Editing Saddleworth

{{Short description|Civil parish in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{About|the civil parish in England|the town in Australia|Saddleworth, South Australia|the large moorland wildfire|2018 United Kingdom wildfires#Saddleworth Moor Fire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| map_type = nomap
| static_image_name = The Obelisk on Alderman's Hill.jpg
| static_image_caption = The Obelisk on Alderman's Hill overlooking [[Greenfield, Greater Manchester|Greenfield]] towards [[Oldham]]
| static_image_2_name = Saddleworth Greater Manchester location map.svg
| static_image_2_caption = Saddleworth shown within [[Greater Manchester]]
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|53.55|-2|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Saddleworth
| population = 30,755
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])
| population_density = {{convert|828|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=on}}
| civil_parish = Saddleworth  <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk/|title=Welcome to Saddleworth Parish Council|website=Saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
| metropolitan_borough = [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham]]
| metropolitan_county = [[Greater Manchester]]
| region = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth]]
| post_town = OLDHAM
| postcode_district = OL3, OL4
| postcode_area = OL
| dial_code = 01457, 0161
| os_grid_reference = SD995061
| london_distance = {{convert|161|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}&nbsp;[[Boxing the compass|SSE]]
| area_total_sq_mi = 29.4
| website = [http://www.saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk/ Saddleworth Parish Council]
| module = {{Infobox mapframe|stroke-width=1|zoom=10|width=240}}
}}
'''Saddleworth''' is a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]] in [[Greater Manchester]], England.<ref name="GM Gazetteer">{{cite web|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzs.htm|title=Greater Manchester Gazetteer|publisher=Greater Manchester County Record Office|access-date=9 July 2007|at=Places names – S|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144349/http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzs.htm}}</ref><ref name=move>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/dec/09/lets-move-to-saddleworth-greater-manchester | work=The Guardian |last=Dyckhoff|first=Tom| title=Let's move to: Saddleworth, Greater Manchester | date=9 December 2011|location=London}}</ref> It comprises several villages and [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]] as well as suburbs of Oldham on the [[Saddleworth Moor|west side]] of the [[Pennines|Pennine hills]].

Areas include [[Austerlands]], [[Delph]], [[Denshaw]], [[Diggle, Greater Manchester|Diggle]], [[Dobcross]], [[Friezland]], [[Grasscroft]], [[Greenfield, Greater Manchester|Greenfield]], [[Grotton]], [[Lydgate, Greater Manchester|Lydgate]], [[Scouthead]], [[Springhead, Greater Manchester|Springhead]] and [[Uppermill]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Saddleworth Parish Council |title=Reference Map of Saddleworth |url=http://www.saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk/about/map.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224055119/http://www.saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk/about/map.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2012 |access-date=13 September 2012 }}</ref>

Saddleworth lies east of [[Oldham]] and {{convert|11|mi|km|1}} northeast of [[Manchester]]. It is broadly [[rural]] and had a population of 25,460 at the 2011 Census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128135&c=Saddleworth&d=16&e=62&g=6343799&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1452092795124&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="2001 census"/> making it one of the larger [[civil parish]]es in the United Kingdom.

[[Historic counties of England|Historically]] in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] and following the [[Industrial Revolution]], in the 18th and 19th centuries, Saddleworth became a centre for [[cotton]] [[Spinning (textiles)|spinning]] and [[weaving]]. By the end of [[Queen Victoria]]'s reign, mechanised textile production had become a vital part of the local economy. The Royal George Mill, owned by the Whitehead family, manufactured felt used for pianofortes, billiard tables and flags.

Following the [[Great Depression in the United Kingdom|Great Depression]] Saddleworth's textile sector declined. Much of Saddleworth's architecture and infrastructure dates from its textile processing days however, notably the Saddleworth Viaduct and several cottages and terraces, many built by the local mill owners.

