution

Oldham owes much of its history to the Industrial Revolution; particularly 18th and 19th century cotton spinning, and much (but by no means all) of the architecture of the town remains Victorian. Contrariwise, it has been asserted that, "if ever the Industrial Revolution placed a town firmly and squarely on the map of the world, that town is Oldham."^[9] The Industrial Revolution was a major shift of technological, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions that occurred in the late 18th century and early 19th century in some Western countries. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her accession to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ...

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 Pennines, 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. Moorland in the Pennines (England); Coarse grasses and bracken tend to dominate especially in high rainfall areas. ... The West Riding as an administrative county prior to its abolition in 1974. ... Location within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state United Kingdom Constituent country England Region North West England Ceremonial county Historic county Merseyside Lancashire Admin HQ Liverpool City Centre Founded 1207 City Status 1880 Government  - Type Metropolitan borough, City  - Governing body Liverpool City Council Area  - Borough & City 43. ...

However, within thirty years, the moorland cottage industry 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 manufacture, the availability of cheap land and relatively abundant coal, 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. The use of the term has expanded, and is used to refer to any event which allows a large number of people to lalalawork part time. ... Manual labour (or manual labor) is physical work done with the hands, especially in an unskilled job such as fruit and vegetable picking, road building, or any other field where the work may be considered physically arduous, and which has as a profitable objective, usually the production of goods. ...

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. Amoskeag Canal, 1948, by Charles Sheeler A mill town is a community that grew up around one or more mills or factories, usually on a river that was used as a source of power in the days before electricity. ...

Cotton spinning

An image of Maple Mill, a former cotton mill in Hathershaw. It is over a century old and the largest surviving cotton mill in the north of England. It last operated in the textile industry when owned by Courtaulds Spinning in the 1990s, but is now used for warehousing. This kind of structure remains a common sight throughout Oldham.

With the introduction of mechanised spinning of raw cotton into workable yarn and thread, rural Oldham changed from a series of small-time woollen-cloth producing cottages into a booming industrial metropolis, processing more raw cotton, and spinning more yarn than any other single centre of the textile industry. Image File history File linksMetadata MapleMill. ... Image File history File linksMetadata MapleMill. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Hathershaw is a locality in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. ... Old warehouses in Amsterdam Inside Green Logistics Co. ... A hand-turned spinning wheel in action Cones of yarn for industrial use Spinning is the process of creating yarn (or thread, rope, cable) from various raw fiber materials. ... Cotton ready for harvest. ... Yarn Spools of thread Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibers, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals and people of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats and rabbits and oxes... The use of the term has expanded, and is used to refer to any event which allows a large number of people to lalalawork part time. ...

The notion of the "mill town" and mass production, was introduced to Oldham in the late 1770s.^[10] Using nearby prosperous Manchester as an example, Oldhamers were attracted by the chance of regular employment and unparalleled 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 Spinning Jennys and Spinning Mules were quickly installed. Amoskeag Canal, 1948, by Charles Sheeler A mill town is a community that grew up around one or more mills or factories, usually on a river that was used as a source of power in the days before electricity. ... A steam engine is a heat engine that makes use of the thermal energy that exists in steam, converting it to mechanical work. ... Model of the spinning jenny in a museum in Wuppertal, Germany The spinning jenny is a multi-spool spinning wheel. ... The spinning mule was created by Samuel Crompton. ...

As world demand for cotton grew, so Oldham's share of mills and spindleage increased. By 1890, Oldham's share of Britain's spindleage had risen to 11.4 million out of 87.7 million - some 13% of the entire world's cotton production. By 1838 Oldham had over 213 cotton factories; even more than other leading cotton towns such as Manchester (182), Rochdale (117) and Bury (114).^[10] At the peak of the town's cotton industry, over 360 mills operated night and day.^[11] 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.^[12] Oldham dominated the world's cotton spinning industry at the end of the 19th century. A spindle (sometimes called a drop spindle) is a wooden spike weighted at one end with a wheel and an optional hook at the other end. ... For other uses, see Rochdale (disambiguation). ... , Bury is a town in the north of Greater Manchester in North West England. ... Bolton is a large town in the north-west of England. ...

Oldham was hit hard by the Lancashire cotton famine of 1861–1865 however. Without supplies of raw cotton from America, thousands of Oldham's workers became redundant. The then Oldham council took measures to ensure workers were employed and kept paid. Alexandra Park was conceptualised and commissioned to be created as a green space in the Glodwick district, just south of the town centre, and was created by local cotton mill workers during this time. The cotton famine (1861 – 1865) was a depression in the textile industry in northwest England, brought about by the American Civil War. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Alexandra Park is a public park in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. ... Glodwick is a district in the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. ...

