Thornham, Greater Manchester
Encyclopedia
Thornham is the name of a suburban area
and ecclesiastical parish overlapping the towns of Middleton
, Royton
and Rochdale
, in Greater Manchester
, England. The area is found at the border of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
and the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
, and in this capacity is divided at a constituency and electoral ward
level.
Historically
a part of Lancashire
, Thornham was once a township
within the extensive parish of Middleton. This township, which encompassed the outlying hamlets
of Slattocks, Buersill Head and Tandle Hill
, ceased to be following the Local Government Act 1894
when it was divided between Middleton, Royton, and Rochdale. A large part of this area was formerly known as Gravel Hole, owing to its mass pits of gravel
. To this day, many maps still refer to Thornham by this name.
of Lancashire
since the early 12th century
, Thornham was a township
in the ecclesiastical parish of Middleton
and Oldham poor law Union
. In 1879 part of the township was included in the area of the commissioners for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge townships, and in 1886 became part of the Municipal Borough
of Middleton. In 1879 other parts of the township were included in the Royton
and Castleton-by-Rochdale
Local boards of health
. In 1894 the township was dissolved and its area divided between Middleton, Royton Urban District
and Castleton-by-Rochdale Urban District, with the latter district divided between the County Borough of Rochdale
and Municipal Borough of Heywood
in the year 1900.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and ecclesiastical parish overlapping the towns of Middleton
Middleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Royton
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
and Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, 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. The area is found at the border 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...
and the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
The Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after its largest town, Rochdale, but spans a far larger area which includes the towns of Middleton, Heywood, Littleborough and Milnrow, and the village of Wardle.The borough was...
, and in this capacity is divided at a constituency and electoral ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
level.
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 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...
, Thornham was once a township
Township (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
within the extensive parish of Middleton. This township, which encompassed the outlying hamlets
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...
of Slattocks, Buersill Head and Tandle Hill
Tandle Hill
Tandle Hill Country Park is a country park in Royton, Greater Manchester, England. It consists of approximately , a combination of beech woodland and open grassland. The park contains a countryside centre , picnic areas, children's play area and numerous trails and paths into the surrounding area....
, ceased to be following the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
when it was divided between Middleton, Royton, and Rochdale. A large part of this area was formerly known as Gravel Hole, owing to its mass pits of gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
. To this day, many maps still refer to Thornham by this name.
Governance
Lying within the historic county boundariesHistoric 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...
of 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...
since the early 12th century
History of Lancashire
The History of Lancashire begins with its establishment as a county of England in 1182, making it one of the youngest of the historic counties of England.-Early history:In the Domesday Book, some of its lands had been treated as part of Yorkshire...
, Thornham was a township
Township (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
in the ecclesiastical parish of Middleton
Middleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
and Oldham poor law Union
Poor Law Union
A Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
. In 1879 part of the township was included in the area of the commissioners for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge townships, and in 1886 became part of the Municipal Borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Middleton. In 1879 other parts of the township were included in the Royton
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
and Castleton-by-Rochdale
Castleton, Greater Manchester
Castleton is an area of Rochdale and an electoral ward of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It is south-southwest of Rochdale town centre and north-northwest of the city of Manchester....
Local boards of health
Local board of health
Local Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
. In 1894 the township was dissolved and its area divided between Middleton, Royton Urban District
Royton Urban District
Royton was, from 1863 to 1974, a local government district in Lancashire, England which covered the modern-day town of Royton, and its suburbs and districts....
and Castleton-by-Rochdale Urban District, with the latter district divided between the County Borough of Rochdale
County Borough of Rochdale
Rochdale was, from 1856 to 1974, a local government district coterminate with the town of Rochdale in the northwest of England.-Municipal borough:...
and Municipal Borough of Heywood
Municipal Borough of Heywood
The Municipal Borough of Heywood was, from 1881 to 1974, a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire, England, with borough status and coterminate with the town of Heywood.-Civic history:...
in the year 1900.