Oldhamgemzoc

Oldham in the 1970s

In the 1970s Oldham was such a fun place to live. I was a child living in the Werneth, born in 1970 at Boundary Park Hospital (which was and is a formidable looking building) and spent the 1st 2 years of my life in Keswick Avenue, Fitton Hill before moving to Hereford Street, Werneth in 1972.

Boundary Park Hospital

The first Oldham Workhouse was built in the early 18th century at Greenacres in Oldham and the last one which was also known as Westwood Park Institute was built on the present site of The Royal Oldham Hospital in 1851, at a cost of £13,305 2 shillings and 2 pence and a farthing!

Boundary Park General Hospital (1950-1955. Oldham and District General Hospital (1955-1970). Address. Rochdale Road Oldham OLI2JH (Since 1851). The hospital always had a 'workhouse feel' about it. There are definitely ghosts there

Keswick Avenue

This was the first place I lived with my parents, three older sisters and my brother. Keswick Avenue is a street on the Fitton Hill estate in Oldham. My older siblings have fond memories of that house The earliest memory I have is lying on a bed looking upwards at what I now know as the sky through the window. It was grey. two dark things kept flashing across my eyes and I was making a noise which I now recognize as crying. The dark shapes were my feet. I felt cold and uncomfortable. Now I just have been more than eight months old because that was the age I was when I had my eye operations which gave me the sight I have. My parents were/are both totally blind. Our hereditary condition is now yet known, neither is the cause. Mum and dad were 'one-offs' so I suppose we are.

Jack and Abina O'Connor

Jack O'Connor was born in Athlone in 1933 and was one of 11 children to Margaret and Michael O'Connor. He attended St Joseph's school for the blind in Dublin. Abina Howard was born in Kilworth, Co. Cork in the same year to Jane and Martin Howard and was one of eight children. Two of her younger brothers - Martin and John died in infancy. She went to St. Mary's school for the blind in Dublin at the age of 9. On leaving at 18 she found work and stayed on in Dublin. It was at a club there that they both met.

Oldham Market

Victoria Market was destroyed by a huge fire in 1974. The blaze could be seen for miles around and damaged surrounding premises. The hall was replaced by a temporary market building, before construction work began on the new hall in the early 1990s. Oldham's markets have a long and fascinating history. It has had four markets over the years and the first was founded in 1788. The market is rubbish now.

Places of Interest in the 1970s

ABC cinema * Oldham baths * lexandra Park * Werneth Park * Chadderton Baths * Watersheddings * Oldham Market * the Freehold club * the one and three * The Manor *