For centuries Saddleworth was linked, ecclesiastically, with the [[Rochdale (ancient parish)|parish of Rochdale]] and was long talked of as the part of Yorkshire where [[Lancashire|Lancastrians]] lived.<ref>{{cite book|title=Greater Manchester: Photographic Memories|year=2000|last=Hardy|first=Clive|publisher=Francis Frith Collection|isbn=1-85937-108-6|quote=Though within the parish of Rochdale, Saddleworth lay within the extreme south-west of the West Riding of Yorkshire and was long talked of as the part of Yorkshire where Lancastrians lived|page=60}}</ref> The former Saddleworth Urban District was the only part of the West Riding to have been amalgamated into Greater Manchester in 1974.<ref name="GM Gazetteer"/> However, strong [[Culture of Yorkshire|cultural links with Yorkshire]] remain amongst its communities.<ref name=move/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/irmp/draft_page.asp?id7=3&id8=2&id13=13&id43=5 |title=Borough Profile: Oldham |author=Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service |author-link=Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service |year=2002 |access-date=5 April 2007}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> There are several [[Brass band (British style)|brass band]]s in the parish.

==History==

===Early history===
The first documentary evidence of Saddleworth appears in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, in which it is referred to as "Quick", spelt "Thoac"; where it is described as "Land of the King in Eurvicsire (Yorkshire), Agbrigg [[Hundred (county subdivision)#Other terms|Wapentake]]."<ref name="Saddleworth Story"/>

The history of the region clearly dates further back than the Domesday Book however. Place names derived from Celtic and Anglian dialects, along with the discovery of flint arrowheads and gold [[Viking]] rings all point to a much earlier Saddleworth, possibly as old as the [[Stone Age]].  A Roman road from [[Chester]] to [[York]] passed through the area. [[Castleshaw Roman fort]] was built to defend and patrol the local section of the road. The first fort on the site was an [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricolan]]-period fort, built in turf and timber {{circa|AD 79}}. This was refurbished soon after construction and then abandoned {{circa|AD 95}}. Within the south eastern half of the fort, a fortlet was constructed, also in turf and timber, {{circa|AD 105}}. This was redeveloped during its brief occupation and then abandoned again {{circa|AD 125}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200594/scheduled_monuments/861/castleshaw_roman_forts |title=Castleshaw Roman Forts &#124; Oldham Council |publisher=Oldham.gov.uk |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> In the Saddleworth area is a [[bowl barrow]], which may be [[Bronze Age]], located at  {{gbmapping|SD98010746}}. Despite excavations, no grave goods or human remains have been found in the barrow.<ref>{{PastScape|mnumber=45895 |mname=Bowl Barrow|access-date=30 December 2007}}</ref>

===Industrial history===
[[File:Saddleworth Viaduct, Huddersfield Canal.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Saddleworth Viaduct was built originally to aid the transporting of goods during the Industrial Revolution, as was the [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]], which passes under it.]]
The steep slopes of the Saddleworth area and the acidic soils of the region have never been particularly conducive to [[intensive farming]]; meaning that long before the Victorian era, Saddleworth already had a long established, albeit domestic, textile tradition. Small, basic mills had been existent in Saddleworth before the industrial revolution, but these were increasingly replaced by larger more intensive establishments. By the end of [[Queen Victoria]]'s reign, mechanised textile production had become a vital part of the local economy.

The boom in industry that had occurred in Saddleworth during the [[Industrial Revolution]] called for greater transport links. Construction of the [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]] was begun in 1794, at the height of [[Canal Mania]], connecting [[Huddersfield]] to [[Stalybridge]] via Saddleworth and completed seventeen years later in 1811; when the [[Standedge Tunnels|Standedge Canal Tunnel]] at [[Diggle, Greater Manchester|Diggle]] was finally opened. The decline of canals and the rise of steam powered locomotives left the canal falling behind the competition, and so it was decided that a [[Standedge Tunnels|railway tunnel]] would be built parallel to the canal, which was completed in 1848. The rise in traffic demanded a second tunnel be built, completed in 1871. Both of these were single line tunnels and eventually superseded by the 1894 tunnel, a double line tunnel, which is the only one of the three still regularly carrying passengers.

