Saddleworth White Rose Society

in the county of York

Newsletter No 22 SPRING 2004

1st April 1974

The Day Saddleworth Joined Oldham Metropolitan Borough (involuntarily).

Thirty years ago on this day the government of the day decided, against the will of 80% of the voting population of Saddleworth, to put this district into a Metropolitan Borough which was to include the towns of Oldham, Chadderton, Crompton, Shaw, Royton, Failsworth, and the village of Lees and the title of which was later prefixed by the name Oldham.  A borough which was just about as different as you could possibly get to Saddleworth.

Were the government right and the people who live here wrong?  What have we got to show for 30 years of Metropolitan administration?  We have had large chunks of our landscape and industrial sites replaced by high cost urban housing, for those who could afford to buy these expensive dwellings and pay rates to finance OMB.  Our woollen mills have been converted into expensive housing but not replaced by alternative work places for Saddleworth people.  Planning permission for unsuitable developments, refused by our own council have been overruled by OMB Council on their Planning Department’s advice.  Our roads choked by crawling traffic trying to get to and from all this thoughtless housing.  Saddleworth School's very successful sixth form moved to Oldham, against the wishes of the parents

Our once busy and efficient police station, with its own magistrates court, now nothing more than a part time branch office and even that relocated at rate payer’s expense to reduce crime! (How?).

And the "improvements"?  The Delph lamp re-sited and then after protest put back to virtually its original position.  The Square in Uppermill, with the original trees ripped out, then restored "after a fashion" but nowhere near the standard that English Heritage recommended.  Our roadside dry stone walls replaced, unnecessarily and at great cost to the taxpayer by imitation urban concrete based walls, that must make every genuine dry stone waller who sees them, cringe.  Consecrated land at Delph Methodist Chapel threatened with urban development.  Cobblestones at the Church Inn, Uppermill, in a conservation area, ripped up and binned and old stone buildings renovated to an inferior standard.

And what have we got to look forward to now, the possibility of great industrial wind turbines on our hills and our valleys filled with even more unaffordable housing.

The biggest current threat to Saddleworth's environment has to be OMB Council's urban orientated Planning Department.  Maybe some of these things would have happened anyway, but has it helped being a part of a Metropolitan Borough?

Look what happened to the once attractive Lancashire village of Sholver, within Oldham’s own boundary, urbanised beyond recognition.

Is it any wonder that the recently published “Oldham Beyond” Report recognises a loss of self-confidence and pride in the borough and its future, and comments on “the hostility felt by many people towards the Council”? Hostility directed “at the very notion of an Oldham Borough as conceived in the 1974 reorganisation”.

The Saddleworth Wall Plaque

 As part of our quest to bring the message that Saddleworth lies firmly in the County of Yorkshire, Saddleworth White Rose Society has commissioned the Yorkshire Plaque.

Traditionally cast in rust-proof aluminium and proudly sporting the white rose of Yorkshire, these elegantly hand-finished plaques are designed to withstand the rigours of Pennine Yorkshire and make a stunning addition to any home.

The plaques are 152 mm (approx 6in) diameter and come complete with brass fixing screws and are available at the bargain price of just £23, available from Roy Bardsley   01457-878768.

It is our aim to have these plaques displayed as widely & prominently as possible throughout Saddleworth

How you can Help

*Put up a plaque in as prominent a position as possible

*Do you have a friend or neighbour who may be prepared to put up a plaque?

*Do you know someone who owns a business in Saddleworth who may be happy to display a plaque outside their premises?

*Do you know a shop or business which may be prepared to stock and sell our plaques?

*We are particularly keen to erect plaques close to our county boundary near the Lancashire part of the borough. Do you have a friend or family member who lives near the boundary? Will they put up a plaque?

With the wealth of Oldham MB signs in and around Saddleworth it is little wonder many visitors and residents alike think we are no longer a part of Yorkshire .Help us to correct that notion with a highly visual statement of fact.

SADDLEWORTH IS IN YORKSHIRE!

Doug Branson 01457-879 431

Saddleworth Boundary Walk

This year we are again holding what has become our biennial boundary walk.  This will be over two days, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June.  The main purpose, apart from acknowledging the Saddleworth boundary, is to raise funds, primarily for the Chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council's Charity Fund but, anyone can take part, walking as much or as little of the boundary as they wish and raise money for whichever charity they choose.

The fist day's walk will start at 8.30 am Saturday 26th June, from Brun Clough car park on the A62 at Stanedge Cutting.  We then walk across Castleshaw Moor northwards along the Pennine Way which follows closely the Saddleworth/Marsden parish boundary, crossing the A640 above Denshaw and continuing until we meet the Yorkshire/Lancashire border above Readycon Dean Reservoir.

