View source for Oldham

{{Short description|Town in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{About|the town|the larger local government district|Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name            = Oldham
 | type                     = [[Town]]
 | coordinates              = {{coord|53.544|-2.117|region:GB-LAN_type:city(96,000)|display=inline,title}}
 | static_image_name        = {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=1 2|total_width=270px|align=center
| image1 = Oldham town centre closeup from Hartshead Pike.jpg
| caption1 = Oldham Skyline
| image2 = Oldham Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 5138949.jpg
|caption2 = Market Place
| image3 = Parliament Square and the Old Town Hall, Oldham (geograph 6003292).jpg
| caption3 = [[Old Town Hall, Oldham|Old Town Hall]]
| image4 = Outside Tommyfield Market - geograph.org.uk - 3006755.jpg
| caption4 = Tommyfield Market 
| image5 = Parish Church of St Mary ^ St Peter - geograph.org.uk - 7409967.jpg
| caption5 = [[Oldham Parish Church|Church of St Mary with St Peter]]
| image6 = Alexandra Park near the Cafe.jpg
| caption6 = [[Alexandra Park, Oldham|Alexandra Park]]}}
 | population               = 110,718
 | population_ref           = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021&nbsp;Census]])
 | population_density       = {{convert|5785|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=on}}
| parts_type               = Areas of the town
 | p1                       = [[Alt, Greater Manchester|Alt]] (part)
 | p2                       = [[Coldhurst]]
 | p3                       = [[Copster Hill]]
 | p4                       = [[Derker]]
 | p5                       = [[Featherstall]]
 | p6                       = [[Fitton Hill]]
 | p7                       = [[Freehold, Greater Manchester|Freehold]]
 | p8                       = [[Glodwick]]
 | p9                       = [[Hathershaw]]
 | p10                       = [[Hollins. Greater Manchester|Hollins]]
 | p11                     = [[Lime Side]]
 | p12                      = [[Moorside, Greater Manchester|Moorside]]
 | p13                      = [[Oldham Edge]]
 | p14                      = [[Sholver]]
 | p15                      = [[Spring Hill, Greater Manchester|Spring Hill]]
 | p16                      = [[Top o' th' Meadows]]
 | p17                      = Town Centre
 | p18                      = [[Watersheddings]]
 | p19                      = [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]]
 | metropolitan_borough     = [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham]]
 | metropolitan_county      = [[Greater Manchester]]
 | region                   = North West England
 | country                  = England
 | constituency_westminster = [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth]]
 | constituency_westminster1= [[Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton]]
 | post_town                = Oldham
 | postcode_district        = OL1-OL4, OL8, OL9
 | postcode_area            = OL
 | dial_code                = 0161
 | os_grid_reference        = SD922053
 | london_distance          = {{convert|164|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Points of the compass|SSE]]
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 6.9
}}

'''Oldham''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|oː|l|d|ə|m}} is a town in [[Greater Manchester]], England.<ref name="GM Gazetteer">{{citation|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzo2r.htm |title= Lancashire |publisher=Lancashire County Record Office |access-date=9 July 2007 |at=Places names&nbsp;– O to R |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906003937/http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzo2r.htm |archive-date=6 September 2010 }}</ref> It lies amongst the [[Pennines]] on elevated ground between the rivers [[River Irk|Irk]] and [[River Medlock|Medlock]], {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Rochdale]], and {{convert|7|mi|km|0}} northeast of [[Manchester]]. It is the administrative centre of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]], which had a population of 242,003 in 2021.

Within the boundaries of the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Lancashire]], and with little [[Early modern Britain|early history]] to speak of, Oldham rose to prominence in the 19th century as an international centre of [[Textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution|textile manufacture]]. It was a [[boomtown]] of the [[Industrial Revolution]], and among the first ever [[Industrialisation|industrialised]] towns, rapidly becoming "one of the most important centres of cotton and textile industries in England."{{sfnp|OBC|1973|p=|ps=}} At its zenith, it was the most productive [[Spinning (textiles)|cotton spinning]] [[mill town]] in the world,<ref name="Cotton Mills">{{Harvnb|Gurr|Hunt|1998|pp=1–5}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/journey.php?Title=NW+Cotton+towns+learning+journey&step=2&theme=places |title=NW Cotton Towns Learning Journey |publisher=spinningtheweb.org.uk |access-date=14 September 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070910164358/http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/journey.php?Title=NW+Cotton+towns+learning+journey&step=2&theme=places |archive-date=10 September 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> producing more cotton than France and Germany combined.<ref name="Contaminated" /> Oldham's textile industry fell into decline in the mid-20th century; the town's last mill closed in 1998.

The demise of textile processing in Oldham depressed and heavily affected the local economy.<ref name="GM Evolution" /> The town centre is the focus of a project that aims to transform Oldham into a centre for [[further education]] and the [[The Blackout Crew|performing arts]].<ref name="Oldham Heart" /> It is, however, still distinguished architecturally by the surviving [[cotton mill]]s and other buildings associated with that industry.

In the [[2021 United Kingdom census]] Oldham [[Urban area#United Kingdom|Built-up area subdivision]], as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]], had a population of 110,718 and an area of {{convert|16,39|ha|sqmi}}, giving a population density of {{convert|67,57|PD/ha|PD/sqmi}},<ref name=census2011BUASD>{{NOMIS2011|id=E35001251|title=Oldham Built-up area sub division|accessdate=17 July 2021}}</ref> while the Borough of Oldham had a population of 242,003, an area of {{convert|14,24|ha|sqmi}}, and a population density of {{convert|17,29|PD/ha|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=census2011LA>{{NOMIS2011|id=E08000004|title=Oldham Local Authority|accessdate=17 July 2021}}</ref>

== History ==

{{main|History of Oldham}}

=== Toponymy ===
The [[toponymy]] of Oldham seems to imply "old village or place" from ''Eald'' ([[Anglo-Saxon language|Saxon]]) signifying oldness or antiquity, and ''Ham'' (Saxon) a house, farm or [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]].{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}} Oldham is however known to be a derivative of ''Aldehulme'', undoubtedly an [[Old Norse]] name.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} It is believed by some to be derived from the [[Old English language|Old English]] ''ald'' combined with the Old Norse ''holmi'' or ''holmr'', meaning "promontory or outcrop", possibly describing the town's hilltop position.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} It has alternatively been suggested that it may mean "holm or hulme of a farmer named Alda".{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} The name is understood to date from 865, during the period of the [[Danelaw]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} [[Cumbric]] ''alt'', meaning "steep height, cliff", has also been suggested for the first element.<ref name="bliton">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan |title=A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence |url=http://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary.pdf |website=SPNS – The Brittonic Language in the Old North |access-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813011121/http://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

=== Early history ===
The earliest known evidence of a human presence in what is now Oldham is attested by the discovery of [[Neolithic]] flint arrow-heads and workings found at [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]] and Besom Hill, implying habitation 7–10,000 years ago.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Evidence of later [[Roman Britain|Roman]] and [[Celts|Celtic]] activity is confirmed by an ancient [[Roman road]] and [[Bronze Age]] archaeological relics found at various sites within the town.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Placenames of Celtic origin are still to be found in Oldham: Werneth derives from a Celtic personal name identical to the [[Gaulish]] ''vernetum'', "[[alder]] swamp",<ref>"Werneth (Cheshire and Lancashire), derived from ''uerneto''- (British) = Latinized Gaulish Vernetum 'alder swamp'" (''Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies'' [University of Wales] 1979:545).</ref> and [[Glodwick]] may be related to the [[modern Welsh]] ''clawdd'', meaning "dyke" or "ditch".{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=3|ps=}} Nearby [[Chadderton]] is also pre-Anglo-Saxon in origin, from the [[Old Welsh]] ''cadeir'', itself deriving from the [[Latin]] ''cathedra'' meaning "chair".{{sfn|Mills|1976|p=39|ps=}} Although [[Anglo-Saxons]] occupied territory around the area centuries earlier,{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}{{sfnp|Ballard|1986|p=|ps=}} Oldham as a permanent, named place of dwelling is believed to date from 865, when [[Danelaw|Danish invaders]] established a settlement called Aldehulme.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}{{sfnp|Daly|1974|p=|ps=}}

From its founding in the 9th century until the [[Industrial Revolution]], Oldham is believed to have been little more than a scattering of small and insignificant settlements spread across the [[moorland]] and dirt tracks that linked [[Manchester]] to [[York]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} Although not mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], Oldham does appear in legal documents from the [[Middle Ages]], invariably recorded as territory under the control of minor [[Feudalism|ruling families]] and [[baron]]s.{{sfnp|Daly|1974|p=|ps=}} In the 13th century, Oldham was documented as a manor held from [[the Crown]] by a family surnamed [[Oldham (surname)|Oldham]], whose seat was at [[Werneth Hall]].{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}} Richard de Oldham was recorded as [[lord of the manor]] of Werneth/Oldham (1354). His daughter and heiress, Margery (d.1384), married John de Cudworth (d.1384), from whom descended the Cudworths of Werneth Hall who were successive lords of the manor. A Member of this family was [[James VI and I|James I]]'s Chaplain, [[Ralph Cudworth (died 1624)|Ralph Cudworth]] (father of the [[Cambridge Platonists|Cambridge Platonist]] philosopher [[Ralph Cudworth]]). The Cudworths remained lords of the manor until their sale of the estate (1683) to [[Sir Ralph Assheton, 2nd Baronet, of Middleton|Sir Ralph Assheton]] of [[Middleton, Greater Manchester|Middleton]].<ref>W. Farrer and J. Brownbill (eds), 'The parish of Prestwich with Oldham: Oldham', in ''A History of the County of Lancaster'', (London, 1911), v, pp. 92–108. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp92-108] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207130313/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp92-108|date=7 February 2019}} (British History Online); R.E. Stansfield-Cudworth, 'Gentry, Gentility, and Genealogy in Lancashire: The Cudworths of Werneth Hall, Oldham, ''c''.1377–1683', ''Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society'', 111 (2019), 48–80.</ref>

=== Industrial Revolution and cotton ===
[[File:Oldham From Glodwick.png|thumb|''Oldham from [[Glodwick]]'' by [[James Howe Carse]] (1831), depicts the early skyline and industrial activities of Oldham. All the [[Open space reserve|green space]] has since been [[Urbanization|urbanised]].]]
Much of Oldham's history is concerned with [[textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution]]; it has been said that "if ever the [[Industrial Revolution]] placed a town firmly and squarely on the map of the world, that town is Oldham."<ref name="GM Evolution">{{Harvnb|Frangopulo|1977|p=154}}.</ref> Oldham's soils were too thin and poor to sustain [[crop]] growing, and so for decades prior to [[industrialisation]] the area was used for grazing [[sheep]], which provided the raw material for a local [[wool]]len weaving trade.{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}}

By 1756, Oldham had emerged as centre of the [[hatter|hatting]] industry in England. The rough [[felt]] used in the production process is the origin of the term "Owdham Roughyed" a [[nickname]] for people from Oldham.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} It was not until the last quarter of the 18th century that Oldham changed from being a [[cottage industry]] township producing woollen garments via domestic [[manual labour]], to a sprawling industrial metropolis of textile factories.{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}} The climate, geology, and topography of Oldham were unrelenting constraints upon the social and economic activities of the human inhabitants.{{sfnp|Kidd|1977|p=|ps=}} At {{convert|700|ft|m|sigfig=1}} above sea level and with no major river or visible natural resources, Oldham had poor geographic attributes compared with other settlements for investors and their engineers. As a result, Oldham played no part in the initial period of the Industrial Revolution,<ref name="Cotton Mills" />{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} although it did later become seen as obvious territory to industrialise because of its convenient position between the labour forces of [[Manchester]] and southwest [[Yorkshire]].{{sfnp|Foster|1974|p=|ps=}}

[[Cotton]] [[Spinning (textiles)|spinning]] and [[cotton mill|milling]] were introduced to Oldham when its first mill, Lees Hall, was built by William Clegg in about 1778, the beginning of a spiralling process of [[urbanisation]] and [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] transformation.<ref name="Cotton Mills" /> Within a year, 11 other mills had been constructed,{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} and by 1818 there were 19&nbsp;– not a large number in comparison with other local settlements.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} Oldham's small local population was greatly increased by the mass migration of workers from outlying villages,{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} resulting in a population increase from just over {{formatnum:12000}} in 1801 to {{formatnum:137000}} in 1901.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} The speed of this urban growth meant that Oldham, with little pre-industrial history to speak of, was effectively born as a [[mill town|factory town]].
[[File:Royd Mill, Hollinwood.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Royd mill, built in 1907,<ref name="Cotton Mills" /> and seen here in 1983, was one of the more than 360 textile mills that operated night and day during Oldham's peak.]]

