Grotton
Encyclopedia
Grotton is a relatively wealthy hamlet in Saddleworth
, a civil parish
of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
, in Greater Manchester
, England. Grotton is a suburban area located along the A669 road, and forms a continuous urban area with Austerlands
and Springhead
, which in turn link to Lees
and Oldham
, all of which are to Grotton's west.
The village of Grotton is not to be confused with the fictional County and Borough of the same name and almost the same location.
Historically
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
, Grotton was anciently a rural hamlet
close to the boundary with Lancashire
, and was centred on Grotton Hall, a former manor house
. Although some buildings date from the 18th century, the urbanisation of Grotton broadly took place following the Industrial Revolution
; Grotton effectively became an upmarket suburb of Oldham
following a residential building boom in the 1930s
Prior to the inter-war residential development, Grotton was home to light industry
including a brickworks and a couple of textile mills. All of these are now closed and demolished. The former railway line to Oldham Mumps railway station
has been converted into a linear country park, providing a largely traffic free walk for most of the way into Oldham and the old Grotton and Springhead railway station
is preserved. The platforms are visible, and the buildings are now a private house. East of Grotton, the line ran to join the current trans-pennine railway line at Greenfield railway station
but while it is possible to walk east from the station to the western portal of Lydgate Tunnel. The tunnel itself is blocked off and impassable, although it is maintained by the former British Railways Property Board
in order to prevent subsidence.
Grotton had one public house, the Grotton Hotel,which is going to become a co-op supermarket There are also a small number of shops in the village including a newsagent, a sandwich shop, a greengrocery, a butcher and a beauty salon. There are no doctors or dental surgeries, nor is there a library, although Oldham's mobile library does make a weekly visit. There are extensive views of fields.
Saddleworth
Saddleworth is a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It comprises several villages and hamlets amongst the west side of the Pennine hills: Uppermill, Greenfield, Dobcross, Delph, Diggle and others...
, a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 219,600, and spans . The borough is named after its largest town, Oldham, but also includes the outlying towns of Chadderton, Failsworth, Royton and Shaw and Crompton, the village of...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. Grotton is a suburban area located along the A669 road, and forms a continuous urban area with Austerlands
Austerlands
Austerlands is a suburban area of Saddleworth, a civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It occupies a hillside amongst the Pennines, between the villages of Lees and Scouthead. It is traversed by the A62 road....
and Springhead
Springhead, Greater Manchester
Springhead is a suburban area of Saddleworth, a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.Situated along the eastern edge of the Greater Manchester Urban Area, Springhead is contiguous with the village of Lees, the Oldham districts of Greenacres and...
, which in turn link to Lees
Lees, Greater Manchester
The village consists of a small cluster of shops and businesses on either side of the A669 Lees Road, surrounded by some terraced houses and some small estates...
and Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, all of which are to Grotton's west.
The village of Grotton is not to be confused with the fictional County and Borough of the same name and almost the same location.
Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, Grotton was anciently a rural hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
close to the boundary with Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and was centred on Grotton Hall, a former manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
. Although some buildings date from the 18th century, the urbanisation of Grotton broadly took place following the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
; Grotton effectively became an upmarket suburb of Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
following a residential building boom in the 1930s
Prior to the inter-war residential development, Grotton was home to light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
including a brickworks and a couple of textile mills. All of these are now closed and demolished. The former railway line to Oldham Mumps railway station
Oldham Mumps railway station
Oldham Mumps Railway Station opened on 1 November 1847 and served the town of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. The station was a primary station located on the Oldham Loop Line north east of Manchester Victoria operated and managed by Northern Rail....
has been converted into a linear country park, providing a largely traffic free walk for most of the way into Oldham and the old Grotton and Springhead railway station
Grotton and Springhead railway station
Grotton and Springhead railway station served the villages of Grotton and Springhead from 1856 until 1955.-History:The London and North Western Railway opened a branch from to Oldham on 5 July 1856...
is preserved. The platforms are visible, and the buildings are now a private house. East of Grotton, the line ran to join the current trans-pennine railway line at Greenfield railway station
Greenfield railway station
Greenfield railway station serves the village of Greenfield, in the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England...
but while it is possible to walk east from the station to the western portal of Lydgate Tunnel. The tunnel itself is blocked off and impassable, although it is maintained by the former British Railways Property Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
in order to prevent subsidence.
Grotton had one public house, the Grotton Hotel,which is going to become a co-op supermarket There are also a small number of shops in the village including a newsagent, a sandwich shop, a greengrocery, a butcher and a beauty salon. There are no doctors or dental surgeries, nor is there a library, although Oldham's mobile library does make a weekly visit. There are extensive views of fields.