Whilst the cotton famine passed, 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 lies on the eastern edge of the South Lancashire coalfield, and began to produce its own coal in the 19th century. The mines were largely to the south-west of the town around the districts of Hollinwood and Werneth and provided enough coal to accelerate Oldham's rapid development at the centre of the cotton boom. The amount of coal in the field was somewhat overestimated, however, and production began to decline even before that of the local spinning industry. Today, the only visible remnants of the mines are some disused shafts and tunnels. Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... Hollinwood is a district within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Werneth is a locality in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. ...

Engineering

Oldham led in the field of engineering. On the back of the Industrial Revolution, the town developed an extensive engineering industry, strongly linked to the local cotton industry. The Platt Brothers originated in nearby Dobcross village, Saddleworth, but moved to Oldham. They were pioneers of cotton spinning, inventing several innovations which enabled mass-production of cotton yarn. Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Platt Brothers & Co Ltd, (also known as Platt Bros. ... Dobcross is one of the smallest villages in the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Saddleworth is a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham formed by a collection of villages and hamlets amongst the west side of the Pennine hills, in North West England. ...

Platt Brothers 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. They were keen investors in the local area and at one time, were supporting some 42% of the population. The centre of the company lay at the New Hartford Works in Werneth, a massive complex of buildings and internal railways on a site overlooking Manchester. The railway station which served this site later formed the basis of Oldham Werneth railway station, which together with the main building exists to this day. Oldham Werneth is a small station situated on Fetherstall Road South, Werneth. ...

Although textile engineering declined with the industry, leading to the demise of Platts in 1982, other engineering firms existed, notably electrical and later electronical engineers Ferranti in 1896. 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. Ferranti or Ferranti International plc by the time of its collapse, was a major UK electrical engineering and equipment firm, known primarily for defence electronics and power grid systems. ... Hollinwood is a district within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Siemens AG (ISIN: DE0007236101, FWB: SIE, NYSE: SI) is one of the worlds largest companies and Europes largest engineering firm. ...

Historic events

A blue plaque claiming the first chip shop in Britain, in Oldham

Several Oldhamers were caught up in the chaos that was the Peterloo Massacre which occurred in nearby Manchester, in 1819. A plaque in-memoriam to the losses and injuries inflicted during the massacre can be found near the Rochdale Road entrance to the "Civic Centre". Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A blue plaque showing information about The Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey in Torquay. ... Print of the Peterloo Massacre published by Richard Carlile Peterloo Massacre of August 16, 1819 was the result of a cavalry charge into the crowd at a public meeting at St Peters Fields, Manchester, England. ...

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.^{[citation needed]}

Oldham was, for a short time, home to some prisoners of war from Germany during the Second World War. There was a Prisoner of War camp at Glen Mill in Wellyhole Street.^[13][14] Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Oldham is the place of birth of the tubular bandage (a specialised type of medical aid/support), and Yates's Wine Lodge, a popular chain of public houses in the United Kingdom. Yates however do not currently have a public house located in Oldham. Yates can refer to one of several places: Town of Yates, Orleans County, New York Yates County, New York Yates Township, Illinois Yates Township, Lake County, Michigan Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas Yates can also refer to the following people: Andrea Pia Yates, a woman convicted of drowning her five...

Political history

Oldham was where Winston Churchill began his political career. Although taking two attempts to succeed, in the 1900 general election Churchill was elected as the member of Parliament for the Oldham constituency. He held the constituency for the Conservative Party until the 1906 general election. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. ... Lord Salisbury Henry Campbell-Bannerman Keir Hardie The campaign for United Kingdom general election of 1900 was held from 25 September to 24 October 1900. ... Oldham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Oldham, Lancashire, England. ... The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... The UK general election of 1906 was from 12th January – 8th February 1906. ...

Recent history

Following the demise of the cotton industry, Oldham's level of affluence dropped markedly. 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. This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Saddleworth Moor looking toward the Wessenden valley Saddleworth Moor is an area of heath moorland on the northern English Pennine hill-range between Holmfirth and Uppermill. ... Test tube baby redirects here. ... Louise Joy Brown (born July 25, 1978, in England) was the worlds first baby to be conceived by in vitro fertilisation, or IVF. She is currently a postal worker and was previously a nurse at a childcare centre in Bristol. ...

Immigration

Due to Oldham's industrial might, the town had always attracted migrant workers, including those from wider-England, Scotland, Ireland and parts of Poland and Ukraine. Following the events of the two World Wars, and increased foreign competition, Oldham suffered from a major economic depression in the cotton industry. There was a severe shortage of unskilled employees who could work in the mills and keep manufacture alive. Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English (de facto)1; Gaelic[1]2 and Scots3 (recognised minority...