The three brothers, Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead, James Heywood Whitehead and Francis Frederick Whitehead, were extremely philanthropic and amongst other bequests in the 1850s built Christ Church in Friezland along with the Parsonage, School and Headmaster's house. The land on which these were built was purchased in 1849 from L. & N.W. Railway Company. The Church School has been rebuilt and the Parsonage and grounds, built in the Gothic Revival style and referred to in Pevsner's Guide, has become a Grade II listed building, now in private hands. The boom in industry called for greater transport links, including the [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]] and several railways.

Unlike the majority of the Oldham Metropolitan Borough, where the industrial architecture was generally constructed from Accrington redbrick, Saddleworth's textiles mills and supporting infrastructure was made from the local [[millstone grit]]. This is in keeping with other settlements amongst the  [[South Pennines|southwest]] Pennines, such as [[Milnrow]] near [[Rochdale]].

==Governance==
Although on the western side of the Pennine [[Water divide|watershed]], Saddleworth, or 'Quick' as it was once known, has lain within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Yorkshire]] since the [[Middle Ages]]. From [[History of Yorkshire|a very ancient time]], the area formed part of the [[Agbrigg and Morley|Agbrigg]] [[Hundred (county subdivision)#Other terms|Wapentake]], in the "Land of the King in Eurvicsire" (Yorkshire).<ref name="Saddleworth Story">{{cite book |title=The Saddleworth Story |page=10 |edition=5th |year=1994 |author=Various authors}}</ref>

For a time, during the 17th century, Saddleworth constituted a [[chapelry]] within the [[Rochdale (ancient parish)|ancient parish of Rochdale]] in [[Salford (hundred)|Salfordshire]], the other parts of which were entirely in the [[Historic counties of England|ancient county]] of [[Lancashire]].<ref name="GM Gazetteer"/>

In 1866 it became a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in its own right and in 1889 became part of the [[Administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]]. In 1894 the parish's boundaries were altered with the parts in Quickmere Middle Division ([[Springhead, Greater Manchester|Springhead]]), [[Mossley]] and [[Uppermill]] becoming Urban Districts. The residue became a single-parish [[rural district]].

In 1872, Saddleworth was recorded to be "a hamlet, a chapelry, a township, and a district, in Rochdale parish and West Riding of Yorkshire".<ref name="Saddleworth Gazetter">{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=943640&word=NULL |title=Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for Saddleworth  |author=Great Britain Historical GIS Project|access-date=23 April 2007|year=2004|work=A vision of Britain through time|publisher=University of Portsmouth}}</ref> At this time, a post office for the area was found under the name of Uppermill which was under Manchester.

In 1900 the boundaries were changed again with the inclusion of Uppermill, and the single-parish rural district being instead replaced by the "Saddleworth Urban District".<ref name="Vision SaddleworthUD">{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10094124 |title=Saddleworth UD through time. Census tables with data for the Local Government District |author=Great Britain Historical GIS Project|access-date=5 April 2007 |year=2004|work=A vision of Britain through time|publisher=University of Portsmouth}}</ref> In 1937 it incorporated [[Springhead, Greater Manchester|Springhead Urban District]].<ref name="Vision SaddleworthUD"/>

Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], the West Riding County Council was abolished<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10200120 |title=West Riding through time. Census tables with data for the Administrative County |author=Great Britain Historical GIS Project|access-date=5 April 2007|year=2004|work=A vision of Britain through time|publisher=University of Portsmouth}}</ref> and Saddleworth was incorporated, for administrative purposes, into the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]] in the [[metropolitan county]] of [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name="GM Gazetteer"/>

Unlike neighbouring [[Shaw and Crompton]], Saddleworth is a [[successor parish]], and thus was automatically granted civil parish status in 1974, when its urban district status was abolished. Up until 1996, Saddleworth's [[Postal counties of the United Kingdom|official postal county]] was Lancashire, due to it forming part of the [[OL postcode area|Oldham]] [[List of post towns in the United Kingdom|post town]]. Postal counties were abolished in 1996.