Oldham became the world's manufacturing centre for cotton spinning in the second half of the 19th century.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} In 1851, over 30% of Oldham's population was employed within the textile sector, compared to 5% across Great Britain.{{sfnp|Foster|1974|p=|ps=}} It overtook the major urban centres of [[Manchester]] and [[Bolton]] as the result of a mill building boom in the 1860s and 1870s, a period during which Oldham became the most productive cotton-spinning town in the world.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} In 1871, Oldham had more [[Cotton-spinning machinery|spindles]] than any country in the world except the United States, and in 1909, was spinning more cotton than France and Germany combined.<ref name="Contaminated">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/contaminatedlandstrategy.pdf |title=Contaminated Land Strategy 2001 |page=16 |year=2001 |access-date=11 March 2008 |author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529135723/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/contaminatedlandstrategy.pdf |archive-date=29 May 2008 }}</ref> By 1911 there were 16.4&nbsp;million spindles in Oldham, compared with a total of 58&nbsp;million in the United Kingdom and 143.5&nbsp;million in the world; in 1928, with the construction of the UK's largest textile factory Oldham reached its manufacturing zenith.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} At its peak, there were more than 360 mills, operating night and day;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitoldham.co.uk/heritage/history.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070806150248/http://www.visitoldham.co.uk/heritage/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2007 |title=Visit Oldham – The History of Oldham |publisher=visitoldham.co.uk |access-date=16 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Oldham Spinning Web">{{cite web |url=http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/m_display.php?irn=52&sub=nwcotton&theme=places&crumb=Oldham |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205054748/http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/m_display.php?irn=52&sub=nwcotton&theme=places&crumb=Oldham |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2012 |title=Spinning The Web – Oldham |publisher=spinningtheweb.org.uk |access-date=28 June 2006 }}</ref>

Oldham's townscape was dominated by distinctive rectangular brick-built mills.{{sfn|Sellers|1991|p=47}} Oldham was hit hard by the [[Lancashire Cotton Famine]] of 1861–1865, when supplies of raw cotton from the United States were cut off. Wholly reliant upon the textile industry, the cotton famine created chronic unemployment in the town.{{sfn|Millett|1996|p=}} By 1863 a committee had been formed, and with aid from central government, land was purchased with the intention of employing local cotton workers to construct [[Alexandra Park, Oldham|Alexandra Park]], which opened on 28 August 1865.{{sfn|Millett|1996|p=}} Said to have over-relied upon the textile sector,<ref name="GM Evolution" />{{sfnp|Daly|1974|p=|ps=}} as the importation of cheaper foreign [[yarn]]s grew during the 20th century, Oldham's economy declined into a depression, although it was not until 1964 that Oldham ceased to be the largest centre of cotton spinning.<ref name="GM Evolution" />{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}}{{sfnp|Clough|1996|p=|ps=}} In spite of efforts to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of its production, the last cotton spun in the town was in 1998.{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}}

==== Engineering ====
Facilitated by its flourishing textile industry, Oldham developed extensive [[Structural engineering|structural]] and [[mechanical engineering]] sectors during the 18th and 19th centuries. The manufacture of [[Cotton-spinning machinery|spinning and weaving machinery]] in Oldham belongs to the last decade of the 19th century, when it became a leading centre in the field of [[engineering]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} The [[Platt Brothers]], originated in nearby [[Dobcross]] village, but moved to Oldham. They were pioneers of cotton-spinning machinery, developing innovative products that enabled the mass-production of cotton yarn. Platt Brothers became the largest textile machine makers in the world, employing over {{formatnum:15000}} people in the 1890s,<ref name="Oldham Beyond">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/oldham_beyond_vision.pdf |title=Oldham Beyond; A Vision for the Borough of Oldham |date=April 2004 |access-date=1 November 2007 |publisher=Oldham.gov.uk |author=URBED |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128022223/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/oldham_beyond_vision.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> twice the number of their nearest rivals Dobson & Barlow in Bolton and Asa Lees on [[Greenacres, Greater Manchester|Greenacres Moor]].<ref name="Oldham Spinning Web" /> They were keen investors in the local area and at one time, were supporting 42% of the population.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> The centre of the company lay at the New Hartford Works in [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|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]]. The main building exists to this day. Platts gained prestigious awards from around the world,{{sfn|Millett|1996|p=}} and were heavily involved with local politics and civic pride in Oldham.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> John and James Platt were the largest subscribers for promoting Oldham from a township to a [[municipal borough|Borough]], pledging £100 (more than double the next largest sum) in advance towards any expenses which may have been incurred by the [[Royal Charter]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} In 1854 [[John Platt (MP)|John Platt]] was made the (fourth) Mayor of Oldham, an office he was to hold twice more in 1855–56 and 1861–62.{{sfnp|Eastham|1994|p=|ps=}} John Platt was elected in 1865 to become a [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Oldham (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham]], and was re-elected in 1868; he remained in office until his death in 1872.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} A bronze statue of Platt existed in the town centre for years, though was moved to [[Alexandra Park, Oldham|Alexandra Park]]. There have been recommendations for it to be returned to the town centre.<ref name="Oldham Heart" />

Abraham Henthorn Stott, the son of a [[stonemason]], was born in nearby [[Shaw & Crompton]] in 1822.<ref name="Cotton Mills" /> He served a seven-year apprenticeship with [[Sir Charles Barry]], before starting a structural engineering practice in Oldham in 1847 that went on to become the pre-eminent mill architect firm in [[Lancashire]].<ref name="Cotton Mills" /> Philip Sydney Stott, third son of Abraham and later titled as [[Sir Philip Stott, 1st Baronet]], was the most prominent and famous of the Stott mill architects.<ref name="Cotton Mills" /> He established his own practice in 1883 and designed over a hundred mills in several countries. His factories, which improved upon his father's [[Fireproofing|fireproof]] mills, accounted for a 40% increase in Oldham's spindles between 1887 and 1914.<ref name="Cotton Mills" />

Although textile-related engineering declined with the processing industry, leading to the demise of both Stotts and Platts, other engineering firms existed, notably electrical and later electronic engineers [[Ferranti]] in 1896.<ref name="Oldham Spinning Web" /> Ferranti went into receivership in 1993, but some of its former works continue in other hands. Part of the original [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] site was operated by [[Siemens]] Metering and Semiconductor divisions.<ref name="Oldham Spinning Web" /> The remainder of the site is occupied by Mirror Colour Print Ltd; the printing division of [[Reach plc|Reach]], which prints and distributes thirty-six major newspapers, and employs five hundred staff.<ref>
[http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/printing_publishing.htm Oldham's Economic Profile&nbsp;– Printing & Publishing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907224857/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/printing_publishing.htm |date=7 September 2006 }} , oldham.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
</ref><ref>
[http://www.trinitymirrorprinting.co.uk/location-oldham.html Contract Printing&nbsp;– Oldham&nbsp;– North West England&nbsp;– Trinity Mirror Printing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216094455/http://www.trinitymirrorprinting.co.uk/location-oldham.html |date=16 December 2012 }} . Retrieved 16 February 2011
</ref>

==== Coal mining ====
On the back of the Industrial Revolution, Oldham developed an extensive coal mining sector, correlated to supporting the local cotton industry and the town's inhabitants, though there is evidence of small scale coal mining in the area as early as the 16th century.{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}}{{page needed|date=January 2023}} The [[Oldham Coalfield]] stretched from [[Royton]] in the north to [[Bardsley, Greater Manchester|Bardsley]] in the south and in addition to Oldham, included the towns of [[Middleton, Greater Manchester|Middleton]] and [[Chadderton]] to the west.{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}} The Oldham Coalfield was the site of over 150 collieries during its [[recorded history]].{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}} Although some contemporary sources suggest there was coal mining in Oldham at a commercial scale by 1738,{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}} older sources attribute the commercial expansion of coal mining with the arrival in the town of two [[Welsh people|Welsh]] labourers, John Evans and William Jones, around 1770.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Foreseeing the growth in demand for coal as a source of steam power, they acquired colliery rights for Oldham, which by 1771 had 14 colliers.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} The mines were largely to the southwest of the town around [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] and [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]] and provided enough coal to accelerate Oldham's rapid development at the centre of the cotton boom. At its height in the mid-19th century, when it was dominated by the Lees and Jones families, Oldham coal was mainly sourced from many small collieries whose lives varied from a few years to many decades, although two of the four largest collieries survived to [[National Coal Board|nationalisation]].{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}}{{sfnp|Fanning|2001|p=|ps=}} In 1851, collieries employed more than 2,000 men in Oldham,{{sfnp|Fanning|2001|p=|ps=}} although the amount of coal in the town was somewhat overestimated however, and production began to decline even before that of the local spinning industry.{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}} Today, the only visible remnants of the mines are disused shafts and boreholes.{{sfnp|Nadin|2006|p=|ps=}}

=== Social history ===
[[File:MandK Industrial Revolution 1900.jpg|thumb|Workmen leaving [[Platt Brothers|Platt's Works]], Oldham, 1900]]
Oldham's [[social history]], like that of other former [[Parliamentary franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918|unenfranchised]] towns, is marked by politicised [[civil disturbance]]s, as well as events related to the [[Luddite]], [[Suffragette]] and other [[Labour movement]]s from the [[working class]]es.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}<ref name="Oldham Beyond" />  There has been a significant presence of "[[Friendly society|friendly societies]]".{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.unionancestors.co.uk/AtoZ%20O.htm|publisher=unionancestors.co.uk|access-date=30 October 2007|title=Trade Union Ancestors; A to Z of trade unions&nbsp;– O|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114230113/http://www.unionancestors.co.uk/AtoZ%20O.htm|archive-date=14 November 2007}}</ref> It has been put that the people of Oldham became radical in politics in the early part of the 19th century, and movements suspected of [[sedition]] found patronage in the town.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}} Oldham was frequently disturbed by bread and labour riots, facilitated by periods of scarcity and the disturbance of employment following the introduction of [[cotton-spinning machinery]].{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}

On 20 April 1812, a "large crowd of riotous individuals" compelled local retailers to sell foods at a loss, whilst on the same day [[Luddites]] numbering in their thousands, many of whom were from Oldham, attacked a cotton mill in nearby [[Middleton, Greater Manchester|Middleton]].{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}} On 16 August 1819, Oldham sent a contingent estimated at well above 10,000 to hear speakers in St Peter's Fields at Manchester discuss political reform;{{sfn|McPhillips|1977|p=23}} it was the largest contingent sent to Manchester.{{sfnp|Marlow|1969|p=120|ps=}} John Lees, a cotton operative and ex-soldier who had fought at [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]], was one of the fifteen victims of the [[Peterloo Massacre]] which followed. The 'Oldham inquest' which proceeded the massacre was anxiously watched; the [[Court of King's Bench (England)|Court of King's Bench]], however, decided that the proceedings were irregular, and the jury were discharged without giving a verdict.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}

[[Annie Kenney]], born in nearby [[Springhead, Greater Manchester|Springhead]], and who worked in Oldham's cotton mills, was a notable member of the [[Suffragette]] movement credited with sparking off suffragette militancy when she heckled [[Winston Churchill]], and later (with [[Emmeline Pankhurst]]) the first [[Suffragist]] to be imprisoned. Oldham Women's Suffrage Society was established in 1910 with Margery Lees as president and quickly joined the Manchester and District Federation of the [[National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies]].{{sfnp|Crawford|2000|p=|ps=}} The [[Chartism|Chartist]] and [[History of the cooperative movement|Co-operative movements]] had strong support in the town, whilst many Oldhamers protested in support of the emancipation of [[Atlantic slave trade|slaves]].<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> The [[Riot Act]] was read in [[1852 United Kingdom general election|1852 on election day]] following a mass public brawl over the [[Reform Act]],<ref name="OSD" /> and irregularities with parliamentary candidate nominations.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}

For three days in late May 2001, Oldham became the centre of national and international media attention. Following high-profile [[Racism|race-related]] conflicts, and long-term underlying racial tensions between local [[White British]] against [[British Pakistani]] and [[British Bangladeshi]] communities, major riots broke out in the town. Occurring with particular intensity in the [[Glodwick]] and [[Coldhurst]] areas of the town, the [[2001 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.<ref name="Ritchie">{{citation|author=Ritchie, David |url=http://www.oldhamir.org.uk/OIR%20Report.pdf |title=The Ritchie Report |publisher=oldhamir.org.uk |date=11 December 2001 |access-date=17 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007165542/http://www.oldhamir.org.uk/OIR%20Report.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2007 }}</ref> At least 20 people were injured in the riots, including 15 police officers, and 37 people were arrested. Similar riots took place in other towns in [[northern England]] over the following days and weeks. The 2001 riots prompted governmental and independent inquiries, which collectively agreed on community relations improvements and considerable regeneration schemes for the town.<ref name="Ritchie" /><ref name="Cantle">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/cantle-review-final-report.pdf |publisher=[[University of Coventry]] |author=Cantle, Ted |title=Challenging Local Communities to Change Oldham |date=30 March 2006 |access-date=31 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128022214/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/cantle-review-final-report.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref>  There were further fears of riots after the death of Gavin Hopley in 2002.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2838221.stm Teenager 'died after gang attack'] , BBC, 10 March 2003</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |url=http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/blog/article/1584/gavin-deserves-better |title=HOPE not hate blog: Gavin deserves better<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912104430/http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/blog/article/1584/gavin-deserves-better |archive-date=12 September 2013 |url-status=dead  }} 
</ref>