During the 1950s and 1960s, in an attempt to fill the shortfall of workers and revitalise local industries, members of the wider Commonwealth of Nations were encouraged to migrate to Oldham and other British towns. Many came from the Caribbean and Indian subcontinent and settled throughout the Oldham borough. Today, Oldham still has large communities with heritage from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and parts of the Caribbean. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ...

Riots

Main article: Oldham Riots

In May 2001, Oldham became the centre of national and international media attention. Following several high profile race-related conflicts, and long-term underlying racial tensions, major race riots broke out in the town. Occurring with particular intensity in the Glodwick area of the town, the Oldham Riots were the worst racially-motivated riots in the United Kingdom for fifteen years prior, briefly eclipsing the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in the media.^[15] A video-still taken from the peak of the riots, showing a rioter throwing a petrol bomb towards lines of police. ... Racism is a belief or doctrine that differences in physical appearance between people (such as those upon which the concept of race is based) determine cultural or individual achievement, and usually involve the idea that ones own race is superior. ... A race riot is any riot which occurs due to real or perceived inequality or oppression between members of different races. ... Glodwick is a district in the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. ... A video-still taken from the peak of the riots, showing a rioter throwing a petrol bomb towards lines of police. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

At least 20 people were injured in the riots, including fifteen officers, and 37 people were arrested.^[16] Similar riots took place by communities in English northern towns over the following days and weeks. The 2001 riots prompted a number of governmental and independent inquiries, including the The Ritchie Report and Oldham Beyond, which collectively agreed on a number of community relations improvements and considerable regeneration schemes for the town.

Governance

Civic history

As a historic township, Oldham once formed part of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham, in the Hundred of Salford. The term township is used to denote a lower level territorial subdivision. ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... Prestwich-cum-Oldham (also known as Prestwich with Oldham) was an ancient parish of the Salford Hundred, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, England, and an ecclesiastical division of the extensive Diocese of Lichfield. ... The hundred of Salford (sometimes known as Salfordshire) was an ancient division of the county of Lancashire. ...

Oldham was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1849, giving it Borough status. A borough is a political division originally used in England. ... Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. ...

Oldham Above Town and Oldham Below Town were, from 1851 until c.1881, statistical units used for the gathering and organising of civil registration information, and output of census information. They were sub-districts of Oldham. Oldham Above Town was, from 1851 until c. ... Oldham Below Town was, from 1851 until c. ... redirect Births,_deaths_and_marriages_registry ... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ...

When the administrative county of Lancashire was created in 1889, Oldham became part of the County Borough of Oldham and was exempt from the administration of the Lancashire county council. The county borough was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 and since 1974, Oldham has formed part of Greater Manchester, and has been the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. The division into counties is one of the larger divisions of England. ... The County Borough of Oldham was, from 1889 to 1974, a local government district centred on Oldham in the northwest of England. ... The Local Government Act 1972 (1972 c. ... Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England which has a population of 2. ... This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ...

Parliamentary representation

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. In the United Kingdom each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly. ... Oldham East and Saddleworth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Oldham West and Royton is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Philip James Woolas (born 11 December 1959) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Michael Hugh Meacher (born November 4, 1939) is a British Labour party politician, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Oldham West and Royton. ...

Oldham previously formed its own individual Parliamentary borough, and thus its own Oldham parliamentary constituency. Parliamentary boroughs are boroughs that are entitled to representation in a Parliament. ... Oldham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Oldham, Lancashire, England. ...

Geography

The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, highlighting Oldham in red.

Oldham rises high in the south Pennines, 6.9 miles (11.1 km) northeast of Manchester City Centre, in North West England. The town stands on an elevation between the rivers Irk and Medlock, near the source of the former and near the west bank of the upper part of the latter. Oldham, for centuries, lay along part of the very edge of the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, with the parish of Saddleworth directly adjacent to the east. Image File history File links OldhamBoroughsOldham. ... Image File history File links OldhamBoroughsOldham. ... This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ... Typical South Pennines scenery: moors, pylons and a reservoir The South Pennines are a region of moorland and hill country in the North of England. ... City of Manchester. ... North West England is one of the nine regions of England. ... The River Irk is a river in Greater Manchester in north-west England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in the city centre. ... The River Medlock is a river of Greater Manchester in north west England that flows for 10 miles before joining the River Irwell in central Manchester. ... The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. ... Saddleworth is a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham formed by a collection of villages and hamlets amongst the west side of the Pennine hills, in North West England. ...

