Uppermill

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type= Greater Manchester
latitude= 53.55
longitude= -2
official_name= Uppermill
population= 7,475Fact|date=April 2007
civil_parish= Saddleworth
metropolitan_borough= Oldham
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Oldham East and Saddleworth
post_town= OLDHAM
postcode_district = OL3
postcode_area= OL
dial_code= 01457
os_grid_reference= SD938090
london_distance= 161 miles (261 km) SSE
static_

static_image_caption=A view over Uppermill.

Uppermill is the largest village in the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. The village lies in a picturesque location on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in a valley in the Pennine hills and has a total population of 7,475.Fact|date=March 2007

History

Although there is evidence of Roman activity in the area,cite web |title=Bronze Age dagger retrieved near proposed windfarm |url=http://www.stonepages.com/news/archives/000575.html |publisher=Stonepages.com |date=2004-02-14 |accessdate=2008-04-17] the history of Uppermill is dominated by the expansion of wool and cotton spinning into the area during the Industrial Revolution, with the construction of several mills.

Economy

Uppermill is now a popular stop for visitors to Saddleworth,Fact|date=February 2007 with a growing number of craft shops and restaurants catering to the tourist market. Uppermill also hosts a farmers' market. It also offers traditional butchers, greengrocer and bakers. The village has usual amenities, such as a bank, post office and chemist.

Transport

Uppermill is served by two main bus services, running to destinations such as Oldham, Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne and Huddersfield plus other villages in the Saddleworth area. One of those services is the 184, which is run by First Manchester & First Calderdale & Huddersfield and provides four buses per hour running to Oldham and Manchester, Monday-Saturday daytime, and hourly at evenings and on Sundays. The 184 also runs an hourly Monday-Saturday daytime service to Diggle, via Dobcross and an hourly Monday-Saturday daytime service plus two-hourly Sunday daytime service to Huddersfield, via Diggle and Marsden.

The other is the First Manchester bus 350, which runs from Uppermill towards Oldham, via Delph and towards Ashton-under-Lyne via Mossley. The 350 provides a half-hourly service, Monday-Saturday daytime, and hourly at evenings and on Sundays.

Uppermill is also served by First bus 82, although this service only runs at peak times, along the 350 route to Oldham, then continuing to Manchester. The X84, also run by First, is a limited stop service which by-passes Oldham town centre. The service, which runs at peak times, was designed for people living in Saddleworth. The service runs between Carrcote and Manchester via Delph, Uppermill, Grotton, Lees, Hollinwood, Failsworth, Newton Heath and Manchester.

Additional journeys to Ashton-under-Lyne are provided by services 353 & 354, which runs via Mossley and Stalybridge. The Monday-Saturday service is run by Speedwellbus with evening and Sunday journeys run by First. All journeys run from Uppermill towards Ashton, with some services running to destinations such as Delph, Diggle and Denshaw.

There is no train station in Uppermill. The nearest railway station located is Greenfield, which is approximately 1 mile from Uppermill. People can get to the train station from Uppermill either on the 184 or by foot, which is a 10-15 minute walk. From Greenfield station, an hourly train service runs between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria, stopping at Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield, Mossley, Stalybridge and Ashton-under-Lyne.

Places of interest

Saddleworth Museum highlights the history of the area from Roman times and also has an art gallery with changing exhibitions.

The Brownhill Countryside Center is a small museum for the education of children about wildlife (particularly the wildlife on the adjacent canal). It holds a large collection of stuffed animals (that died naturally) and sells small souvenirs.

Ladcastle and Den Quarries are located to the west of Uppermill and are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest due to their geological features. They have been important in understanding the Carboniferous period. [cite web | title=Ladcastle & Den Quarries citation sheet | work=Natural England | accessdate=2007-07-03 | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004204.pdf] The site is one of 21 such sites in Greater Manchester. [cite web | title=SSSIs in Greater Manchester | work=Natural England | url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/searchresults.cfm?sssi_name=&frmcounty=1018 | accessdate=2007-07-03]

Events and festivals

Uppermill has a number of festivals each year, the highlight of which are the Whit Friday brass band contest, the Beer Walk and the Rushcart festival.In 2007 the Brass Band contest is on Friday June 1 & the Beer walk the following day. The theme for the Beer walk 2007 is Pirates of the Caribbean. In 2008, the Band Contest is on Friday May 16th and the Beer Walk on 17th.

Health care

Saddleworth Medical Practice can be found on Smithy Lane.

ports

In 2006 the local football club, Uppermill Football club, gained the prestigious ‘Charter Standard CommunityAward’ from the Football Association, the first local club to achieve such an award. In 2008 the club won the Hoyle Cup at the Galpharm Stadium, home of Huddersfield Town F.C.

References

External links

* [http://www.uppermillband.com/ Uppermill brass band]
* [http://www.uppermillafc.co.uk/ Uppermill Football club]