Advertisement
Tour through our heritage
Date published: 04 September 2009
BUILDINGS across Oldham will throw open their doors to visitors next week as part of Heritage Open Days 2009.
Taking place from Thursday to Sunday, September 13, the national event is a celebration of England’s architecture and is organised by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage.
The free events provide an opportunity to step through the doors of some of Oldham’s most significant buildings and find out more about their past.
Highlights include a guided tour around the Oldham Lyceum; the Oldham Town Trail, a guided tour exploring the heritage and architecture in Oldham’s town centre; and The Old Lane through Oldham, a tour following an ancient route through the town.
Many of Oldham’s historic churches are taking part in the event including Holy Trinity Church, Dobcross, the Church of St Margaret of Antioch in Hollinwood and St Mary’s, Oldham.
There are also a number of displays and exhibitions with historic photographs of Oldham on display at Oldham Local Studies and Archives.
Councillor John McCann, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “From Alexandra Park to Saddleworth Museum, there should be something for everyone to enjoy over the four days of activities.”
Opening times, tours and events at Oldham venues vary. For full details call Oldham Local Studies and Archives on 0161-770 4654, e-mail local.studies@oldham.gov.uk, or visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
Comments
On your right, folks, the 'Old Town Hall.' Severely damaged by bombing during the Boer War, the building is a shrine to those brave folk who perished when the 'Whistling P*** stone' street sculpture exploded after it froze up in mid peep. Unfortunately we cannot open the doors for you, they are all that holds the building up. Down the hill from here is Yorkshire St., home of countless small bistros & tea bars, where gentlefolk of the town while away the hours over afternoon tea & crumpets..
On Lord St., facing 'Tommyfield' car park, is the Hobson St Multi Storey Car park, (well, it would've been if the plans had been rightside up). Later we'll visit the other ghastly mistake on Hobson St. Fronting Tommyfield is a lifelike, working model of an ancient 'market.' (closed temporarily due to lack of visitors). Outside in the spick & span streets are the colourful tents of local traders, watch as they disappear in the direction of Runcorn, on the wings of a balmy Oldham breeze..
This is West St & the pulsating heart of this busy metropolis. Here constructed in the 60's, Monolithic Atrocity style, is the soaring erection that houses our beloved leaders. Some say it would make a better bus station. But why? We already have five or six of those. Built by emigre Russian labour in fashionable 'Uglicrete' it holds many mysteries. Take the “Steps to nowhere” tour, for instance, or the 'Tower Maze Trail' collecting 'laptop' tokens to win breakfast with the 'Leader'..
Here is Union St, site of the fabled transport system, Metrolink (Hoodwink Loop). Huge white carriages in the shape of pachyderms will whisk folk hither & yon in the blink of an eye, bringing wealth & prosperity to Sainsbury's. Stops will be located at nostalgic landmarks along the way, such as Th'Odeon, Th'ABC, T'Grosvenor & T'Gaumont (also site of the legendary 'Three Valve Set'),(ask yer grandad). These thriving entertainment centres adding greatly to the nightime gaiety of the town..
Have Your Say
Visit them quickly before the council sell them off, leave them to rot, or demolish them for housing. How many mills are left in this town? No trains, no cinema, no clue. Many useless councillors, one council.
By OldhamWatcher @ 04/09/2009 19:12:54