===Parliamentary representation===
Saddleworth forms part of the [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth parliamentary constituency]], of which the [[Member of Parliament]] is [[Debbie Abrahams]]. It is split into three [[ward (politics)|electoral wards]]; ''Saddleworth North'', ''Saddleworth South'' and ''Saddleworth West and Lees''

==Geography==
Saddleworth makes up around 52% {{convert|29.4|sqmi|km²}} of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in terms of area, and remains largely rural. [[Saddleworth Moor]] in the [[Dark Peak]] area of the [[Peak District]] [[National parks of England and Wales|National Park]] is a [[moorland]] plateau that straddles the boundary with West Yorkshire.

Bounded directly to the west by Oldham and the [[Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale]] in the north, [[Tameside]] in the south and [[Kirklees]] in the east. Saddleworth is {{convert|12|mi|km}} southwest of Huddersfield.

===Settlements===
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
Saddleworth contains a collection of villages and [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]], including:

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! scope="col" | Settlement
! scope="col" | Population
! scope="col" | OS Grid reference
! scope="col" | Image
|-
| [[Austerlands]]
| c. 350
|
|
|-
| [[Castleshaw]]
| c. 350
|
|
|-
| [[Delph]]
| c.&nbsp;2,000
| {{gbmapping|SD984080}}
| [[File:Delph.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Denshaw]]
| c.&nbsp;500
| {{gbmapping|SD974106}}
| [[File:Denshaw.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Diggle, Greater Manchester|Diggle]]
| c. 1,500
| {{gbmapping|SE017083}}
| [[File:Diggle from Harrop Edge Geograph-1941039-by-Bill-Boaden.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Dobcross]]
| c. 1,000
|
| [[File:Dobcross from a distance.jpg|100px]]
|-
| [[Friezland]]
| c. 350
|
|
|-
| [[Grasscroft]]
| c. 900
|
|
|-
| [[Greenfield, Greater Manchester|Greenfield]]
| c. 5,000
| {{gbmapping|SD995061}}
|
|-
| [[Grotton]]
| c. 3,000
|
|
|-
| [[Heights, Greater Manchester|Heights]]
| c. 10
| {{gbmapping|SD981089}}
|
|-
| [[Lydgate, Greater Manchester|Lydgate]]
| c. 350
|
|
|-
| [[Scouthead]]
| c. 750
|
|
|-
| [[Springhead, Greater Manchester|Springhead]]
| c.2,000
| {{gbmapping|SD963052}}
|
|-
| [[Uppermill]]
| 7,475
| {{gbmapping|SD938090}}
| [[File:Uppermill and Railway.jpg|100px]]
|}

==Demography==
At the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK census]], Saddleworth had a total population of 24,351. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males.<ref name="2001 census">{{cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790585&c=saddleworth&d=16&e=15&g=352610&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1209655079829&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781 |title=Saddleworth CP (Parish) |author=United Kingdom Census 2001 |publisher=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612190144/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790585&c=saddleworth&d=16&e=15&g=352610&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1209655079829&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The average household size was 2.39.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saddleworth CP household data |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790585&c=saddleworth&d=16&e=15&g=352610&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1209655079829&enc=1&dsFamilyId=785 |access-date=1 May 2008 }}</ref> Of those aged 16–74 in Saddleworth, 45.3% had no academic qualifications or one GCSE, lower than the figures for all of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]] (55.2%) and about the same for England (45.5%).<ref name="work&qual">{{cite web |title=Saddleworth CP and qualifications |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790585&c=saddleworth&d=16&e=15&g=352610&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1209655079829&enc=1&dsFamilyId=783 |access-date=1 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oldham metropolitan borough qualifications |publisher = Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276779&c=Oldham&d=13&e=16&g=352415&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1209655541139&enc=1&dsFamilyId=103 |access-date=1 May 2008 }}</ref> According to the census, 1.9% were unemployed and 28.2% were economically inactive.<ref name="work&qual"/> 18.5% of the population were under the age of 16 and 7.3% were aged 75 and over; the mean age of the people of Saddleworth was 40.92. 71.5% of residents described their health as 'good'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Little Bollington civil parish census data |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792638&c=Little+Bollington&d=16&e=15&g=429138&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1190634050787&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781 |access-date=24 September 2007 }}</ref>