== Governance ==

=== Civic history ===
[[File:Oldham County Borough Council - coat of arms2.png|thumb|The [[coat of arms]] of the former [[County Borough of Oldham]] council, granted 7 November 1894, based upon those of an ancient local family [[Oldham (surname)|surnamed Oldham]]. The [[owls]] suggest that the family, like the town, called itself 'Owdham', and adopted the birds in allusion to its name. The motto ''"Sapere aude"'' ("Dare to be wise") refers to the owls.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}<ref>
{{citation |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/great_man.html |title=Civic Heraldry of England and Wales – Greater Manchester |publisher=civicheraldry.co.uk |date=1998–2007 |author=R.D.W. Young |access-date=14 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823000532/http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/great_man.html |archive-date=23 August 2007 |url-status=dead  }}
</ref>]]
Lying within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Lancashire]] [[History of Lancashire|since the early 12th century]], Oldham was recorded in 1212 as being one of five parts of the [[thegn]]age estate of Kaskenmoor, which was held on behalf of [[John of England|King John]] by [[Roger de Montbegon]] and William de Nevill.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} The other parts of this estate were [[Shaw and Crompton|Crompton]], [[Glodwick]], [[Sholver]], and [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]].{{sfnp|Ballard|1986|p=|ps=}} Oldham later formed a [[township (England)|township]] within the ancient ecclesiastical parish of [[Prestwich-cum-Oldham]], in the [[Salford (hundred)|hundred of Salford]].<ref name="GM Gazetteer" />{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}

In 1826 commissioners for the social and economic improvement of Oldham were established.<ref name="GM Gazetteer" /> The town was made part of a [[parliamentary borough]], in 1832, though it was in 1849 when Oldham was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]], giving it [[borough status in the United Kingdom]],<ref name="GM Gazetteer" />{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} and in 1850 the Borough Council obtained the powers of the improvement commissioners.<ref name="GM Gazetteer" /> In 1880, parts of the [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] and [[Crossbank]] areas of [[Chadderton]] and [[Ashton-under-Lyne]] townships were added to the Borough of Oldham.<ref name="GM Gazetteer" /> [[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 in the United Kingdom|census]] data.

The [[Local Government Act 1888]] created elected [[county council]]s to administer services throughout England and Wales. Where a municipal borough had a population of more than 50,000 at the 1881 [[Census in the United Kingdom|Census]] it was created a [[county borough]], with the powers and duties of both a borough and county council.<ref name="youngs">{{citation |last=Youngs | first=Frederic A Jr. |title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol.2: Northern England |year=1991 |publisher=[[Royal Historical Society]] |pages=676–686 |isbn=0-86193-127-0}}</ref> As Oldham had an 1881 population of 111,343 it duly became a county borough on 1 April 1889. The borough, while independent of Lancashire County Council for local government, remained part of the county for purposes such as the administration of justice and [[lord lieutenant|lieutenancy]].<ref name="GM Gazetteer" /><ref>[[Local Government Act 1888]] (32 & 33 Vict. c.49) s.31 ''"Each of the boroughs named in the Third Schedule to this Act being a borough which on the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, either had a population of not less than fifty thousand, or was a county of itself shall, from and after the appointed day, be for the purposes of this Act an administrative county of itself, and is in this Act referred to as a county borough. Provided that for all other purposes a county borough shall continue to be part of the county (if any) in which it is situate at the passing of this Act"''</ref>

In 1951 parts of the [[Limehurst Rural District]] were added to the County Borough of Oldham, and in 1954 further parts of the same district added to it on its abolition.<ref name="youngs" /> Since 1961, Oldham has been [[twin towns|twinned]] with [[Kranj]] in [[Slovenia]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/community/tourist_information.htm |title=Tourist Information in Oldham |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |access-date=1 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030245/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/community/tourist_information.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], the town's autonomous county borough status was abolished, and Oldham has, since 1 April 1974, formed part of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]], within the [[Metropolitan county]] of [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name="GM Gazetteer" />

=== Parliamentary representation ===
The boundaries of two [[United Kingdom constituencies|parliamentary constituencies]] divide Oldham: [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth]], and [[Oldham West and Royton (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham West and Royton]] (which includes the town centre), represented by [[Labour party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) [[Debbie Abrahams]] and [[Jim McMahon (politician)|Jim McMahon]] respectively.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/phil_woolas/oldham_east_and_saddleworth|title=Phil Woolas MP|publisher=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=11 November 2007|archive-date=18 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018124247/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/phil_woolas/oldham_east_and_saddleworth|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25475/jim_mcmahon/oldham_west_and_royton|title=Jim McMahon MP|publisher=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=1 February 2018|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424003907/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25475/jim_mcmahon/oldham_west_and_royton|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/debbie_abrahams/oldham_east_and_saddleworth|title=Debbie Abrahams MP|publisher=theyworkforyou.com|access-date=14 January 2011|archive-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221063105/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/debbie_abrahams/oldham_east_and_saddleworth|url-status=live}}</ref>

Created as a [[parliamentary borough]] [[Reform Act 1832|in 1832]], Oldham's first parliamentary representatives were the [[Radicalism (historical)|radicals]] [[William Cobbett]] and [[John Fielden]].<ref name="Vision of Oldham">{{citation|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=972920&word=NULL|publisher=visionofbritain.org.uk|author=Wilson, John Marius|title=Descriptive Gazetteer entry for OLDHAM|access-date=2 November 2007|archive-date=14 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114181301/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=972920&word=NULL|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Winston Churchill]] began his political career in Oldham. Although unsuccessful at his first attempt in 1899, Churchill [[Oldham in the 1900 general election|was elected as the member of Parliament]] for the [[Oldham (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham parliamentary borough constituency]] in the [[1900 United Kingdom general election|1900 general election]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=710|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209222340/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=710|archive-date=9 December 2007|title=Churchill and...Politics; All the Elections Churchill Ever Contested|author=The Churchill Centre|publisher=winstonchurchill.org|access-date=9 June 2009}}</ref> He held the constituency for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] until the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 general election]], when he won the election for [[Manchester North West (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester North West]] as a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] MP. After he became the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] in 1940, Churchill was made an [[Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885|Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Oldham]], on 2 April 1941.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}
{| class="wikitable"
![[Oldham West and Royton (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham West and Royton]]
![[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|'''Oldham East and Saddleworth''']]
|-
|[[File:Official portrait of Jim McMahon crop 2.jpg|upright=0.6|center|frameless]]
|[[File:Official portrait of Debbie Abrahams MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|upright=0.6|center|frameless]]
|-
|[[Jim McMahon (politician)|Jim McMahon]]
|[[Debbie Abrahams]]
|-
|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|}

=== Politics ===
In the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 European Union membership referendum]], Oldham voted in favour of [[Brexit]]. The vote to leave was 60.9%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/eu-referendum-oldham-votes-leave-11518199|title=EU referendum: Oldham votes to leave|last=Butler|first=Katie|date=24 June 2016|website=Manchester Evening News|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://election.news.sky.com/referendum/oldham-2932|title=Referendum Results: Leave or Remain find out how your area voted|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317212940/http://election.news.sky.com/referendum/oldham-2932|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{further|Geography of Greater Manchester}}
{{climate chart
| Oldham
|  1 |  6 | 70
|  1 |  7 | 50
|  3 |  9 | 60
|  4 | 12 | 50
|  7 | 15 | 60
| 10 | 18 | 70
| 12 | 20 | 70
| 12 | 20 | 80
| 10 | 17 | 70
|  8 | 14 | 80
|  4 |  9 | 80
|  2 |  7 | 80
| source = {{citation|url=http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/UKXX0105_c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020421041702/http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/UKXX0105_c.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2002 |publisher=Yahoo! Weather |year=2006 |title=Records and averages |ref=none }}
| float = right
}}
[[File:Map of Oldham.png|thumb|left|A map of Oldham, and surrounding area]]
At {{coord|53|32|39|N|2|7|0.8|W|type:city}} (53.5444°, −2.1169°), and {{convert|164|mi|km|0}} north-northwest of London, Oldham stands {{convert|700|ft|m|0}} above [[sea level]], {{convert|6.9|mi|km|1}} northeast of [[Manchester city centre]], on elevated ground between the rivers [[River Irk|Irk]] and [[River Medlock|Medlock]]. [[Saddleworth]] and the [[South Pennines]] are close to the east, whilst on all other sides, Oldham is bound by other neighbouring towns, including [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Chadderton]], [[Failsworth]], [[Royton]] and [[Shaw and Crompton]], with little or no [[Green belt|green space]] between them. Oldham experiences a [[temperate]] [[Oceanic climate|maritime climate]], like much of the British Isles, with relatively cool summers and mild winters. There is regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year.{{sfnp|Kidd|1977|p=|ps=}} On 23 November 1981, [[1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak|an F1/T2 tornado]] formed over [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] and later passed over Oldham town centre, causing some damage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|title=European Severe Weather Database|website=www.eswd.eu|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512020909/https://eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|url-status=live}}</ref>

Oldham's [[topography]] is characterised by its rugged, [[upland (geology)|elevated]] [[Pennines|Pennine]] terrain.<ref name="Cotton Mills" /><ref name="Top of England">{{Harvnb|Lewis|1848|pp=729–733}}.</ref> It has an area of {{convert|6.91|sqmi|km2|2}}.<ref name="Oldham Population">{{citation|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-211152|title=Census 2001 Key Statistics&nbsp;– Urban area results by population size of urban area|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=14 September 2007|date=22 July 2004|work=ons.gov.uk|at=[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-area-results-by-population-size-of-urban-area/urban-area-results-by-population-size-of-urban-area-ks01-usual-resident-population.xls KS01 Usual resident population] {{XLSlink}}|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016224612/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-211152|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[geology]] of Oldham is represented by the [[Millstone Grit]] and [[Coal Measures]] series of rocks.{{sfnp|Kidd|1977|p=|ps=}} The [[River Beal]], flowing northwards, forms the boundary between Oldham on one side and [[Royton]] and [[Shaw and Crompton]] on the other.

To the east of this river the surface rises to a height of {{convert|1225|ft|m|abbr=on}} at Woodward Hill, on the border with the parish of [[Saddleworth]].{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}} The rest of the surface is hilly, the average height decreasing towards the southwest to [[Failsworth]] and the city of [[Manchester]]. The ridge called Oldham Edge, {{convert|800|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} high, comes southward from Royton into the centre of the town.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}
[[File:Mill & Church - Oldham.jpg|thumb|200px|Oldham's irregularly constructed [[built environment]] is characterised by its red-brick [[cotton mill]]s and surrounding [[terraced house]]s.]]

Oldham's [[built environment]] is characterised by its 19th-century red-brick [[terraced house]]s, the infrastructure that was built to support these and the town's former [[cotton mill]]s&nbsp;– which mark the town's skyline.{{sfnp|Clough|1996|p=|ps=}} The [[urban structure]] of Oldham is irregular when compared to most [[List of towns in England|towns in England]], its form restricted in places by its hilly upland terrain.{{sfnp|Brownbill|1911|pp=92–108|ps=}}<ref name="Top of England" /> There are irregularly constructed residential dwellings and streets clustered loosely around a [[central business district]] in the [[town centre]], which is the local centre of commerce. In 1849, Angus Reach of [[Inverness]] said: {{blockquote|The visitor to Oldham will find it essentially a mean-looking straggling town, built upon both sides and crowning the ridge of one of the outlying spurs which branch from Manchester, the neighbouring 'backbone of England'. The whole place has a shabby underdone look. The general appearance of the operatives' houses is filthy and smouldering.<ref>{{citation|title=[[Morning Chronicle]]|last=Reach|first=Angus|year=1849}}</ref>|Angus Reach|''Morning Chronicle, 1849''}}

In the 1870s, [[John Marius Wilson]] described Oldham as consisting of:
{{blockquote|...&nbsp;numerous streets, and contains numerous fine buildings, both public and private; but, in a general view, is irregularly constructed, presents the dingy aspect of a crowded seat of manufacture, and is more notable for factories than for any other feature.<ref name="Vision of Oldham" />|John Marius Wilson|''[[Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales]] (1870–1872)''}} Although Oldham had a thriving economy during the 19th century, the local merchants were broadly reluctant to spend on civic institutions, and so the town lacks the grandeur seen in comparable nearby towns like [[Bolton]] or [[Huddersfield]];<ref name="Oldham Heart" /><ref name="Rebrand">{{citation|author=Hemisphere Design and Marketing Consultants|title=Rebranding Oldham|date=February 2008|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/a_brand_for_oldham.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313205409/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/a_brand_for_oldham.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|publisher=oldham.gov.uk|access-date=2 March 2008|archive-date=13 March 2008}}</ref> public expenditure was seen as an overhead that undermined the competitiveness of the town.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> Subsequently, Oldham's architecture has been described as "mediocre".<ref name="Rebrand" /> The town has no [[listed building]]s with a Grade I rating.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/StatisticsPage/default.aspx?StatsCounty=GREATER%20MANCHESTER|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226014224/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/StatisticsPage/default.aspx?StatsCounty=GREATER%20MANCHESTER|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2007|title=Statistics by County|publisher=imagesofengland.org.uk|access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref>

There is a mixture of high-density [[urban areas]], [[suburb]]s, semi-rural and [[rural]] locations in Oldham. There is some permanent [[grassland]] but overwhelmingly the [[land use]] in the town is urban. The territory of Oldham is contiguous with other towns on all sides except for a small section along its eastern and southern boundaries, and for purposes of the [[Office for National Statistics]], forms the fourth largest settlement of the [[Greater Manchester Urban Area]],<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_north_part_5.pdf |title=Census 2001:Key Statistics for urban areas in the North; Map 3 |author=[[Office for National Statistics]] |publisher=statistics.gov.uk |access-date=13 September 2007 |year=2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109141715/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_north_part_5.pdf |archive-date=9 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/greater_manchester_urban_area.asp |title=Greater Manchester Urban Area |year=2001 |author=[[Office for National Statistics]] |publisher=statistics.gov.uk |access-date=24 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205014453/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/greater_manchester_urban_area.asp |archive-date=5 February 2009 }}</ref> the [[List of conurbations in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom's third largest conurbation]]. The [[M60 motorway]] passes through the southwest of Oldham, through [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]], and a [[heavy rail]] line enters Oldham from the same direction, travelling northeast to the town centre before heading northwards through [[Derker]] towards Shaw and Crompton.

