Greenfield, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenfield |
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 The Obelisk on Alderman's Hill (Pots and Pans) overlooking Greenfield towards Oldham |
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 Greenfield
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| Population | 1,831 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD995061 |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OLDHAM |
| Postcode district | OL3 |
| Dialling code | 01457 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Greenfield is a lovely village found in Saddleworth, which is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It's about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Oldham and 13 miles (21 km) north-east of Manchester. Greenfield is in a beautiful countryside area at the edge of the South Pennines. You'll find Dovestone Reservoir, Chew Reservoir, and Greenfield Reservoir nearby, all within the amazing Peak District National Park.
Historically, Greenfield was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The village is located in the Chew Valley, right on the main A635 road that connects Ashton-under-Lyne to Holmfirth.
Contents
A Look Back at Greenfield's History
Ancient Roads and Early Life
A very old Roman road runs through the hills of Saddleworth. This road connected a Roman fort called Ardotalia in Glossop to another fort at Castleshaw Roman fort. The path of this Roman road goes right through Greenfield and crosses Chew Brook at a place called Packhorse Bridge.
The old stone houses in Saddleworth were built in the 17th century. These homes belonged to farmers and people who wove wool by hand. The very first industrial weaving machines were also designed and built here in Saddleworth.
Amazing Inventions and Landmarks
England's highest church, known as 'The Heights', is located here. Also, the longest canal tunnel in England, the Standedge Tunnel, was built here. This tunnel dates back to the late 1700s and was a project led by the famous engineer Thomas Telford.
In the 1970s, the world's first special harness for rock climbers was invented in Saddleworth. Today, almost all climbing harnesses around the world are based on this original design!
Local Culture and Music
A famous poem called Jone o Grinfilt was written about a made-up person from Greenfield. It was meant to playfully make fun of people living in the countryside. The poem was written in the local dialect of English and was very popular in the 1800s. Joseph Lees from Glodwick probably wrote it in the early 1800s.
In 1849, the Boarshurst Silver Band was started as the village's own band. This brass band is still playing music today! You can find out more on their website.
How Greenfield is Governed
Changes in Local Government
Greenfield used to be part of the historic county of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Before 1974, it was managed by the West Riding County Council. This caused some problems. For example, the village's fire service was based in Holmfirth, which was quite far away. This was especially tricky in winter when snow and ice made roads dangerous.
In 1974, Greenfield became part of the new Greater Manchester County Council. When that council was stopped in 1986, Greenfield then came under the care of Oldham Borough Council.
Exploring Greenfield's Geography
Reservoirs and Natural Beauty
Greenfield is at the western end of the Chew Valley. It sits on the south-west edge of the South Pennines, with the Peak District National Park to its east. The village has four reservoirs. Three of them are connected: Greenfield, Yeoman Hey, and Dovestones.
The fourth reservoir is Chew Reservoir. It's at the very top of Chew Valley and is the highest man-made reservoir in England! You can find a yachting club on Dovestone Reservoir, which is the biggest one. There are also walking paths around the first three reservoirs. A steep path connects Dovestones to Chew Reservoir. Much of the area around these reservoirs is inside the Peak District National Park.
Local Sports and Schools
Saddleworth Moor rises above Greenfield. It leads to wide, open moorlands towards Holmfirth.
Greenfield is home to an amateur rugby league team called Saddleworth Rangers. There are also two cricket clubs: Greenfield Cricket Club and Saddleworth Cricket Club. The village has two schools for younger children and three churches.
Important Landmarks in Greenfield
Pots and Pans is a well-known hill that looks over the village. It is where the Saddleworth war memorial stands. This memorial is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's an important historical structure. It was built in 1923. The memorial is about 1200 feet (366 meters) above sea level. You can see it from seven of the ten villages that make up Saddleworth. A special service is held there every Remembrance Sunday.
Getting Around Greenfield
Train Services
Greenfield railway station is on the Huddersfield Line. Trains run east towards Huddersfield, stopping at Marsden and Slaithwaite. Westbound trains go towards Manchester Piccadilly, stopping at Mossley, Stalybridge, and Ashton-under-Lyne. Some trains during busy times and evenings also go directly to Leeds, York, Saltburn, and Hull.
After the Oldham Loop Line was changed into a Metrolink tram line, Greenfield became the only place in Saddleworth and the whole Metropolitan Borough of Oldham with a National Rail train station. Other nearby stations like Grotton and Springhead, Delph, and Grasscroft closed in 1955. Diggle and Saddleworth stations closed in 1968.
There was a second train line, called the Micklehurst Line, that went through the village. It was mostly used for carrying goods. This line closed in 1966, and its bridges were taken down in the mid-1970s. Now, much of the old route is a path for walkers and horse riders called a bridleway.
Bus Services (as of January 2025)
Most bus services in Greenfield are run by Stagecoach Manchester as part of the Bee Network.
- Route 84: Goes to Manchester Piccadilly via Oldham. It runs every half-hour on Monday-Saturday during the day, and hourly in the evenings and on Sundays.
- Route 184: Also run by Stagecoach Manchester (Bee Network). It provides an hourly service on weekdays (two-hourly on Sundays) to Huddersfield via Diggle.
- Route 180: Operated by Stagecoach Manchester as part of the Bee Network. This bus travels between Greenfield and Oldham and is the only bus service that starts and ends in the village.
- Route 350: Run by Stagecoach Manchester under the Bee Network. It connects Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne.
- Routes 352 and 357: These are operated by South Pennine Community Transport and connect Greenfield with Holmfirth. The 357 runs only on Tuesdays and also goes to Ashton-under-Lyne. The 352 runs only on Saturdays and goes to the nearby village of Uppermill.
- Route 356: Operated by Diamond North West as part of the Bee Network. It runs between Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, with some buses stopping at Greenfield railway station.
Greenfield's Culture and Events
Greenfield is one of the towns and villages that hosts an annual Whit Friday brass band contest. This is a popular event where many brass bands compete. The annual Road End Fair is also held in the center of the village every Maundy Thursday.
People from Greenfield
- Hervey Rhodes, Baron Rhodes: He was from Greenfield and held important roles, including Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire from 1968 to 1971.
- Sir W. Cecil Bottomley: A mathematician who later became a Crown Agent for the Colonies. His son, Sir James Bottomley, was a classical scholar, and his grandson, Sir Peter Bottomley, is a Member of Parliament.