===Population change===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; width:70%; border:0; text-align:center; line-height:120%;"
! colspan="10" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|[[Population growth]] in Saddleworth since 1901
|
|-
!  style="background:#9cc; color:navy; height:17px;"| Year
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1901
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1911
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1921
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1931
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1939
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1951
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1961
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1971
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 2001
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 2011
|- style="text-align:center;"
!  style="background:#9cc; color:navy; height:17px;"| Population
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 12,320
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 12,603
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 12,562
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 12,574
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 17,064
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 16,761
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 17,024
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 20,575
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 24,351
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 25,460
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source: '''[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10094124&c_id=10001043&add=N A Vision of Britain through Time]</small>
|}


==Culture==

===Identity===
Since the local government reforms of 1974, some of the people of Saddleworth have been uneasy about their primary geographic reference frame, with parts of the local community feeling aggrieved at Saddleworth forming part of Greater Manchester. Saddleworth, where the local architecture of stone cottages is of the Yorkshire type, is the only part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham to come from the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, the rest being from [[Lancashire]]. It is also the only part of the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester which lay within those borders.

The [[Saddleworth White Rose Society]] organises events every [[Yorkshire Day]] (1 August) to promote its contention that Saddleworth remains part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]]. [[Charles, Prince of Wales|The Prince of Wales]] referred to Saddleworth's continuing Yorkshire status when he visited the area in 2001 saying "The fact that Saddleworth is still part of the historic West Riding is extremely important".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090316081249/http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-23-2004-59624.asp David McKie: Elsewhere]}},''The Guardian'' 23 September 2004</ref>

In 2004, public meetings were held to discuss the feasibility of splitting Saddleworth from the Borough of Oldham. Some residents at the time said they would prefer to become part of the metropolitan county of [[West Yorkshire]] or a new South Pennine authority, connecting rural towns and villages on both sides of the border. Even though such a move could involve merging with the neighbouring [[Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees]], Oldham councillors maintained the split was not feasible as Saddleworth does not have sufficient hospital provision, civic buildings, transport, schooling nor other infrastructure in its own right. Councillor Ken Hulme arranged a meeting for the matter to be discussed. One councillor remarked "They [Saddleworth] want a bigger slice of the pie than the rest of the borough. The people of the rest of Oldham are not going to subsidise Saddleworth, and Saddleworth can't go it alone. It couldn't afford to provide the services it needs."<ref>[http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/177/177511_whos_for_the_republic_of_saddleworth.html Who's for the Republic of Saddleworth?], ''[[Oldham Advertiser]]'', 15 December 2004. URL accessed 27 October 2006.</ref>

In 2010, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council erected new signs along its boundaries. Those marking the boundary of Saddleworth say 'in the historic County of York' at the top, alongside a white rose.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/39989/a-warm-welcome-to-the-county-of-york|title=A warm welcome to the County of York|website=Oldham-chronicle.co.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> Later in the year, signs were unveiled by local dignitaries at Grains Bar marking the historic border between Lancashire and Yorkshire.<ref>http://www.saddleworthnews.com/?p=1474 , Saddleworth News, retrieved December 2010</ref>

===Whit Friday===
Saddleworth has a large number of annual customs and traditions, many of which are held during [[Pentecost|Whitsuntide]]. On [[Whit Friday]] morning, congregations from the churches of all of the Saddleworth villages hold their Walk of Witness and congregate in Uppermill to take part in a religious service. 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]] in 1884 and are still centred on the local area. The first band to win in Uppermill was the Wyke Temperance Band. Bands from around the country, and indeed the world, travel to the area annually to compete. Due to the huge popularity of the event, Whit Friday band contests are now held in others of Saddleworth's surrounding villages. In the village of [[Dobcross]] a [[Henry Livings]] memorial prize is open to bands who play on any of the morning's walks on Whit Friday.