[[File:Oldham panorama (crop).jpg|thumb|center|800px|{{center|A panorama of Oldham looking from [[Hartshead Pike]] toward the north-west.}}]]

=== Divisions and suburbs ===
<!-- Please note this section is for the town proper, NOT the wider borough which includes OTHER TOWNS such as Royton, Chadderton etc.-->
[[File:Fredrick Street, Werneth, Oldham.jpg|thumb|Fredrick Street, in [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]]. Much of Oldham's housing stock is two-up-two-down rows of [[terraced house]]s, a reminder of its [[mill town]] history.]]
Many of Oldham's present divisions and suburbs have origins as pre-industrial hamlets, manorial commons and ancient chapelries.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Some, such as [[Moorside, Oldham|Moorside]], exist as recently constructed residential [[suburbia]], whilst places like [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] exist as [[electoral ward]]s<ref>{{citation|author=[[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council]] |url=http://geoplanning.oldham.gov.uk/gis/map.aspx?ACTION=PLANNING |title=Interactive Planning Map |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |access-date=20 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308095128/http://geoplanning.oldham.gov.uk/gis/map.aspx?ACTION=PLANNING |archive-date=8 March 2008 }}</ref> and thoroughly industrialised districts. Throughout most of its [[recorded history]], Oldham was surrounded by large swathes of [[moorland]], which is reflected in the placenames of Moorside, [[Greenacres, Greater Manchester|Greenacres moor]], Littlemoor, Northmoor among others.

A large portion of Oldham's residences are "low value"<ref name="Oldham Heart" /> [[Victorian era]] [[brick|Accrington red-brick]] [[terraced house]]s in a row formation,<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> built for the most part from 1870 to 1920, to house the town's [[cotton mill]] workers.<ref name="OSD">{{citation|url=http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Faculties/FAS/gber/pdf/vol3/issue2/Article4.pdf |title=Oldham: Separate Development |author=Iain Jackson |access-date=13 September 2007 |publisher=edgehill.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128022214/http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Faculties/FAS/gber/pdf/vol3/issue2/Article4.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> There is more modern housing in the semi-rural east of the town, in the most sought after area in areas such as the village [[Moorside, Oldham|Moorside]],<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/division12/pages/oldhameast.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103213429/http://www.gmp.police.uk/division12/pages/oldhameast.htm|archive-date=3 November 2007|title=Oldham East|date= 27 January 2006|access-date=9 June 2009|publisher=gmp.police.uk|author=[[Greater Manchester Police]]}}</ref> although terraces are found in almost all parts of Oldham.

One of the oldest recorded named places of Oldham is [[Hathershaw]], occurring in a deed for 1280 with the spelling ''Halselinechaw Clugh''.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Existing as a manor in the 15th century, [[Hathershaw Hall]] was the home of a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] family in the 17th century who lost part of their possessions due to the [[English Civil War]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} [[Waterhead, Greater Manchester|Waterhead]], an upland area in the east of Oldham, traces its roots to a water cornmill over the border in [[Lees, Greater Manchester|Lees]].{{sfnp|Daly|1974|p=|ps=}}

Recorded originally as ''Watergate'' and ''Waterhead Milne'', it was for a long time a hamlet in the parish of Oldham that formed a significant part of the [[Oldham Above Town]] registration sub-district. [[Derker]] was recorded as a place of residence in 1604 with the name ''Dirtcar''.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} Bound by [[Higginshaw]] to the north, Derker is the location of [[Derker railway station]] and, said to have terraced residencies "unsuited to modern needs", is currently being redeveloped as part of the [[Housing Market Renewal Initiative]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldhamrochdalehmr.co.uk/derker.htm |title=Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder; Derker |publisher=oldhamrochdalehmr.co.uk |author=Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder |access-date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114205654/http://www.oldhamrochdalehmr.co.uk/derker.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007| url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Coldhurst]], an area along Oldham's northern boundary with [[Royton]], was once a chapelry and the site of considerable industry and commerce, including [[coal mining]], [[cotton mills|cotton spinning]] and hat manufacture.<ref name="VCH">{{citation |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=50889&strquery=prestwich-cum-oldham#s5 |title='Cold-Ashby&nbsp;– Coley' A Topographical Dictionary of England |year=1848 |author=British History Online |publisher=Victoria County History |access-date=7 April 2007 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928040155/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=50889&strquery=prestwich-cum-oldham#s5 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is said to have been the scene of an action in the English Civil War in which the [[Roundheads|Parliamentarians]] were defeated.<ref name="VCH" />

== Demographics ==
{{further|Demographics of Greater Manchester}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0; border: 1px solid #aaa;"
|+ Oldham compared
|-
| '''[[United Kingdom Census 2011|UK Census 2011]]''' || '''Oldham'''<ref group=lower-alpha>Percentages are taken from 2001 ward boundaries that together most closely match the territory of the former [[County Borough of Oldham]].</ref> || '''[[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham (Met. District)]]''' || '''England'''
|-
| Total population || [[List of urban areas in England by population|96,555]]<ref group=lower-alpha>The total population of Oldham is given as those within an urban area divorced from the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]].</ref> || 217,273 || 53,012,456
|-
| Foreign born || 15% || 8.2% || 17.57%
|-
| White British || 55.4% || 77.5% || 85.4%
|-
| Asian || 37.6% || 18.1% || 7.8%
|-
| Black || 2% || 1.2% || 3.5%
|-
| Christian || 58% || 73% || 59.4%
|-
| Muslim || 25% || 11% || 5%
|-
| Hindu || 1.1% || 0.1% || 1.5%
|-
| No religion || 8.3% || 8.9% || 24.7%
|-
| Over 65 years old || 12% || 14% || 16.33%
|-
| Unemployed || 5.5% || 3.7% || (7.6–8.4%)
|}

According to data from the [[United Kingdom Census 2001]], Oldham had a total resident population of 103,544, making it the [[List of urban areas in England by population|55th most populous settlement]] in England, and the 5th most populous settlement of the [[Greater Manchester Urban Area]].<ref name="Oldham Population" /> This figure in conjunction with its area provides Oldham with a [[population density]] of {{convert|3,998|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The local population has been described as broadly "[[working class]]"; the [[middle class]]es tending to live in outlying settlements.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" />

Oldham, considered as a combination of the 2001 [[ward (politics)|electoral wards]] of Alexandra,<ref name="Alexandra ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192662693546&a=7&b=5941626&c=Alexandra&d=14&e=15&g=352196&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192662693546&enc=1 |title=Alexandra (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |archive-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922215356/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192662693546&a=7&b=5941626&c=Alexandra&d=14&e=15&g=352196&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192662693546&enc=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Coldhurst]],<ref name="Coldhurst ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663037109&a=7&b=5941622&c=coldhurst&d=14&e=16&g=352331&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663037109&enc=1 |title=Coldhurst (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225656/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663037109&a=7&b=5941622&c=coldhurst&d=14&e=16&g=352331&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663037109&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]],<ref name="Hollinwood ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663112296&a=7&b=5941618&c=hollinwood&d=14&e=16&g=352470&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192663112296&enc=1 |title=Hollinwood (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225709/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663112296&a=7&b=5941618&c=hollinwood&d=14&e=16&g=352470&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192663112296&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> St. James,<ref name="James ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663188125&a=7&b=5941612&c=st.+james&d=14&e=15&g=352697&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663188125&enc=1 |title=St. James (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225718/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663188125&a=7&b=5941612&c=st.+james&d=14&e=15&g=352697&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663188125&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> St. Marys,<ref name="Mary ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663247234&a=7&b=5941611&c=St.+Marys&d=14&e=15&g=352729&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663247234&enc=1 |title=St. Marys (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225720/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663247234&a=7&b=5941611&c=St.+Marys&d=14&e=15&g=352729&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663247234&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> St. Pauls,<ref name="Paul ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663302171&a=7&b=5941610&c=st.+pauls&d=14&e=15&g=352761&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663302171&enc=1 |title=St. Pauls (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225728/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663302171&a=7&b=5941610&c=st.+pauls&d=14&e=15&g=352761&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663302171&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> [[Waterhead, Greater Manchester|Waterhead]]<ref name="Waterhead ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663365703&a=7&b=5941608&c=waterhead&d=14&e=16&g=352832&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663365703&enc=1 |title=Waterhead (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225740/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663365703&a=7&b=5941608&c=waterhead&d=14&e=16&g=352832&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663365703&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> and [[Werneth, Greater Manchester|Werneth]],<ref name="Werneth ward">{{citation |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663404140&a=7&b=5941607&c=werneth&d=14&e=15&g=352876&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663404140&enc=1 |title=Werneth (Ward) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114225749/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadPage.do?pageId=1003&tc=1192663404140&a=7&b=5941607&c=werneth&d=14&e=15&g=352876&i=1001x1003x1004x1011&m=0&r=1&s=1192663404140&enc=1 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> has an average age of 33.5, and compared against the average [[demographics of the United Kingdom]], has a high level of people of [[South Asian]] heritage, particularly those with roots in [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]]. Due to the town's prevalence as an industrial centre and thus a hub for employment, Oldham attracted migrant workers throughout its history, including those from wider-England, Scotland, Ireland and Poland.<ref name="Oldham People">{{citation|title=Oldham & its People|last=Millett|first=Freda|year=1994|publisher=Oldham Leisure Services|isbn=0-902809-31-8}}</ref>

During the 1950s and 1960s, in an attempt to fill the shortfall of workers and revitalise local industries, citizens of the wider [[Commonwealth of Nations]] were encouraged to [[Immigration to the United Kingdom (1922-present day)|migrate to Oldham and other British towns]].<ref name="Oldham People" /> Many came from the [[Caribbean]] and [[Indian subcontinent]] and settled throughout the Oldham borough.<ref name="Oldham People" />

Today, Oldham has large communities with heritage from [[Pakistan]], [[India]], [[Bangladesh]] and parts of the Caribbean.<ref name="Oldham People" /> At the time of the 2001 census, over one in four of its residents identified themselves as from a South Asian or [[British Asian]] ethnic group. Cultural divisions along ethnic backgrounds are strong within the town,<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> with poor cross-community integration and cohesion along Asian and white backgrounds.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" />

With only a small local population during medieval times, as a result of the introduction of industry, mass migration of village workers into Oldham occurred,{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} resulting in a population change from under 2,000 in 1714{{sfnp|Butterworth|1981|p=|ps=}}<ref name="Parish Church1" /> to 12,000 in 1801 to 137,000 in 1901{{sfnp|McNeil|Nevell|2000|p=|ps=}} In 1851 its population of 52,820 made Oldham the 12th most populous town in England.<ref name="Oldham 1907" /> The following is a table outlining the population change of the town since 1801, which demonstrates a trend of rapid population growth in the 19th century and, after peaking at 147,483 people in 1911, a trend of general decline in population size during the 20th century.
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Population of Oldham
|-
! Year
! 1801
! 1811
! 1821
! 1831
! 1841
! 1851
! 1861
! 1871
! 1881
! 1891
|- style="text-align: center;"
! Population
| 12,024
| 16,690
| 21,662
| 32,381
| 42,595
| 52,820
| 72,333
| 82,629
| 111,349
| 131,463
|-
! Year
! 1901
! 1911
! 1921
! 1931
! 1939
! 1951
! 1961
! 1971
! 1981
! 1991
|- style="text-align: center;"
! Population
| 137,246
| 147,483
| 144,983
| 140,314
| 120,511
| 121,266
| 115,346
| 105,922
| 107,830
| 103,931
|-
! Year
! 2001
! 2011
! 2021
| colspan=8 rowspan=2 | '''Sources:''' [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10186778&c_id=10001043&add=N A Vision of Britain through Time]{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=232|ps=}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
! Population
| 103,544
| 96,555
| 110,718
|}

