Study of life on the Crossley estate

Good neighbours... the Crossley estate in 1990, with Lansdowne Court and Stockfield Mount in the background

PEOPLE who have memorabilia or old photos of the Crossley area of Chadderton can put them on show before the estate gets a radical overhaul.

Great Places Housing Group has launched a project to gather material about the social history of the area and put it on show, for an exhibition ahead of the major Gateways to Oldham transformation.

The group is taking over management of the estate and is starting its quest at Stockfield Mount, Lansdowne Court and surrounding streets, borrowing photographs and talking to local people.

Mother-of-three Joanne Cumberbirch (42) chair of the Crossley Stakeholder Group, was brought up there and moved back as an adult.

She said: “It’s always been a lovely estate — people were always out and about when I was a kid. We had street parties for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and big organised firework displays on bonfire night.

“Even now, it’s a lovely community and everyone still knows everyone else. There are people who’ve lived here since the houses were first built.”

“We can’t wait for changes and investment. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s important to record and celebrate the past, too.”

Daniel Mountford, Great Places community initiatives manager, said: “As the area will be changing soon, this will help preserve memories and be an opportunity for neighbours to get together for a brew.”

A drop-in session will be held in the communal room at Stockfield Mount, Petworth Street, tomorrow from 3pm to 4.30pm.

There are plans for more sessions, an exhibition, and perhaps a book of the history of the area and its people.

Great Places is part of the Inspiral consortium — also involving Rok and Regenter — that has won a £130m contract to redevelop the Gateways to Oldham scheme for 430 new homes and 332 refurbishments, plus better public spaces, at Clarkwell, Crossley, Fitton Hill and Primrose Bank.