Archives are unique, original documents created in the course of everyday activities.
They can cover numerous subjects from local government, schools,
businesses as well as recording the lives of ordinary people in Oldham.
- Oldham's archives date from 1597 to the present day
- It's free to look at the archives
- Please bring proof of your ID (e.g. a driver's license)
You can also get advice about looking after your own original documents.
Bookings
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.
Archive collections
Copies of some collections are available on the Access to Archives website (they are indicated below with an asterisk*).
The codes are classifications to help find the item on the open shelves or when you request an item from a member of staff.
Public records
Hospitals
| Record |
Code |
| Oldham & District Hospital Management Committee |
A-HBO |
| Oldham Royal Infirmary |
A-RIO |
Poor Law Union
| Record |
Code |
| Oldham Poor Law Union |
A-PUO |
Coroner's Court
| Record |
Code |
| Oldham Coroner |
A-CBO32 |
Council records
Local Authorities
| Local Authority |
Code |
| County Borough of Oldham |
B-CBO |
| Rural District of Saddleworth |
B-RDSW |
| Urban District of Chadderton |
B-UDCH |
| Urban District of Crompton |
B-UDCR |
| Urban District of Failsworth |
B-UDF |
| Urban District of Lees |
B-UDL |
| Urban District of Royton |
B-UDR |
| Urban District of Saddleworth |
B-UDSW |
| Urban District of Springhead |
B-UDSP |
| Urban District of Uppermill |
B-UDU |
Schools
| School |
Code |
| St Paul's CE School, Royton |
B-ABA |
| Counthill School, Oldham |
B-ABG |
| Waterhead Church School, Oldham |
B-AGI |
Records for schools in Oldham can also be found in the archives of the County Borough of Oldham at B-CBO 12 and records for a small number of other schools can be found in some of the Urban District Council collections.
Other statutory bodies
| Statutory Body |
Code |
| Manchester, Oldham & Company Turnpike Trust |
B-M18 |
| Police Commissioners of Oldham |
B-PCO |
| Oldham School Board |
B-SBO |
Religious records
Non-conformist churches
| Church |
Code |
| King Street United Reformed Church |
C-AAL |
| Oldham Preparative Meeting (Society of Friends) |
C-AAR |
| Greenacres Congregational Church |
C-AAV |
| Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church and Sunday School, Glodwick |
C-AAW |
| St Mary's Street Independent Methodist Church * |
C-ABC |
| Waterhead Congregational Church |
C-ABL |
| Townfield Congregational Church |
C-ABM |
| Regent Street Congregational Church |
C-ABN |
| Excelsior Gospel Temperance Mission * |
C-M53 |
| George Street Methodist Chapel * |
C-M55 |
| Lord Street Unitarian Chapel * |
C-M57 |
| Royton Congregational Church * |
C-M63 |
| Watersheddings Wesleyan Sunday School * |
C-WWSS |
Other religious bodies
| Religious body |
Code |
| Derker Congregational Mutual Improvement Society * |
C-ECHO |
| Oldham Clergy Society * |
C-M6 |
Private records
Textile industry
| Business |
Code |
| R R Whitehead and Brothers Ltd |
D-AAJ |
| The Bee Spinning Company (Royton) Ltd |
D-BEE |
| The Bank Top Spinning and Manufacturing Co Ltd |
D-BTSM |
| Cairo Mill Company (1920) Ltd |
D-CAIR |
| Highams Limited group of companies |
D-HI |
| Platt Brothers & Company |
D-M14 |
| John Frederick and Charles Kenworthy Ltd |
D-M15 |
| Dronsfield Brothers and Dronsfield Estates Ltd |
D-M38 |
| Cotton & Rayon Spinners Ltd |
D-M40 |
| Coldhurst Mill |
D-M41 |
| Werneth Ring Mills Ltd |
D-M42 |
| Holyrood Mill Company |
D-M47 |
| Palm Mill |
D-M49 |
| J Chadwick & Company |
D-M60 |
| Platt Collection |
D-PLA |
Other businesses
| Business |
Code |
| Star Inn, Scouthead |
D-AAC |
| Ellen Meehan Chiropodist |
D-AAK |
| T Partington & Son Ltd |
D-AAM |
| Gainsborough Engineering Company (Oldham) Ltd |
D-GAI |
| W Grimshaw (Family Butcher) |
D-GRI |
| George Henry (Oldham) Ltd |
D-HEN |
| James Stott & Co (Engineers) Ltd |
D-JSE |
| Oldham New Market Company |
D-M8 |
| A & A Crompton |
D-M35 |
| See D-JSE |
D-M37 |
| Hollinwood Building Company Ltd |
D-M43 |
| John Rowse (Oldham) Ltd |
D-M62 |
| Oldham Brewery |
D-OB |
| Stott Architectural Practices |
D-SRJS |