===Sadd Fest===
The Festival spotlights musical talent from local bands and artists to raise money for charity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/saddleworthrangersarlfc/news/sadd-fest-2013-1033737.html |title=Sadd Fest 2013 - Saddleworth Rangers ARLFC |access-date=2014-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141201212402/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/saddleworthrangersarlfc/news/sadd-fest-2013-1033737.html |archive-date=1 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
This event was started in 2013 by the Saddleworth branch of the [[Round Table (club)|Round Table]] as an alternative to the prior 'Beer Walk' event which was cancelled in 2011. The beer walk started in 1973. Participants walked around Saddleworth in fancy dress, stopping at [[public house|pubs]]. Spectators were encouraged to donate money for charity. It was organised for 39 years, however due to 4,000 (approx) unofficial walkers taking part in the event, in addition to the 2,500 official walkers, the police estimated it would cost £58,000 to stage the walk in 2012. However, some people continue to do the walk unofficially.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/63325/beer-walks-shock-cancellation|title=Oldham News - News Headlines - Beer walk's shock cancellation - Chronicle Online|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>

===Rushcart===
[[File:The Saddleworth Rushcart 2008 - geograph.org.uk - 934412.jpg|Saddleworth Rushcart in 2008|thumb|right]]
The origin of the event is unclear, however it is unlikely to be before 1800. By the early 20th century the tradition had died out due to the railways, as the local population travelled further for their annual break during the Saddleworth [[Wakes week]]. However The [[Rushcart]] was revived in 1975 by the newly formed Saddleworth [[Morris Men]] following research by Fred Broadbent and Peter Ashworth, who were able to still hear the stories of the Rushcart from the older members of the community. The audience at the time was small, which is in stark contrast to the numbers that gather now.

===Yanks Weekend===
The event started in 2001 to celebrate the local filming of the Hollywood film ''[[Yanks]]'' in 1979 starring [[Richard Gere]]. Many locations in Uppermill and neighbouring Dobcross were used in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2events.co.uk/|website=Ww2events.co.uk|title=YANKS ARE BACK IN SADDLEWORTH 2016|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>

===Sport===
*Saddleworth Cricket Club play home matches at their Well-i-Hole ground in [[Friezland]]. They are members of the Greater Manchester Cricket League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saddleworth.play-cricket.com|title=Saddleworth CC|website=Saddleworth.play-cricket.com|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>
*Saddleworth Rangers are an amateur [[rugby league]] club who play home matches at [[Greenfield, Greater Manchester|Greenfield]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/saddleworthrangersarlfc/location/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629032843/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/saddleworthrangersarlfc/location/|url-status=dead|title=Saddleworth ARLFC|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
*Saddleworth Clarion is the area's cycling club, catering for on and off-road club cycling<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.saddleworthclarion.com |access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>
*Tame Valley Tennis and Squash Club (TVTSC) is located in Greenfield providing four tennis courts and three squash courts.

==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Manchester}}
*[[Listed buildings in Saddleworth]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Saddleworth}}
*[http://www.saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk/ Saddleworth Parish Council]
*[http://www.saddleworthnews.com/ Saddleworth News]
*[https://www.facebook.com/saddleworthnewventure/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel/ Saddleworth New Venture] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120409185311/http://www.dobx.net/ Dobcross Diary] 
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20000824073035/http://www.saddleworth.net/ Saddleworth Online]}}
*[http://www.saddleworth-historical-society.org.uk/ Saddleworth Historical Society]
*[http://www.saddleworthmuseum.co.uk/ Saddleworth Museum]

{{Settlements of Saddleworth}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Saddleworth| ]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]