Freehold, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freehold |
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 Freehold
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| OS grid reference | SD911041 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OLDHAM |
| Postcode district | OL9 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Freehold is an urban area of Werneth in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It occupies an area in the west of Werneth along the Oldham township boundary with Chadderton. It is contiguous on all sides with other urban areas, including parts of Werneth to the north and east, and Cowhill, Block Lane, and Butler Green/Washbrook in Chadderton.
Freehold is centred on Oxford Street and is broadly bounded by Manchester Road, Edward Street, the former Oldham Loop Line railway, Block Lane, and Suffolk Street.
The area was redeveloped, to some extent, as part of the government's Housing Market Renewal Initiative – the Werneth Freehold Masterplan – comprising Freehold, Block Lane, and some small adjacent parts of north Werneth and south Chadderton. However, some parts of Freehold have remained derelict since the early 2000s following loss of funding for the initiative.
Freehold tram stop opened in 2012 at the Oldham/Chadderton boundary at Block Lane, and serves both the Freehold area of Oldham and the Cowhill/Block Lane areas of Chadderton. The station's position on the boundary means it lies partially in both Chadderton and Oldham.
History
Previously a coal mining area, industrial expansion in the Werneth area in the mid-19th century led to the construction of Oxford Street in the early 1860s along what was a footpath linking Manchester Road (now the A62) at Werneth to the ancient road and hamlet of Block Lane.
The driving force for expansion was Platt Brothers industrial complex around Werneth Station in the northern part of the area. Platts were for a time the largest manufacturers of machinery for the cotton industry in the world employing some 15,000 people.
The opening of Oxford Street led to the construction of side streets linking to Manchester Road and Block Lane and by 1914 the area had been completely covered by rows of terraced housing for workers of Platts, Black Ridings Mill and factories in the Old Lane area lying directly to the south.
Freehold had a number of public houses only one of which remains. The Royal Oak, Manchester Road, dates back to 1825.
The district once had its own cinema. The Gem Cinema, Suffolk Street, was opened in 1920. It later had a Western Electric(WE) sound system and the proscenium was 20 ft wide. The Gem Cinema was closed in the early-1960’s. It became a cabaret club known as the Consul Club, which attracted artists such as Engelbert Humperdinck (singer) and Frank Ifield. Initially it was a success, but business dropped off after a few months. In 2006 it was occupied by a soft furnishing company but had been demolished by 2009. Houses now occupy the site.
Religion
Freehold is part of the parish of Christ Church (Church of England), Block Lane.
Freehold's increasing population in the mid 19th century saw Cowhill Methodist Church expand its ministry into this area and a decision was made to build a chapel in Rutland Street, Werneth, half a mile away from Cowhill, and in 1861 the foundations where laid for one of the largest churches in Oldham, Brunswick Wesleyan Methodist church which opened in 1862. The church closed in 1954. Cowhill became prolific at building churches. Two more building projects including a new school for Brunswick, on Oxford Street, opened in January 1890.
The congregation moved to Edward Street Methodist Church (500 yards from Rutland Street) which itself dates back to 1861. That church closed in 1967 when it amalgamated with several other local churches, including Cowhill Methodist Church, to form South Chadderton Methodist Church at Butler Green.
Freehold is home to a large Muslim population and three mosques serve the area, The Werneth Jamia Masjid, Manchester Road, The Markazi Mosque (capacity 1600), Suffolk Street and Jamia Islamia Ghamkolia Mosque on Warwick Street.
Werneth Jamia Masjid was the first masjid to be established in the Werneth area of Oldham. The building was previously used as a grocery store and was purchased in 1976 to be converted into a much needed place of worship. The local community helped raise the £7,200 required to purchase the property through donations.
Transport
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First Greater Manchester operate bus services 81 and 83 linking Freehold with Oldham town centre and with Manchester City centre, via Moston and Failsworth, with evening services on route 81 continuing to Derker operated by Stagecoach Manchester.
Stotts Tours (Oldham) operate bus services 159 to Oldham via Chadderton town centre and to Middleton via Hollinwood, Woodhouses, Failsworth and New Moston plus service 396 providing links to Ashton-U-Lyne and to Middleton via Chadderton town centre.
Freehold Metrolink station provides direct tram links to Manchester and beyond and to Rochdale railway station and town centre.
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Cowhill | Cowhill | Westwood | |
| Nimble Nook |  |
Werneth | ||
 Freehold  |
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| Butler Green | Block Lane | Top of Hollinwood |