In 2011, 77.5% of the Oldham metropolitan borough population were White British, 18.1% Asian and 1.2% Black. While in the town of Oldham, which had a 2011 population of 96,555, 55.4% of the population were White British, 37.6% Asian and 2% Black.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaoldham.org.uk/sites/vaoldham.org.uk/files/Census%202011%20key%20stats%20briefing%2014%20Dec%2012.pdf |title=2011 Census: Key statistics for Oldham |access-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092922/http://www.vaoldham.org.uk/sites/vaoldham.org.uk/files/Census%202011%20key%20stats%20briefing%2014%20Dec%2012.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks201ew|title=KS201EW (Ethnic group) – Nomis – Official Labour Market Statistics|website=www.nomisweb.co.uk|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-date=22 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022095240/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks201ew|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Economy ==
For years Oldham's economy was heavily dependent on manufacturing industry, especially textiles and mechanical engineering.<ref name="Local Company">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/local_companies.htm |title=Local Companies |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |year=2007 |access-date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810085148/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/local_companies.htm |archive-date=10 August 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Oldham Means Business">{{citation |url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working.htm|title=Oldham Means Business!|author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |publisher=oldham.gov.uk|year=2007|access-date=14 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070702132152/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2 July 2007}}</ref> Since the [[deindustrialisation]] of Oldham in the mid-20th century, these industries have been replaced by [[home shopping]], [[publishing]], [[healthcare]] and [[food processing]] sectors, though factory-generated employment retains a significant presence.<ref name="Local Company" /> Many of the modern sectors are low-skill and low-wage.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" />

[[File:Modern abstract stained glass Small Mall rooflight of Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre Oldham, by Brian Clarke (1993).jpg|thumb|right|600px|Stained-glass skylight of the Spindles Town Square Centre by local artist [[Brian Clarke]], inspired by Oldham-born composer William Walton's ''Orb and Sceptre Coronation March''. The work is one of three interrelated windows, among the largest stained-glass windows in Europe, designed and made between 1990 and 1993.]]
Oldham's town centre contains the highest concentration of retailing, cultural facilities and employment in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]].<ref name="Oldham Heart">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/heart_of_oldham.pdf |title=The Heart of Oldham; A masterplan for Oldham Town Centre |author=URBED |date=May 2004 |access-date=30 November 2007 |publisher=Oldham.gov.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128022235/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/heart_of_oldham.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> It has been extensively redeveloped during the last few decades, and its two shopping centres, Town Square and the Spindles, now provide one of the largest covered retail areas in [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name="Retail">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/land_property.htm |title=Oldham's Economic Profile&nbsp;– Land & Property |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |year=2007 |access-date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808193907/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/land_property.htm |archive-date=8 August 2007 }}</ref> The Spindles (named with reference to [[Spindle (textiles)|textile spindles]]) is a modern [[Shopping mall|shopping centre]] with over 40 retailers, banks, building societies and catering outlets. It houses several of Europe's largest stained glass works, a series of ceilings and skylights created by local artist [[Brian Clarke]] in celebration of the life and music of one of Oldham's famous sons, [[composer]] and [[Conductor (music)|conductor]] Sir [[William Walton]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.visitoldham.co.uk/shopping/spindles.htm |title=The Spindles Shopping Centre
|publisher=visitoldham.co.uk |access-date=13 September 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070912221011/http://www.visitoldham.co.uk/shopping/spindles.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 12 September 2007}}</ref>

A number of culinary and medical advances have been developed in Oldham. The [[Bandage|tubular bandage]] was invented and developed in Oldham in 1961.<ref name="Bandage Bridge">{{citation |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1004/1004879_bandage_bridge_under_threat.html |title='Bandage bridge' under threat |author=Keegan, Mike |date=19 April 2007 |access-date=31 October 2007 |publisher=manchestereveningnews.co.uk |archive-date=29 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529030410/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1004/1004879_bandage_bridge_under_threat.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That "vital contribution to advancing medical science" resulted from a collaboration between local firm Seton and a cotton manufacturer in the town. There are claims that Oldham was the birthplace of the first [[Fish and chips|chip shop]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/north+west/manchester/art21959 |title=From Butties to Bhajis at the People's History Museum |publisher=24hourmuseum.org.uk |author=Graham, Zoe |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=1 November 2007 |archive-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301183005/http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/north+west/manchester/art21959 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.lovechips.co.uk/chip-history/ |publisher=lovechips.co.uk |author=[[British Potato Council]] |access-date=17 February 2008 |title=Chip History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206220954/http://www.lovechips.co.uk/chip-history/ |archive-date=6 February 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Chips">{{citation |title=Birthplace of the tasty chippy! |newspaper=[[Oldham Evening Chronicle]]|page=10 |date=8 July 2008}}</ref> The sometimes disputed claim of trade in deep-fried chipped potatoes is said to have been started around 1858–60 from an outlet owned by a John Lees, on what is the present site of Oldham's [[Tommyfield Market]].<ref name="Chips" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fishexpressonline.com/history.php |publisher=fishexpressonline.com |title=History |access-date=1 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119005819/http://www.fishexpressonline.com/history.php |archive-date=19 November 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/food_timeline_html.html |publisher=open2.net |title=Timeline: Just The Facts |access-date=1 November 2007 |archive-date=14 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114171319/http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/food_timeline_html.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1900 Oldham had the highest concentration of chip shops in the country, one for every 400 people.<ref name="Chips" /> [[Rag Pudding]] is a savoury dish said to be native to Oldham.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=11430 |publisher=morningadvertiser.co.uk |author=Cooper, Natalie |date=1 November 2005 |access-date=1 November 2007 |title=PubChef Awards – Beer and Food |archive-date=14 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114224622/http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=11430 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Yates Wine Lodge]] was founded in Oldham by Peter and Simon Yates in 1884.{{sfnp|Clough|1996|p=|ps=}}

Park Cake Bakeries, sold in 2007 by [[Northern Foods|Northern Foods Group]] to Vision Capital, have a large food processing centre in [[Hathershaw]], which employs in excess of 1,600 people. Over 90% of the cakes produced go to [[Marks & Spencer]].<ref name="Food">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/food_processing.htm |title=Oldham's Economic Profile&nbsp;– Food Processing |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |year=2007 |access-date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808074829/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/economic_profile/food_processing.htm |archive-date=8 August 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.go2work.net/demosite/parkcakes.htm |title=Park Cakes |publisher=go2work.net |year=2005 |access-date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114211925/http://www.go2work.net/demosite/parkcakes.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> Long existing as an [[industrial district]], [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] is home to the Northern Counties Housing Association,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConRSL.1207|title=Northern Counties Housing Association Limited.|publisher=housingcorp.gov.uk|access-date=13 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120061609/http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConRSL.1207|archive-date=20 January 2008}}</ref>

[[Ferranti|Ferranti Technologies]] is an electronic, electromechanical and electrical engineering company based in [[Waterhead, Greater Manchester|Waterhead]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.ferranti-technologies.co.uk/about_us.htm |title=Ferranti Technologies about us |publisher=ferranti-technologies.co.uk |access-date=9 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902100800/http://www.ferranti-technologies.co.uk/about_us.htm |archive-date=2 September 2009 }}</ref>

The majority of poor families are now working families. Coldhurst in Oldham has child deprivation rate of 62.1pc, which is the worst in the UK.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-43507747 'Mummy's not got money' – the children in poverty in Oldham]  ''[[BBC]]''</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/kids-who-live-part-oldham-14199526|title=The kids who live in this part of Oldham are more likely to be poor than anywhere else in England|first=Katie|last=Butler|date=25 January 2018|website=men|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528131000/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/kids-who-live-part-oldham-14199526|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}
[[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]'s contribution to the local economy have been strengthened by its community links as well as its fortunes on the field. Despite some success in the early 20th century which almost saw the club win the [[Football League]] title in 1915, the club has spent most of its time outside the top division of English football, including a 68-year spell between 1923 and 1991 – when it won promotion to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] a year before it became the [[FA Premier League]]. The club then survived for three years in the [[FA Premier League]], which encouraged high attendances and boosted the club's finances as well as boosting the local economy as it struggled to recover from post-industrial decline. Between 1990 and 1994, the club also reached two FA Cup semi-finals (taking [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] to a replay on both occasions) and were on the losing side in a [[Football League Cup]] final. The club's subsequent years, however, have been less successful, with relegation in 2018 to the fourth tier of the English league for the first time in almost 50 years. The club's financial situation has also declined, as have its attendances, in accordance with fortunes on the pitch.

== Landmarks ==
{{see also|List of Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester|Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester|Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester|List of public art in Greater Manchester}}

[[File:Parliament Square and the Old Town Hall, Oldham (geograph 6003292).jpg|thumb|Oldham's [[Old Town Hall, Oldham|old town hall]], built in 1841, following its conversion into a multiplex cinema]]
[[File:Oldham War Memorial (close up).jpg|thumb|Oldham's war memorial was commissioned in 1919 to "symbolise the spirit of 1914–1918".]]
[[File:Oldham Civic Centre.jpg|thumb|The [[Oldham Civic Centre|civic centre]] is the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]'s centre of local governance.]]

=== Town Hall ===
Oldham's [[Old Town Hall, Oldham|Old Town Hall]] is a Grade II listed [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] [[City hall|town hall]] built in 1841,<ref>{{NHLE| desc=Town Hall  |num=1201655 | access-date=14 November 2007 |mode=cs2}}</ref> eight years before Oldham received its [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]].<ref name="Town Hall">{{citation |last=Ottewell |first=David |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/221/221793_in_danger_our_creaking_monuments_to_civic_pride.html |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |title=In danger, our creaking monuments to civic pride |date=26 August 2006 |access-date=1 November 2007 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528131002/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/in-danger-our-creaking-monuments-to-civic-pride-1039832 |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the last purpose-built town halls in northwest England,<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> it has a tetrastyle [[Ionic order|Ionic]] [[portico]], copied from the temple of [[Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]], on the [[Ilissos|River Ilissos]], near [[Athens]].<ref name="Vision of Oldham" /> [[Winston Churchill]] made his inaugural acceptance speech from the steps of the town hall when he was first elected as a Conservative MP in 1900. A [[Blue Plaque]] on the exterior of the building commemorates the event.<ref name="No idea" /> Long existing as the political centre of the town, complete with [[courtroom]]s, the structure stood empty for many years from the mid-1980s and was regularly earmarked for redevelopment as part of regeneration project proposals, but none were actioned before plans dating to 2012 were completed in 2016.<ref name="Oldham Heart" /><ref name="Town Hall" /><ref name="No idea" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/regeneration/regeneration_projects/town-centre-redevelopment.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315075235/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/working/regeneration/regeneration_projects/town-centre-redevelopment.htm |archive-date=15 March 2008 |title=Town Centre Redevelopment |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=[[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council]] |access-date=9 June 2009}}</ref>

In September 2008, it was reported that "Oldham Town Hall is only months away from a major roof collapse".<ref name="Shame">{{citation |url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/13636/the-crumbling-shame-of-our-town-hall |publisher=[[Oldham Evening Chronicle|oldham-chronicle.co.uk]] |date=4 September 2008 |access-date=4 September 2008 |title=The crumbling shame of our town hall |last=Barker |first=Janice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916142841/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/13636/the-crumbling-shame-of-our-town-hall |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref> A tour taken by local councillors and media concluded with an account that "chunks of masonry are falling from the ceilings on a daily basis&nbsp;... the floors are littered with dead pigeons and&nbsp;... revealed that the building is literally rotting away".<ref name="No idea">{{citation |url=http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1065196_out_of_ideas_for_the_old_town_hall |title=Out of ideas for the old Town Hall |last=Sykes |first=Lee |date=3 September 2008 |access-date=4 September 2008 |publisher=[[Oldham Advertiser|oldhamadvertiser.co.uk]] |archive-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204012547/http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1065196_out_of_ideas_for_the_old_town_hall |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Shame" /> In October 2009 the [[Victorian Society]], a charity responsible for the study and protection of Britain's Victorian and Edwardian architecture, declared Oldham Town Hall as the most endangered Victorian structure in [[England and Wales]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/we-reveal-our-top-ten-endangered-buildings-for-2009/ |publisher=victoriansociety.org.uk |author-link=Victorian Society |author=The Victorian Society |year=2009 |access-date=15 October 2009 |title=We reveal our Top Ten Endangered buildings for 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105120900/http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/we-reveal-our-top-ten-endangered-buildings-for-2009 |archive-date=5 November 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/historic-buildings/art72630 |publisher=culture24.org.uk |author=Culture24 Staff |date=12 October 2009 |title=Victorian Society reveals 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales |access-date=15 October 2009 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185357/http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/historic-buildings/art72630 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/31012/town-hall-on-atrisk-list |publisher=oldham-chronicle.co.uk |work=[[Oldham Evening Chronicle]] |date=12 October 2009 |title=Town hall on 'at-risk' list |first=Marina |last=Berry |access-date=15 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724003340/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/31012/town-hall-on-atrisk-list |archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref>
Plans to convert the hall into a leisure complex, incorporating a cinema and restaurants, were revealed in May 2012 with the hall itself being used for public consultation.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Rudkin |url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/70218/town-hall-revamp-revealed |title=Town Hall Revamp Revealed |publisher=oldham-chronicle.co.uk |work=[[Oldham Evening Chronicle]] |date=30 May 2012 |access-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703053333/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/70218/town-hall-revamp-revealed |archive-date=3 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dawn |last=Marsden |url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/69905/picture-this-plan-for-old-town-hall |title=Picture this – plan for old town hall |publisher=oldham-chronicle.co.uk |work=[[Oldham Evening Chronicle]] |date=21 May 2012 |access-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625075151/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/69905/picture-this-plan-for-old-town-hall |archive-date=25 June 2012 }}</ref> This £36.72 million project was completed in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/oldham-odeon-cinema-town-hall-12038561|title=Oldham's Old Town Hall has been transformed into a £37m cinema and leisure complex... here's what it looks like|date=18 October 2016|publisher=Manchester Evening News|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721234640/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/oldham-odeon-cinema-town-hall-12038561|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the heart of Oldham's retail district, the Old Town Hall has been developed into a modern multiplex [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/oldtownhall|title=Oldham Council online information – Business – Invest in Oldham – The place – Investment schemes – Old Town Hall|first=Oldham|last=Council|website=www.oldham.gov.uk|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705055202/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/oldtownhall|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Bell |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/oldhams-old-town-hall-regeneration-8494984 |title=Oldham's 'Old Town Hall' regeneration project will create 230 jobs and provide major economic boost |publisher=manchestereveningnews.co.uk |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530153837/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/oldhams-old-town-hall-regeneration-8494984 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== War memorial ===
{{main||Oldham War Memorial}}
Erected as a permanent memorial to the men of Oldham who were killed in the [[First World War]], Oldham's [[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.<ref name="Oldham War Memorial">{{citation|url=http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/MR/MR-OLD17.htm |title=Oldham, War Memorial |author=[[Public Monuments and Sculpture Association]] |date=16 June 2003 |access-date=12 October 2007 |publisher=pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207203408/http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/MR/MR-OLD17.htm |archive-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref> The main standing figure, having climbed out of the trenches, is shown calling on his comrades to advance, and is the same figure used at the [[Royal Fusiliers War Memorial]] in London and the [[41st Division (United Kingdom)|41st Division]] memorial at [[Flers, Somme|Flers]] in France. 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.<ref name="Oldham War Memorial" />

