Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Oldham's Archives

Oldham's archives consist of just under one mile of records, dating back to 1633, relating to the history of the area now defined as Oldham Metropolitan Borough. The records have come from a rich and diverse range of sources and cover a wide variety of topics.

These unique resources are available for use by everybody, free of charge. Catalogues are available to provide more detailed information, and staff are always on hand to provide assistance.

Further Information

Please contact us for further information. We can normally answer simple enquiries about record types we hold, and their availability, by phone. We welcome more detailed enquiries by letter or email. We are unable to carry out in-depth research, but can supply a list of local Record Agents who carry out research. We can also provide sources of advice for conservation of old documents.

Guidance for Users

Everyone is welcome to use Oldham's archive collections, but please remember that archives are irreplaceable. To help us ensure their preservation for generations to come, and make your research easier, please try to observe the following guidelines:

Each time you wish to use the archives, please bring some official proof of identification with you which shows your name, address and signature, for example, a driving licence, a CARN (County Archives Research Network) ticket, or a bank card and official letter.

Most archives can be produced immediately, with no advance booking required. However, some archives are kept away from Oldham Local Studies and Archives, so at least 2 days' notice is required to see them. Other archives may be closed, due to their fragile condition, or because they contain confidential information. Always try telephoning in advance of your visit to ensure the availability of the records you want to see, and to check the office opening hours.

Hidden Treasures

Oldham Local Studies and Archives is always on the look out for new archives to add to the collections. Records that might seem unimportant to you now could be of immense value to researchers in the future. Have you ever kept a diary, run your own business, or acted as secretary for a local society? You could have Oldham's future history hidden away in your attic. If you think that you might have something in which we would be interested, contact the Archives Officer, who will be happy to discuss the procedure for depositing material.

Arrangement of archive collections: structure

The archives are arranged into the following management groups, and are then individually listed within each group. Detailed catalogues of each collection are available at Oldham Local Studies and Archives.

Copies of some collections are available on the A2A (Access to Archives) web site maintained by the Public Record Office. They are indicated here with an asterisk and can be viewed on the Access to Archives website.

Public Records

   •Hospitals

   •Poor Law Union

   •Coroner's Court

Official Records

   •Local Authorities

       oCounty Borough of Oldham

       oUrban and Rural Districts

   •Schools

   •Other Statutory Bodies

Religious Records

   •Non-Conformist Churches

   •Other Bodies

Private Records

   •Businesses

       oTextile Industry

       oOther businesses

   •Solicitors & Estate Agents

   •Societies & Institutions

       oTrades Unions and Associations

       oCo-operative Societies

       oOther bodies

   •Personal, Family & Property

   •Artificial Collections

Public Records

Official Records

Religious Records

Private Records

Local Studies & Archives:

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