Back to the future in statue tribute

A DECISION to put statues of famous Oldhamers along Union Street when Metrolink arrives has sparked a furiously debate about the cost.

But supporters of the idea are already building momentum for their favourite historical figures.

First out of the block is keen local history fan Oldhamer Kenn Winter.

The 66-year-old Oldham Civic Society member thinks the man behind many of Oldham’s mills should be near the top of the list. Though he gave Oldham a skyline that epitomised Blake’s “dark Satanic mills”, he was also responsible for helping entrepreneurs to bring enormous wealth to the town.

Joseph Stott, born in 1836, was a member of a famous family of Oldham architects who specialised in the design of cotton mills.

Joseph and his older brother Abraham had rival practices and younger brother James was the man behind the famous Stott chip range company, whose products were sold all over the UK.

But it is Joseph’s image Mr Winter believes should be cast in bronze: “He designed around 100 mills, and 60 of those were in Oldham,” he said.

“He was also involved in the design of Oldham Brewery. I can’t think of any other person who changed the face of Oldham to such a degree. I can think of no one more fitting, since there is no memorial to him in the borough.”

Although his main work as an architect was designing mills, he also worked on other buildings including Chamber Road Mission Hall, Oldham, in the 1870s and a dray shed for Oldham brewery in 1889.

More statue-candidates in the Chronicle this week.