Commissioned in 1919 by the Oldham War Memorial Committee, the memorial was designed and built by [[Albert Toft]].<ref>{{NHLE| desc=War Memorial |num=1210137 |access-date=14 November 2007|mode=cs2}}</ref> It was unveiled by General [[Ian Hamilton (British Army officer)|Sir Ian Hamilton]] on 28 April 1923, before a crowd estimated at over 10,000.<ref name="Oldham War Memorial" /> The monument was intended to symbolise the spirit of 1914–1918.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}

The inscriptions on the memorial read:

* Over doors to the north:  "DEATH IS THE GATE OF LIFE / 1914–1918"
* Over window to the south: "TO GOD BE THE PRAISE "

=== Civic Centre ===
The [[Oldham Civic Centre|Civic Centre]] tower is the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]'s centre of local governance. The chamber of the Mayor of Oldham can be located in the Civic Centre. The 15-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 {{convert|200|ft|m|sigfig=1|abbr=off}} high.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/links/districts/index.html |title=The 10 Greater Manchester Districts |publisher=manchesteronline.co.uk |date= 29 July 1999 |access-date=9 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114041439/http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/links/districts/index.html |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was designed by Cecil Howitt & Partners,<ref name="Oldham Heart" /> and the [[topping out]] ceremony was held on 18 June 1976.{{sfn|Millett|1996|p=}} The Civic Centre can be seen as far away as [[City of Salford|Salford]], [[Trafford]], [[Wythenshawe]] and [[Winter Hill (Lancashire)|Winter Hill]] in [[Lancashire]], and offers panoramic views across the city of [[Manchester]] and the [[Cheshire Plain]].

=== Churches ===
{{see also|List of churches in Greater Manchester}}
The [[Oldham Parish Church|Oldham Parish Church of St. Mary with St. Peter]], in its present form, dates from 1830 and was designed in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival Style]] by [[Richard Lane (architect)|Richard Lane]], a Manchester-based architect.<ref name="Parish Church1">{{citation |url=http://oldhamparishchurch.org/html/history.html |title=Oldham Parish Church; A Brief History |publisher=oldhamparishchurch.org |date=21 March 2005 |access-date=16 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009224102/http://oldhamparishchurch.org/html/history.html |archive-date=9 October 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> It has been designated by [[English Heritage]] as a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |desc=Church of St Mary and St Peter |num=1292310 |access-date=14 November 2007|mode=cs2}}</ref> It was linked with the [[church of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich]] and together the sites were principal churches of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of [[Prestwich-cum-Oldham]].<ref name="Parish Church1" />

A church building had existed on the site since 1280.<ref name="Parish Church1" /> During this time, a small chapel stood on the site to serve the local townships of Oldham, [[Chadderton]], [[Royton]] and [[Shaw and Crompton|Crompton]]. This was later replaced by an [[Gothic architecture|Early English Gothic]] church in the 15th century.<ref name="Parish Church1" /> With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the population of Oldham increased at a rapid rate (from under 2,000 in 1714, to over 32,000 by 1831).<ref name="Parish Church1" /> The rapid growth of the local population warranted that the building be rebuilt into the current structure. Though the budget was originally agreed at £5,000,<ref name="Oldham Heart" /> the final cost of building was £30,000, one third of which was spent on the crypt structure.<ref name="Parish Church1" /> Alternative designs by [[Sir Charles Barry]], the designer of the [[Palace of Westminster]], although now regarded by some as superior, were rejected.<ref name="Oldham Heart" /><ref name="Parish Church1" /> The Church, of the [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] denomination, is in active use for worship, and forms part of the [[Anglican Diocese of Manchester|Diocese of Manchester]].<ref name="Parish Church1" />

There are also [[Roman Catholic]] churches in Oldham. These include [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church, Oldham|Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church]]. It was built in 1870, was founded by priests from St Mary's Church in Oldham, and is a Grade II listed building.<ref>[http://taking-stock.org.uk/Home/Dioceses/Diocese-of-Salford/Oldham-Our-Lady-of-Mount-Carmel-and-St-Patrick/ Oldham – Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207073458/http://taking-stock.org.uk/Home/Dioceses/Diocese-of-Salford/Oldham-Our-Lady-of-Mount-Carmel-and-St-Patrick/ |date=7 February 2016 }} from [[English Heritage]], retrieved 6 February 2016</ref>

== Transport ==
[[File:Bus in Oldham.jpg|thumb|The 409 to [[Rochdale]], pictured in Oldham's town centre. [[First Greater Manchester]] has its headquarters in Oldham, operating bus services throughout Greater Manchester.]]
The geography of Oldham constrained the development of major transport infrastructure,<ref name="Oldham 1907">{{cite map|title=Oldham|edition=1907|publisher=Alan Godfrey Maps|cartography=[[Ordnance Survey]]|isbn=1-84151-056-4|section=Lancashire Sheet 97.06|year=1999}}</ref> with the former County Borough Council suggesting that "if it had not grown substantially before the railway age it would surely have been overlooked".<ref name="Oldham 1907" /> Oldham has never been on a main-line railway route, and canals too have only been able to serve it from a distance,<ref name="Oldham 1907" /> meaning that "Oldham has never had a train service worthy of a town of its size".<ref name="Chadderton 1907" />

A principal destination along the former [[Oldham Loop Line]], Oldham once had six [[railway station]]s but this was reduced to three once [[Clegg Street railway station|Clegg Street]], [[Oldham Central railway station|Oldham Central]] and [[Glodwick Road railway station|Glodwick Road]] closed in the mid-20th century. [[Oldham Werneth railway station|Oldham Werneth]], [[Oldham Mumps railway station|Oldham Mumps]] and [[Derker railway station|Derker]] closed on 3 October 2009.<ref name="sig">{{citation |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1150326_signalman_reaches_end_of_line |publisher=manchestereveningnews.co.uk |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=5 October 2009 |date=1 October 2009 |title=Signalman reaches end of line |last=Kirby |first=Dean |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130939/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/signalman-reaches-end-of-line-931200 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="era">{{citation|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1069009_end_of_era_as_loop_line_is_replaced|publisher=manchestereveningnews.co.uk|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|access-date=5 October 2009|date=26 September 2008|title=End of era as loop line is replaced|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130938/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/end-of-era-as-loop-line-is-replaced-968376|url-status=live}}</ref> Trains from [[Manchester Victoria station]] to Oldham had to climb steeply through much of its {{convert|6|mi|km|0|adj=on|abbr=off}} route, from around {{convert|100|ft|m|sigfig=1|abbr=off}} at Manchester city centre to around {{convert|600|ft|m|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} at Oldham Mumps.<ref name="Oldham 1907" /> The Werneth Incline, with its gradient of 1 in 27, made the [[Middleton Junction railway station|Middleton Junction]] to [[Oldham Werneth railway station|Oldham Werneth]] route the steepest regular passenger line in the country.<ref name="Chadderton 1907">{{cite map |title=Chadderton |edition=1907 |publisher=Alan Godfrey Maps |cartography=[[Ordnance Survey]] |isbn=1-84151-159-5 |section=Lancashire Sheet 97.05 |year=2000}}</ref> The Werneth Incline route closed in 1963. It had been replaced as the main route to Manchester by the section of line built between Oldham Werneth Station and Thorpes Bridge Junction, at [[Newton Heath]] in May 1880.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/oldham_werneth/index.shtml|title=Disused Stations: Oldham Werneth Station|website=www.disused-stations.org.uk|access-date=9 September 2010|archive-date=18 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918011116/http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/oldham_werneth/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Oldham Mumps, the second oldest station on the line after Werneth,<ref name="sig" /> took its name from its location in the Mumps area of Oldham, which itself probably derived from the archaic word "mumper" which was slang for a [[beggar]].{{sfnp|Gibb|2005|p=28|ps=}} The former Oldham Loop Line was converted for use with an expanded [[Manchester Metrolink|Metrolink]] light rail network, and renamed as the [[Oldham and Rochdale Line]]. The line between Victoria and a temporary [[Oldham Mumps tram stop]] opened on 13 June 2012,<ref name="Oldham Heart" /><ref name="sig" /><ref name="era" /> and more central stops opened on 27 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/date-set-for-oldham-metrolink-line/ |title=Date set for Oldham Metrolink line |publisher=Place North West |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=17 March 2016 |archive-date=25 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325054745/https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/date-set-for-oldham-metrolink-line/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Tram on Union Street, Oldham, looking west, geograph-3808797-by-Alan-Murray-Rust.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Manchester Metrolink|Metrolink]] tram running through Union Street, on the Oldham town centre line opened in January 2014.]]
Oldham had electric [[tram]]ways to Manchester in the early 20th century; the first tram was driven from Manchester into Oldham in 1900 by the [[List of Lord Mayors of Manchester|Lord Mayor of Manchester]].{{sfn|Millett|1996|p=}} The system came to an end on 3 August 1946, however.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} There was also a short-lived [[Trolleybuses in Oldham|Oldham trolleybus system]], in 1925–26. [[Oldham bus station]] has frequent bus services to Manchester, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne and Middleton with other services to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, [[Tameside]], and across the Pennines to [[Huddersfield]] in [[West Yorkshire]].<ref name="Oldham Bus Station">{{citation |url=http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=113&storycode=1006962&c=1 |publisher=building.co.uk |year=2001 |title=Oldham Bus Station&nbsp;– Cost study |access-date=9 November 2007 |archive-date=14 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114201857/http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=113&storycode=1006962&c=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Oldham Bus Usage">{{citation |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dashcam-video-boy-bus-surfing-12220227 |publisher=manchestereveningnews.co.uk |year=2016 |title=Oldham Bus Usage |access-date=25 November 2016 |archive-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127113524/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/dashcam-video-boy-bus-surfing-12220227 |url-status=live }}</ref> The roof canopy is supported internally on two rows of steel trees. The extensive use of glass and stainless steel maximises visibility, and there is a carefully co-ordinated family of information fittings, posters and seating, using robust natural materials for floors and plinths.<ref name="Oldham Bus Station" /> The bus station is used by [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] coaches. [[First Greater Manchester]] has its headquarters in Oldham.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/northwest/manchester/contact/index.php |publisher=firstgroup.com |year=2007 |access-date=14 November 2007 |author=[[First Greater Manchester]] |title=Contact us }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Despite the Turnpike Act 1734, Oldham had no turnpike road to Manchester for another 56 years and [[Church Lane, Oldham]] remained part of the main street through the town. But following a further Act of Parliament a turnpike was constructed. The first regular coach service to Manchester came into operation in October 1790, with a journey time of over 2 hours and a fare 2s.8d (about 13p), with half fare for travellers on top of the coach.<ref>{{cite web |author=John Moss, for Papillon Graphics |url=http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/towns/oldham1.html |title=Oldham, Greater Manchester, formerly Oldham in Lancashire |publisher=Manchester2002-uk.com |access-date=13 November 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116144543/http://manchester2002-uk.com/towns/oldham1.html |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref>

Oldham is about {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} south of the major [[M62 motorway]], but is linked to it by the [[M60 motorway|M60]] at [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]], and [[A627(M) motorway|A627(M)]] via [[Chadderton]]. There are major [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|A roads]] to [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Huddersfield]], [[Manchester]], and [[Rochdale]].{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}}

The [[Hollinwood Branch Canal|Hollinwood Branch]] of the [[Ashton Canal]] was a [[Canals of Great Britain|canal]] that ran from [[Fairfield, Droylsden|Fairfield]] in [[Droylsden]], through Littlemoss and [[Daisy Nook|Daisy Nook Country Park]] to the [[Hollinwood, Greater Manchester|Hollinwood]] area of Oldham, with a branch from Daisy Nook to the [[Fairbottom Branch Canal]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk/ |title=Hollinwood Canal Society |author=Hollinwood Canal Society |publisher=hollinwoodcanal.co.uk |access-date=6 November 2007 |archive-date=25 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125091218/http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The canal was mainly used for the haulage of [[coal]] until it fell into disuse for commercial traffic in the 1930s.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk/canal.htm |title=About the Hollinwood Canal |author=Hollinwood Canal Society |publisher=hollinwoodcanal.co.uk |access-date=6 November 2007 |archive-date=11 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211001247/http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk/canal.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It included four aqueducts and a two-rise lock staircase.

