Saddleworth
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Saddleworth is a picturesque civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It is formed by a collection of villages and hamlets amongst the Saddleworth moorland in the Pennine hills, and lies within the historic boundary of Yorkshire.
Situated east from the neighbouring town of Oldham, Saddleworth is largely rural, and was for centuries, a centre of woollen cloth production.
Saddleworth is the birthplace to inventors, the Platt Brothers, whom were pioneers of the mechanisation of textile manufacture.
According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 24,351, making it one of the larger civil parishes in the country.
Geography and Administration
Saddleworth lies within the historic boundaries of Yorkshire, with neighbouring Lancashire close to the west. From 1900 to 1974 it was an urban district of the West Riding of Yorkshire (and from 1894 to 1900 a single-parish rural district). In the local government reforms of 1974 the administrative county of the West Riding of Yorkshire was abolished, and Saddleworth was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, one of the ten metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester.Some thirty years since the local government reforms, there is some resentment of being part of Greater Manchester, and certain sects of Saddleworth locals still strongly identify themselves as Yorkshiremen.
Saddleworth makes up 51% of the entire Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in terms of land coverage.
The MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth is Phil Woolas.
Villages
Situated east from the neighbouring town of Oldham, Saddleworth is situated on the Pennines hill range and is in turn noted for its picturesque hilly landscape.Saddleworth is formed by a collection of villages and hamlets, including:
- Austerlands
- Springhead
- Delph
- Denshaw
- Diggle
- Dobcross
- Friezland
- Grasscroft
- Greenfield
- Grotton
- Lydgate
- Scouthead
- Uppermill
Present Day
Whit Friday
Saddleworth has a large number of annual customs and traditions, many of which are held during Pentecost. On Whit Friday morning, congregations from the churches of all of the Saddleworth villages parade into Uppermill, where a religious service is held. Later in the evening, the Whit Friday brass band contests take place. The band contests originated in Saddleworth and the nearby towns of Mossley and Stalybridge, and are still centered on the local area. Bands from around the UK travel to the area annually to compete. Due to the huge popularity of the event, Whit Friday band contests are now held in many of Saddleworth's surrounding towns.
On the following Saturday, the Saddleworth Beer Walk is held. This is a fundraising event where participants walk around Saddleworth in fancy dress, stopping off at many of Saddleworth's pubs along the way for half a pint of beer or lager. Spectators are encouraged to give money to the participants for charity.
Each year, on the second Saturday and Sunday after August 12th (the old Saddleworth "Wakes Week"), the Saddleworth Rushcart takes place. In 1975 a team of local lads formed the Saddleworth Morris Men and the first modern Rushcart was built for the first festival. This has now become the largest Festival of Morris Dancing in the whole of the United Kingdom. [[Citing sources citation needed]]
The Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady buried their victims on Saddleworth Moor. The body of Keith Bennett, the killers' third victim, has never been found.
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