Oldham: Where the Cotton Was Spun and the Moors Begin
At its peak before the First World War, Oldham's mills processed more raw cotton than France and Germany combined. The town climbs the western slopes of the Pennines at the northeastern edge of Greater Manchester. The altitude (parts of the borough sit above 300 metres) made the damp air ideal for spinning. The mills are mostly gone or converted. Hartford Mill on Middleton Road still stands as a reminder of the scale. The Spindles Town Square shopping centre occupies the town centre, alongside Tommyfield Market and the Coliseum Theatre, a repertory theatre operating since 1885.
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At its peak before the First World War, Oldham's mills processed more raw cotton than France and Germany combined. The town climbs the western slopes of the Pennines at the northeastern edge of Greater Manchester. The altitude (parts of the borough sit above 300 metres) made the damp air ideal for spinning. The mills are mostly gone or converted. Hartford Mill on Middleton Road still stands as a reminder of the scale. The Spindles Town Square shopping centre occupies the town centre, alongside Tommyfield Market and the Coliseum Theatre, a repertory theatre operating since 1885.
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