== Sport ==
[[File:Boundary Park.jpg|thumb|[[Boundary Park]] is Oldham's main sports stadium, and is used by [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.]] and [[Oldham RLFC]]]]
[[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham Rugby League Football Club]] was established in 1876 as Oldham Football Club.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> Renamed in 1997 to Oldham R.L.F.C., it has achieved several club honours during its history, winning the [[Rugby Football League Championship]] five times and [[Challenge Cup]] three times.<ref name="Oldham Rugby">{{cite web |url=http://www.orl-heritagetrust.org.uk/HTML%20docs/Club_honours.htm |publisher=orl-heritagetrust.org.uk |access-date=11 November 2007 |title=Club Honours |archive-date=14 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114212154/http://www.orl-heritagetrust.org.uk/HTML%20docs/Club_honours.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> They played at [[Watersheddings]] for years before joining Oldham Athletic A.F.C. at [[Boundary Park]] until 2010 when they moved to Oldham Borough's previous ground, [[Whitebank Stadium]].<ref name="Oldham Rugby" />

[[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic Association Football Club]], known as The Latics, was founded in 1895 as Pine Villa Football Club.<ref name="oldhamathletic-hist">{{cite web |title=History – Oldham Athletic |url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/club/club-history/ |website=www.oldhamathletic.co.uk |access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref> Oldham Athletic have achieved both league and cup successes, particularly under [[Joe Royle]] in the 1990s.<ref name="Oldham Beyond" /> They were [[Football League]] runners-up in the [[1914–15 in English football|last season before the outbreak]] of the [[First World War]], but were relegated from the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in 1923. They reached the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] final in 1990 and won the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] title in 1991, ending 68&nbsp;years outside the top flight. They secured their top division status a year later to become founder members of the new [[Premier League]],<ref name="Bandage Bridge" /> but were relegated after [[1993–94 in English football|two seasons]] despite reaching that year's [[FA Cup]] semi-finals. A long slow fall through the divisions followed this relegation, until they established the unwanted record of being the first ever former Premier League club to lose their Football League status at the end of the [[2021–22 EFL League Two|2021–22 season]]. After three seasons in the National League they won promotion back to [[EFL League Two]] via the playoffs at the end of the [[2024–25 National League]] season.

[[Oldham Borough F.C.|Oldham Borough]] was established in 1964 as Oldham Dew FC, and after many years playing under the name of Oldham Town changed its name to Oldham Boro in 2009, finally becoming known as Oldham Borough just months before it folded. The team played in the [[North West Counties Football League]] before going out of existence in 2015, just over fifty years after it was founded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldhamborofc |title=Oldham Boro Football Club |access-date=20 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201816/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldhamborofc/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>

Oldham Netball Club's senior team is the 2019–2020 national league division 1 champion<ref name="netballpremier">{{cite web |title=2019/20 Premier League 1 – Table and Results |url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/competitions/premier-leagues/premier-league-1/ |website=England Netball |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413023501/https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/competitions/premier-leagues/premier-league-1/ |archive-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> and has won seven out of the last eight titles. Former players include England's most capped player [[Jade Clarke]].<ref name="netballjade">{{cite web |title=Where it all Began: Jade Clarke |url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/where-it-all-began-jade-clarke/ |website=England Netball |access-date=17 July 2021 |date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

Oldham has league cricket teams with a number of semi-professional league clubs including [[Oldham Cricket Club|Oldham CC]], and [[Werneth Cricket Club|Werneth CC]], both playing in the [[Greater Manchester Cricket League]] (GMCL).<ref name="gmcl">{{cite web |title=Greater Manchester Cricket League (GMCL) |url=https://www.crichq.com/organisations/731/clubs |website=www.crichq.com |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717172435/https://www.crichq.com/organisations/731/clubs |archive-date=17 July 2021}}</ref> Oldham CC was one of the founding members, in 1892, of the  [[Central Lancashire Cricket League]], which closed in 2015.<ref name="cricketpundit">{{cite web |title=Oldham Cricket Club |url=https://www.sportspundit.com/cricket/teams/2306-oldham-cricket-club |website=Sports Pundit |access-date=17 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="mchugh">{{cite news |last1=McHugh |first1=Keith |title=Thanks for the memories |url=https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/13/local-sport-news/93974/thanks-for-the-memories |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk |date=11 September 2015}}</ref>

The Manchester [[Fencing]] Centre in Oldham opened in 2015 in the former Osborne Mill, and at {{convert|17,000|sqft}} was said to be "the largest centre of its kind".<ref name="roue">{{cite news |last1=Roue |first1=Lucy |title=En Garde! Largest fencing centre opens in Oldham |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/en-garde-largest-fencing-centre-10621704 |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=20 December 2015 |language=en}}</ref> The Marshall Fencing Club trains there, under head coach and Commonwealth games medallist Stuart Marshall, and in 2019 won six gold medals at eight national ranking events.<ref name="fencingwins">{{cite news |title=Oldham fencing club celebrates six gold medals in eight national events |url=https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/142/community-news/125637/oldham-fencing-club-celebrates-six-gold-medals-in-eight-national-events |access-date=17 July 2021 |work=www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk |date=24 January 2019}}</ref>

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC North West]] and [[ITV Granada]]. Television signals are received from the [[Winter Hill transmitting station|Winter Hill]] TV transmitter,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Winter_Hill |title=Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date= 8 October 2023}}</ref> and one of the two local relay transmitters (Dog Hill and North Oldham).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/North_Oldham |title=Freeview Light on the North Oldham (Oldham, England) transmitter|publisher=UK Free TV |access-date= 8 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Dog_Hill |title=Freeview Light on the Dog Hill (Oldham, England) transmitter|publisher=UK Free TV |access-date= 8 October 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Manchester]], [[Heart North West]], [[Smooth North West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Manchester & The North West]] (formerly [[The Revolution (radio station)|The Revolution]]), [[Capital Manchester and Lancashire]],{{cn|date=September 2024}} and community based radio stations: Oldham Community Radio <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oldhamcommunityradio.com/|title=Oldham Community Radio |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref> and [[Radio Cavell]] that broadcast to hospital patients at [[Royal Oldham Hospital]] in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiocavell1350.org.uk/|title=Radio Cavell|access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>

Oldham local newspapers include the ''[[Oldham Advertiser]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-nw/oldham-advertiser/|title=Oldham Advertiser|date=27 March 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=8 October 2023}}</ref> 
and ''The Oldham Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/|title=The Oldham Times|access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>

== Education ==
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****  NOTE TO EDITORS!                                                                    ****
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****  THEY ARE IN NOT IN OLDHAM!!!!!! AGAIN – *NOT IN OLDHAM*,                            ****
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{{see also|List of schools in Oldham}}
[[File:Oldham College.jpg|thumb|[[Oldham College]] is a centre for [[further education]].]]
[[File:Blue coat0004.jpg|thumb|[[The Blue Coat School, Oldham|The Blue Coat School]] is one of Oldham's oldest schools, dating back to 1834.]]
Oldham produced someone who is considered<ref name="GM Evolution" /> to be one of the greatest benefactors of education for the nation, [[Hugh Oldham]], who in 1504 was appointed as [[Bishop of Exeter]], and later went on to found what is now [[Manchester Grammar School]].

[[University Campus Oldham]] is a centre for [[higher education]] and a sister campus of the [[University of Huddersfield]]. It was opened in May 2005 by actor [[Patrick Stewart]], the centre's Chancellor.<ref name="UCO">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.hud.ac.uk/about/index.html|publisher=oldham.hud.ac.uk|date=14 July 2006|access-date=13 November 2007|title=About University Centre Oldham|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031221800/http://www.oldham.hud.ac.uk/about/index.html|archive-date=31 October 2007}}</ref> The University Campus Oldham presented actress [[Shobna Gulati]] and artist, [[Brian Clarke]] (both born in Oldham) with an [[Doctor of Letters|Honorary Doctorate of Letters]] at the Graduation Ceremony of November 2006, for their achievements and contributions to Oldham and its community.<ref name="UCO" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! School !! Type/Status !! [[Office for Standards in Education|Ofsted]] report
|-
! scope="row" | [[Blue Coat School, Oldham|The Blue Coat School]]
| Secondary school and [[Sixth form college]] || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/137133 137133]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Hulme Grammar School]]
| Grammar school || N/A
|-
! scope="row" | New Bridge School
| Secondary special school || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/25/138697 138697]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Oasis Academy Oldham]]
| Secondary school || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136027 136027]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Oldham Academy North]]
| Secondary school || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136115 136115]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Oldham College]]
| Further education college || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/31/130505 130505]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Oldham Sixth Form College]]
| [[Sixth form college]] || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/46/145002 145002]
|-
! scope="row" | [[The Hathershaw College]]
| Secondary school || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/137039 137039]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Waterhead Academy]]
| Secondary school || [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/144508 144508]
|}

== Public services ==
[[Home Office]] policing in Oldham is provided by the [[Greater Manchester Police]]. The force's "(Q) Division" have their headquarters for policing the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]] at central Oldham. [[Public transport]] is co-ordinated by [[Transport for Greater Manchester]]. [[Fire service in the United Kingdom|Statutory emergency fire and rescue service]] is provided by the [[Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service]], which has two stations in Oldham; at Hollins on Hollins Road,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/my-area/oldham/hollins-fire-station.aspx| publisher=manchesterfire.gov.uk |author=[[Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service]] |access-date=31 October 2007 |title=Hollins fire station |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114194351/http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/my-area/oldham/hollins-fire-station.aspx |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and at Clarksfield on Lees Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/my-area/oldham/oldham-fire-station.aspx |publisher=manchesterfire.gov.uk |author=[[Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service]] |access-date=31 October 2007 |title=Oldham fire station |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114194355/http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/my-area/oldham/oldham-fire-station.aspx |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Royal Oldham Hospital]], at Oldham's northern boundary with [[Royton]], is a large [[National Health Service (England)|NHS]] hospital administered by [[Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust]]. It was opened under its existing name on 1 December 1989.<ref name="Workhouse">{{citation|url=http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Oldham/Oldham1881.shtml |publisher=workhouses.org.uk |author=Higginbotham, Peter |title=Oldham |date=13 October 2006 |access-date=9 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204165424/http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Oldham%2FOldham1881.shtml |archive-date=4 February 2009 }}</ref> Formerly known as Oldham District and General, and occupying the site of the town's former [[workhouse]] (named Oldham Union Workhouse in 1851),<ref name="Workhouse" /> the hospital is notable for being the birthplace of [[Louise Joy Brown]]&nbsp;– the world's first successful [[In vitro fertilisation|''In vitro'' fertilised "test tube baby"]], on 25 July 1978.<ref name="Test Tube Baby">{{citation |author=Steptoe PC, Edwards RG |title=Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo |journal=Lancet |year=1978 |page=366 |volume=2 |issue=8085 |pmid=79723 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(78)92957-4 |s2cid=31119969 }}</ref>