Solicitors and estate agents
Solicitors and estate agents
| Company name |
Code |
| Tweedale, Sons and Lees, Solicitors |
D-AAH |
| Blackburne & Smythe, Solicitors |
D-M39 |
Societies and institutions
Trade unions and associations
| Name |
Code |
| Oldham and Rochdale Textile Employers' Association * |
D-AAN |
| British Textile Employers' Association |
D-ABH |
| Oldham Chamber of Commerce |
D-AJB |
| Oldham Trades and Labour Council |
D-M17 |
| Oldham Operative Cotton Spinners * |
D-TU1 |
| Oldham Provincial Union of Textile & Allied Workers * |
D-TU2 |
| United Textile Factory Workers' Association * |
D-TU3 |
| Oldham & District Engineers' Society * |
D-TU4 |
| Textile Officials' Association, Oldham * |
D-TU5 |
| Oldham Power Loom Overlookers' Association * |
D-TU6 |
| Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, Oldham No.2 Branch* |
D-TU7 |
| Oldham Master Cloggers' Society * |
D-TU8 |
| Oldham & District Weavers' & Winders' Association * |
D-TU9 |
| Oldham & District Cop Packers' Association * |
D-TU10 |
| National Union of Teachers, Oldham Association * |
D-TU11 |
Co-operative societies
| Co-operative society |
Code |
| Delph Co-operative Society * |
D-CD |
| Grasscroft Co-operative Society * |
D-CGRA |
| Greenfield Co-operative Society * |
D-CGRE |
| Oldham Equitable Co-operative Society * |
D-COE |
| Oldham Industrial Co-operative Society * |
D-COI |
| Royton Industrial Co-operative Society * |
D-CR |
| Uppermill Co-operative Society * |
D-CU |
Other bodies
| Name |
Code |
| Oldham Repertory Theatre Club * |
D-AAA |
| Dr Kershaw's Hospital * |
D-DRK |
| Grains Bar Cricket Club * |
D-GBCC |
| Oldham Pals |
D-M2 |
| Oldham Safety Committee * |
D-M3 |
| Oldham Moral Welfare Council * |
D-M4 |
| Hawkyard and Whitehead Charity Boxes |
D-M7 |
| Oldham Lyceum * |
D-M20 |
| Henshaw's Oldham Blue Coat School Old Boys' Assn. * |
D-M22 |
| Oldham Corporation Cricket Club * |
D-M23 |
| The Crown and Cushion Children's Burial Club, Failsworth * |
D-M76 |
| Oldham Council of Social Service * |
D-OCSS |
| Three Crowns United Yorkshire and Lancashire Good Intent Funeral Society * |
D-TCU |
Personal, family and property
| Title |
Code |
| Bentleys deeds |
D-AAB |
| Freeman family - records withdrawn, copies available in Local Studies |
D-AAI |
| Royton Hall Estate |
D-AAP |
| The Deeds: 'Grimbies', Royton |
D-ABB |
| Cheetham Estates |
D-ABF |
| Ayrton Collection of WWI postcards by Bruce Bairnsfather |
D-AYRT |
| Kenneth Bradbury papers |
D-BRAD |
| Brierly Plans of Oldham - use Local Studies copies |
D-BRI |
| Buckley Collection - use microfilm copy |
D-BUCK-mf |
| Butterworth Papers - use microfilm copy |
D-BUT-mf |
| Sam Fitton Collection |
D-FIT |
| Lees family papers |
D-LEE |
| Barrowshaw and Counthill deeds |
D-M5 |
| C H Armitage papers - Spanish Civil War |
D-M9 |
| Annie Dickson papers |
D-M11 |
| Woodhead, Delph deeds |
D-M25 |
| Hurst deeds |
D-M26 |
| Edwards papers |
D-M32 |
| Elisha Bardsley papers |
D-M34 |
| Sir Frank Platt papers |
D-M36 |
| Ethel Rothwell papers |
D-M50 |
| Rowbottom diaries |
D-M54 |
| Bent Grange deeds |
D-M56 |
| Percival family papers |
D-M61 |
Artificial collections
| Title |
Code |
| Aitchison Purchase |
D-ABK |
| Smaller Deposits: includes former MISC59, MISC65 |
D-DX |
| Hewkin Collection - use microfilm copy |
D-HEW-mf |
| Crompton Papers |
D-M1 |
| Cotton Industry Records |
D-M10 |
| P Lowe Donation |
D-M12 |
| Mary Higgs Collection |
D-M13 |
| Fire Brigade Notes and News Cuttings |
D-M16 |
| Stockport Museums Deposit |
D-M19 |
| Manchester Studies Deposit |
D-M21 |
| W Holland Donation |
D-M24 |
| A Pogson Collection |
D-M27 |
| Shaw Bookshop Purchase |
D-M28 |
| H Pearson Donation |
D-M29 |
| Oldham Railways |
D-M30 |
| Crompton Library Papers |
D-M31 |
| Hartley Bateson Collection |
D-M33 |
| Elsie Beech Collection |
D-M44 |
| Election Posters, C19th |
D-M46 |
| P Hurst Purchase |
D-M48 |
| Title Deed: Land at Holebottom: Stiffening shop and store for the manufacture of hats |
D-M73 |
| Plan of the Blendfire Mine Workings |
D-M74 |
| Geological Section of Strata of New Pit, Rhodes Bank |
D-M75 |
| Oldham Museum papers: related records |
D-OM |