Then following the county boundary along the boundary fence across the moor to Rapes Highway just north of the Rams Head Inn, across the A672, past Rooden Reservoir to the A640 at the former Moorcock Inn, across Crompton Moor and back across the A672 at Grains Bar.

We shall then have a lunch break at the Kings Arms, before heading down Ship Lane and over Roebuck Low to Strinesdale, through Waterhead, Austerlands, County End, Thornley and Brookbottom and onto the point where the Yorkshire/Lancashire border ends and the Yorkshire/Cheshire border begins, near Woodend, Mossley.

The first days walk of approximately 13½ miles will end at the Woodend Tavern, Mossley on the A635 at approximately 5.00pm.

The second days walk will start at 8.30 am Sunday 27th June at Woodend Tavern Mossley and should only be attempted by experienced walkers.  Because of the nature of the terrain and isolation of the route, it will be extremely difficult for anyone to drop out and food and drink should be carried by each individual walker.

We shall follow the Yorkshire/Cheshire border via Division Bridge over Saddleworth Moor to Black Hill, where the Yorkshire/Cheshire border ends and we are in Yorkshire on each side of the parish boundary. There will be a break for lunch at Laddow.  From Black Hill we will follow the Pennine Way westward, along the medieval Saddleworth/Holmfirth boundary, crossing the A635 above Greenfield and continuing to Stanedge and the A62 car park at Brun Clough reservoir at about 5.00pm.  This second days walk is about 14 miles.

We hope as many members and friends as possible will come along and take part in at least some of this walk, particularly on the first day.  Entry forms will be available from Saddleworth Parish Council office and Saddleworth White Rose Society 01457-878768.

Balance

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for six days.  Eventually, the Archangel Gabriel found him on the seventh day, resting.

He enquired of God, “where have you been?”

God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds. “Look what I have made Gabriel” said God.

Archangel Gabriel looked puzzled. “What is it?” he asked.

“It’s a planet”, replied God, “and I‘ve put life on it. It’s going to be a place of great balance.”

“Balance?” replied Gabriel, still confused. God explained, pointing to different parts of the Earth. “For example, North America will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, whilst South America will be poor; the Middle East over there will be a hotspot and Russia will be a cold spot. There I’ve placed a continent of white people and over here is a continent of black people.”

God continued, pointing out different countries. This one will be dry and arid whilst this one will be cold and covered in ice.

The Archangel impressed by God’s work, then pointed to a small but significant landmass and said, what’s this one?

“Aha”, said God, “that’s Yorkshire, the most glorious place in my creation. There are beautiful lakes, fast flowing great rivers that go from wonderful dales right down to the sea by golden beaches, silver streams that tumble down from magnificent blindingly white limestone, tall forests, heather-strewn moors, fertile meadows with iron and coal beneath. The people who will live in this God’s own country are going to be modest, intelligent and humorous and they will be found travelling the world, for they are to be extremely sociable, hard working and high achieving.  In fact they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and bringers of peace and harmony.”

Gabriel gasped in wonder and admiration at his Lord’s awesome creation but then proclaimed, “What about balance Lord? You said there would always be BALANCE!”

God replied wisely,” wait till you see who I’m putting next door to them in Lancashire!”

By John R Armitage

submitted by Chris Dronsfield

Mr Gordon Parry

Our condolences to Mrs Anne Parry founder member of the Saddleworth Branch of The Yorkshire Country Women’s Association on the sad loss of her husband Mr Gordon Parry, a former teacher at Saddleworth School, and a person of the highest calibre.

Mr Charles Buckley

It was with great sadness we learned of the death of Mr Charles Buckley of Greenfield, SWRS member and father of Ruth Mysak former Chairman of SWRS and Saddleworth Parish Council.  Our deepest sympathy to all his family.

The 'Phone Book

GM Bus Passes valid in Kirklees

GM PTE Bus permits and passes: Pensioner Permit, Disabled Permit, Free Travel Pass when used in conjunction with Blind persons Extension Voucher and Under 16 Permit all obtainable at OMB Civic Centre are all valid within the West Yorkshire PTE area.

Uppermill Band

We have received a request from Uppermill Band for help towards their "Harrogate Fund".  The Band now have six months to raise £4000 to enable them to take part in the National Finals at Harrogate in September, where they will represent Saddleworth in this prestigious competition.  We commend this very worthy cause to members.  Your support will be much appreciated.  Donations to:

Mr John Ward, 8 Thorpe Close, Austerlands, Saddleworth, Yorkshire OL4 3QL

Saddleworth is within the OMB administrative area, it is not a part of Oldham