[[Waste management]] is co-ordinated by the [[local authority]] via the [[Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gmwda.gov.uk/ |title=Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) |publisher=gmwda.gov.uk |author=[[Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority]] |year=2008 |access-date=8 February 2008 |archive-date=7 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207001553/http://www.gmwda.gov.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Locally produced [[inert waste]] for disposal is sent to [[landfill]] at the Beal Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/minerals-waste.htm |title=Minerals and Waste development planning |author=Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |access-date=8 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422200621/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/minerals-waste.htm |archive-date=22 April 2008 }}</ref> Oldham's [[distribution network operator]] for electricity is [[United Utilities]];<ref name="UU">{{cite web |url=http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=4188&ID=1442 |title=Oldham |publisher=unitedutilities.com |author=[[United Utilities]] |date=17 April 2007 |access-date=8 February 2008 |archive-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422180100/http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=4188&ID=1442 |url-status=live }}</ref> there are no [[power station]]s in the town. United Utilities also manages Oldham's [[drinking water|drinking]] and [[waste water]];<ref name="UU" /> water supplies being sourced from several local reservoirs, including [[Dove Stone Reservoir|Dove Stone]] and [[Chew Reservoir, Greater Manchester|Chew]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=445&ID=3526 |title=Dove Stone Reservoirs |publisher=unitedutilities.com |author=[[United Utilities]] |date=17 April 2007 |access-date=8 February 2008 |archive-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422180115/http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=445&ID=3526 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is a [[water treatment]] works at [[Waterhead, Greater Manchester|Waterhead]].<ref name="UU" />

== Culture ==
[[File:Brian Clarke Spindles Oldham.jpg|thumb|The stained glass rotunda of The Spindles Town Square Centre, one of Europe's largest works in the medium, created by local artist [[Brian Clarke]]]]
Oldham, though lacking in leisure and cultural amenities,<ref name="Rebrand" /> is historically notable for its theatrical culture.{{sfnp|Carter|1986|p=|ps=}} Once having a peak of six ''"fine"'' theatres in 1908,{{sfnp|Carter|1986|p=|ps=}} Oldham is home to the [[Oldham Coliseum Theatre]] and the [[Oldham Theatre Workshop]], which have facilitated the early careers of notable actors and writers, including [[Eric Sykes]],{{sfnp|Carter|1986|p=|ps=}} [[Bernard Cribbins]]<ref name="Oldham Career1">{{citation |url=http://www.coliseum.org.uk/default.asp?id=155 |publisher=www.coliseum.org.uk |date=4 January 2006 |access-date=23 October 2007 |title=Curtain recall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011214300/http://www.coliseum.org.uk/default.asp?id=155 |archive-date=11 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Anne Kirkbride]],<ref name="Oldham Career1" /> daughter of acclaimed [[cartoonist]] [[Jack Kirkbride]] who worked for the ''[[Oldham Evening Chronicle]]''. Oldham Coliseum Theatre is one of Britain's last remaining [[repertory theatre]]s; [[Charlie Chaplin]] and [[Stan Laurel]] performed there in the early 20th century, and contemporary actors such as [[Ralph Fiennes]]<ref name="Interview Capital Xtra">{{citation |url=https://www.capitalxtra.com/features/facts/aitch/ |date=19 January 2019 |access-date=20 May 2022 |title=Interview Capital Xtra}}</ref> and [[Minnie Driver]], among others, have appeared more recently.{{sfnp|Llewellin|2000|p=|ps=}}

During the 19th century the [[circus]] was a popular entertainment in Oldham; [[Pablo Fanque]]'s circus was a regular visitor, filling a 3,000-seat amphitheatre on Tommyfield in 1869.<ref>Gretchen Holrook Gerzina, Editor, "Black Victorians-Black Victoriana" (Rutgers University Press: New Brunswick, NJ, 2003)</ref>  Formerly criticised for its lack of a [[Movie theater|cinema]],<ref name="Rebrand" /> there are plans to develop an "Oldham [[West End theatre|West End]]".<ref name="West End">{{cite press release|title=Launch of exciting new vision to develop the West End |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=Terence O'Rourke |date=18 September 2006 |url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/west-end-pr5.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128022219/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/west-end-pr5.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> [[File:The Lyceum and Science & Art Building. - geograph.org.uk - 493742.jpg|thumb|The Lyceum is a Grade II listed building opened in 1856 as a "mutual improvement" centre for the working men of Oldham.]]
The Lyceum is a [[Listed building|Grade II listed building]]<ref>{{NHLE| desc=Lyceum and School of Art |num=1201650 |access-date=14 November 2007|mode=cs2}}</ref> opened in 1856 at a cost of £6,500 as a "mutual improvement" centre for the working men of Oldham.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} The facilities provided to members included a library, a newsroom and a series of lectures on geology, geography and education, microscopy and chemistry, female education and botany.<ref name="Oldham Lyceum">{{citation|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/community/music-service/ms-history.htm |title=Music Centre History |publisher=oldham.gov.uk |author=[[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council]] |access-date=15 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217030932/http://www.oldham.gov.uk/community/music-service/ms-history.htm |archive-date=17 December 2007 }}</ref> Instrumental music was introduced and there were soon sixteen violinists and three cellists. Eventually the building was extended to include a school of science and art. Music had always been important in the life of the Lyceum, and in 1892 a school of music was opened, with 39 students enrolled for the "theory and practice of music".

The Lyceum continued throughout the 20th century as a centre for the arts in Oldham. The Lyceum Players are a current amateur theatre company entering its 93rd year. They put on a varied programme of productions each season and the theatre is on the ground floor of the Lyceum building. In 1986 the local authority was invited by its directors and trustees to accept the building as a gift.<ref name="Oldham Lyceum" /> The acceptance of the Lyceum building by the Education Committee provided the opportunity to move the music centre and "further enhance the cultural activities of the town".<ref name="Oldham Lyceum" /> In 1989 the Oldham Metropolitan Borough Music Centre moved into the Lyceum building, which is now the home of the Oldham Lyceum School of Music.<ref name="Oldham Lyceum" />

Oldham's museum and gallery service dates back to 1883.<ref name="Gallery Oldham 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.galleryoldham.org.uk/collections.htm |title=Gallery Oldham Collections |publisher=galleryoldham.org.uk |access-date=15 October 2007 |archive-date=10 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010061942/http://www.galleryoldham.org.uk/collections.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then it has established itself as a cultural focus for Oldham and has developed one of the largest and most varied permanent collections in [[North West England]]. The current collection includes over 12,000 social and industrial history items, more than 2,000 works of art, about 1,000 items of decorative art, more than 80,000 natural history specimens, over 1,000 geological specimens, about 3,000 archaeological artefacts, 15,000 photographs and a large number of books, pamphlets and documents.<ref name="Gallery Oldham 1" /> Meanwhile, the [[Rifle Street drill hall, Oldham|Rifle Street drill hall]] dates back to 1897.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/50-families-evacuated-after-large-857617|title=50 families evacuated after large fire at former Oldham Territorial Army barracks|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=1 April 2011|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183327/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/50-families-evacuated-after-large-857617|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Gallery Oldham 2">{{cite web |title=Cultural Quarter |url=http://www.galleryoldham.org.uk/cultural-quarter.htm |publisher=galleryoldham.org.uk |access-date=15 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010061947/http://www.galleryoldham.org.uk/cultural-quarter.htm |archive-date=10 October 2007 }}</ref> Later phases of the development saw the opening of an extended Oldham Library, a lifelong learning centre and there are plans to include a performing arts centre.<ref name="Oldham Heart" />

=== Carnival ===
The annual Oldham Carnival started around 1900, although the tradition of [[carnival]]s in the town goes back much further, providing a "welcomed respite from the tedium of everyday life".{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} The carnival parade was always held in mid-to-late summer, with the primary aim of raising money for charities.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} It often featured local dignitaries or popular entertainers, in addition to brass, military and jazz bands, the Carnival Queen, people in [[fancy dress]], dancers and decorated [[Float (parade)|floats]] from local churches and businesses.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} Whenever possible, local people who had attained national celebrity status were invited to join the cavalcade.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} The carnival's route began in the town centre, wound its way along King Street, and ended with a party in [[Alexandra Park, Oldham|Alexandra Park]].{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}}

The carnival fell out of favour in the late 1990s but was resurrected by community volunteers in 2006 and rebranded the Peoples' Carnival. The parade was moved into Alexandra Park in 2011. The event hosts live stages and other activities alongside a parade in the park.<ref name="Todays Carnival">{{cite web |url=http://www.peoplescarnival.org.uk |publisher=peoplescarnival.org.uk |year=2007 |access-date=10 November 2007 |title=A History of Oldham's Carnivals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114183027/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Carnival History">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |publisher=oldhamcarnival.org.uk |year=2007 |access-date=10 November 2007 |title=A History of Oldham's Carnivals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114183027/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 2016 marked ten years since the carnival was reinstated by volunteers. The main organiser is Paul Davies who runs the carnival with a number of committee members and volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk|title=Oldham Carnival RootZ Festival|website=www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk|access-date=14 September 2006|archive-date=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825130607/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== International relations ==

Oldham is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Geesthacht]], [[Schleswig-Holstein]], Germany{{cn|date=June 2024}}
* [[Kranj]], [[Upper Carniola]], Slovenia{{cn|date=June 2024}}

== Britain in Bloom == 
Oldham has had a pattern of success in the "best city" category in the national [[Britain in Bloom]] competition, winning in 2012 and 2014,<ref name="akbor">{{cite news |last1=Akbor |first1=Ruhubia |title=Oldham crowned best of the bunch at Britain in Bloom |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/in-your-area/oldham-crowned-best-bunch-britain-7948489 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=17 October 2014 |language=en}}</ref> and in several following years<ref name="barlow">{{cite news |last1=Barlow |first1=Nigel |title=Oldham make it nine in a row at Britain in Bloom |url=https://aboutmanchester.co.uk/oldham-make-it-nine-in-a-row-at-britain-in-bloom/ |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=About Manchester |date=5 November 2018}}</ref> and gaining a gold award in 2019.<ref name="bloom2019">{{cite news |title=Oldham awarded gold medal for Britain in Bloom competition |url=https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/139/main-news/130962/-oldham-awarded-gold-medal-for-britain-in-bloom-competition |access-date=18 July 2021 |work=Oldham Evening Chronicle |date=28 October 2019}}</ref>

Oldham Council financially support the awards, one of only five local authorities in the North West to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chronic-oldham.co.uk/oldham-council-is-one-of-just-five-councils-still-wasting-public-money-sponsoring-north-west-in-bloom-to-win-a-trophy-called-the-oldham-council-trophy/|title = Bloomin ridiculous &#124; www.chronic-oldham.co.uk|date = 7 August 2018}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{main|List of people from Oldham}}
People from Oldham are called Oldhamers,{{sfnp|Clough|1996|p=|ps=}} though "Roughyed" is a [[nickname]] from the 18th century when rough [[felt]] was used in Oldham to make hats.{{sfnp|Bateson|1949|p=|ps=}} [[Edward Potts (architect)|Edward Potts]] was a renowned architect who moved to Oldham from [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]]. He was the architect for fourteen mills in the Oldham area.<ref>{{citation |title=Potts, Edward (1839–1909), architect |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/60877 |last1=Farnie |first1=D. A. |year=2004 |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |edition=online |access-date=22 February 2009 |last2=Harrison |first2=B. |archive-date=16 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216092126/http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/60877 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other notable persons with Oldham connections include the composer Sir [[William Walton]], former British Prime Minister Sir [[Winston Churchill]], the artist [[Brian Clarke]], and [[Louise Brown]],<ref name="Test Tube Baby" /> the world's first baby to be conceived by [[in vitro fertilisation|''in vitro'' fertilisation]].

Notable media personalities from Oldham include [[Gold Logie]] award-winning television [[game show]] host [[Tony Barber]], radio announcer, singer and media personality, presenter [[Nick Grimshaw]], actors [[Eric Sykes]], [[Bernard Cribbins]], [[Christopher Biggins]] and [[Ricky Whittle]], TV host [[Phillip Schofield]],<ref name="Bandage Bridge" /> actresses [[Shobna Gulati]], [[Dora Bryan]], [[Anne Kirkbride]], [[Olivia Cooke]], [[Sarah Lancashire]], [[Barbara Knox]], [[Siobhan Finneran]] and [[Cora Kirk]], science educator [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Brian Cox]], television presenter [[John Stapleton (English journalist)|John Stapleton]] and comedy double act [[Cannon and Ball]].

Notable musicians from Oldham include the [[Inspiral Carpets]], [[N-Trance]] and [[Mark Owen]] of boyband [[Take That]] as well as the founding members of the rock band [[Barclay James Harvest]].

Notable charity mountaineer, the first British Muslim to climb [[Mount Everest]], [[Akke Rahman]], of Bengali heritage, is from Oldham.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oldham mountaineer becomes first British Bangladeshi to conquer Mount Everest |url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/20140206.oldham-mountaineer-becomes-first-british-bangladeshi-conquer-mount-everest/ |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=The Oldham Times |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Greater Manchester}}
*[[Listed buildings in Oldham]]
*[[Greenhill power station]]
*[[Chadderton Power Station|Chadderton power station]]

== References ==
'''Notes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{reflist|30em|refs =}}

'''Bibliography'''
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{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Oldham.ogg|date=10 February 2008}}
{{commons category|Oldham}}
{{Wikivoyage|Oldham}}
* [http://www.oldham.gov.uk/ Oldham Council]
* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Oldham/ GENUKI entry for Oldham], including genealogical data and historic descriptions.

{{Areas of Oldham|state=collapsed}}
{{Greater Manchester|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar |United Kingdom |Lancashire |Greater Manchester}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oldham]]
[[Category:Towns in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:865 establishments]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 9th century]]
[[Category:9th-century establishments in England]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]