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Saddleworth has a long and varied history
with legend and local folk lore surrounding many an
interesting and compelling story.
Its history can be traced way back to the Stone Age,
where there are signs of early settlement. There is
evidence of Roman occupation in a succession of two
small forts at Castleshaw.
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Saddleworth derives its culture, identity and
history from its location, a beautiful, moorland
landscape on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border with an
industrial heritage, where local traditions and a
sense of community survive.
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Some of Saddleworth's traditions include an annual
Whit Friday Band Contest in each village (the first
recorded one was in 1884) which is now followed the
day after by the Saddleworth Round Table Beerwalk,
started in 1974. There’s the annual Saddleworth Rushcart,
which
celebrates the
ancient practice of renewing the rush flooring in
the public buildings, i.e. the pubs and churches, by
pulling a cart laden with rushes around the area and
stopping at appropriate pubs.
Morris Men dance at Greenfield's Maundy Thursday
Road End Fair, and in Saddleworth villages on Good
Friday.
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Our
Links page includes very
interesting sites that specialise in Saddleworth
history and traditions, and are worth visiting for
more in depth information. The rich, local history
can also be discovered and studied in the Museum and
libraries.
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Greenfield itself was once a woollen town, and a few
of the mills still remain today. Here is a short
list of useful, historical facts about the village.
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Pots and Pans – War memorial erected in 1923
to commemorate the deaths of 259 Saddleworth men in
the ‘Great War’. In 1951 the names of 75 Springhead
men that died in the same war were added, and the
names of 87 Saddleworth men lost in the Second World
War were recorded.
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The Clarence Hotel – opened 1861
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King William IV – Affectionately known as the
King Bill. Originally a house before 1820. Opened
for the sale of alcohol in 1830 by John Bottomley, a
grocer and sundries retailer. On 7th
April 1832 the pub was used for the inquest into the
murders of William Bradbury (Bill o’ Jack’s) and his
son Thomas (Tom o’ Bill’s). The murders took place
five days earlier at The Cherry Tree Inn, which was
off Holmfirth Road, but is no longer standing. They
remain unsolved and have grown into a legendary
story throughout Saddleworth. At the inquest there
was insufficient evidence to find anyone guilty.
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Road End – The name given to the area where
the crossroad of Kinders Lane and Ladhill Lane meets
Chew Valley Road. Chew Valley Road used to stop
where King William IV is, hence its name. Maundy
Thursday Fairs traditionally take place there every
year, with Morris Men dancing. The Morris Men also
dance in Saddleworth villages every Good Friday.
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Boarshurst Band Club – Brass Band Club
founded in 1849.
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Greenfield Cricket Club - Started in 1873 as
Bentfield Cricket Club, a works team for the
employees of Bentfield Mill, which was demolished in
1980 for the erection of the Chew Brook Drive
estate. The Saddleworth and District Cricket League
was formed at a meeting in 1898, but Bentfield’s
financially struggling club was taken over by
Greenfield Cricket Club to preserve cricket in the
village.
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Ladhill Bridge
– The River Chew runs under the bridge, meandering
to join the River Tame. The bridge is on a
traditional Roman route. In 1781 there was reference
to Ladhill being the common public horse and
footbridge in the “pack and prime way, leading from
the village of Marsden to the town of Mottram.”
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