Localities and suburbs within Oldham include Abbeyhills, Alt, Clarksfield, Coldhurst, Coppice, Derker, Fitton Hill, Garden Suburb, Glodwick, Hathershaw, Hollinwood, Moorside, Limeside, Sholver, Waterhead, Werneth, and Westwood. Coldhurst is a locality and electoral ward of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... For the method of woodland management, see Coppicing Coppice is a locality within the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Glodwick is a district in the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. ... Hathershaw is a locality in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. ... Hollinwood is a district within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Moorside is a district of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. ... , Waterhead (or archaically, Waterhead Mill), is a locality and electoral ward within the east of the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Werneth is a locality in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. ... Westwood is an area in the east of the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ...

Since 1961, Oldham has been twinned with Kranj in Slovenia.^[17] This article is about partnerships between towns distant from each other; see Twin cities for the different concept of physically neighbouring cities. ... Kranj (German: Krainburg) is the fourth largest city of Slovenia, approximately 20 km north west from Ljubljana with a population of 51,225 (2002). ...

Demography

According to census data from 2001, Oldham had a population of 103,544, making it the 55th most populous settlement within England. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... This is a list of the largest cities and towns of England ordered by population. ...

Oldham is second only to Blackburn in terms of its percentage of residents of South Asian heritage. At the time of the 2001 census, nearly one in eight of its residents were from this ethnic group. People of Pakistani heritage form just over half of all South Asian residents.^[18] This article is about Blackburn in Lancashire, England. ... Map of South Asia South Asia is a subregion of Asia comprising the modern states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, . It covers about 4,480,000 km², or 10 percent of the continent, and is also known as the Indian subcontinent. ...

The conjoining areas of Westwood and Coldhurst, have the highest concentration of Bangladeshis outside London, forming 61% of the local population.^[19] It totals 4.9% of the population of the whole of Oldham, however.^[20] Westwood is an area in the east of the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Coldhurst is a locality and electoral ward of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Below is a table outlining the population change of the town since 1901, which demonstrates a trend of general decline in population total during the 20th century:

Landmarks

Oldham Parish Church

Image File history File linksMetadata OldhamParishChurch. ... Image File history File linksMetadata OldhamParishChurch. ...

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. Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin San Sebastian Church in Manila, Philippines made entirely of steel. ... , Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Prestwich-cum-Oldham (also known as Prestwich with Oldham) was an ancient parish of the Salford Hundred, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, England, and an ecclesiastical division of the extensive Diocese of Lichfield. ...

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 warranted that the building be rebuilt in to the structure which stands today. The cost of building was GBP 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 now regarded by some as superior, were rejected.^[21] The Church, of the Anglican denomination, is in active use for worship. Statistics Population: 33,001 (2001 Census) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SD9005 Administration Metropolitan Borough: Oldham Metropolitan county: Greater Manchester Region: North West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Greater Manchester Historic county: Lancashire Services Police force: Greater Manchester Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance... Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham,[1] in Greater Manchester, England. ... Shaw and Crompton is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ... “GBP” redirects here. ... The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, Barrys most famous building. ... “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Anglicanism is the term used to encapsulate...

Oldham War Memorial

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 396 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (676 × 1023 pixel, file size: 203 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: Keith Etherington I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 396 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (676 × 1023 pixel, file size: 203 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: Keith Etherington I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Oldham War Memorial

Erected as a permanent 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, is shown calling on his comrades to advance. The base serves to house books containing the roll of honour of the 1st, 10th and 24th Battalions, Manchester Regiment. The pedestal has two bronze doors at either side.^[22] “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Close-up of granite from Yosemite National Park, valley of the Merced River Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... In 1881 The Manchester Regiment was formed with the amalgamation of the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 96th Regiment of Foot. ...

Commissioned 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. Tofts statue The Spirit of Contemplation Albert Toft (1862 near Birmingham _ 1949) was a British sculptor. ... Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton (January 16, 1853 - October 12, 1947) was a general in the British Army and is most notably known for commanding the ill-fated Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Battle of Gallipoli. ...

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"

Oldham Civic Centre

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 398 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 1540 pixel, file size: 249 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: Keith Etherington I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 398 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 1540 pixel, file size: 249 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: Keith Etherington I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Civic Centre

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 GBP6,800,000.^[23] This article relates to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. ... “GBP” redirects here. ...

The Civic Centre can be seen from as far away as Salford, Trafford, Wythenshawe and even Winter Hill in Lancashire, and offers panoramic views across the city of Manchester and the Cheshire plain. Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. ... Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the City of Manchester, in North West England. ... Winter Hill is a hill in southern Lancashire, England, located between Chorley and Bolton. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Cheshire (or, archaically, the County of Chester)[1] is a county in North West England. ...

Town Hall

Oldham Town Hall (also known as the Old Town Hall) is a neo-classical town hall built in 1841. It was from the Oldham Town Hall steps that