The historic buildings and sites in Oldham which are at risk

Historic England looks after the country's historic environment by overseeing the listed buildings, sites and conservation areas that are deemed to be at risk.

In total, the body has named eight buildings, which are mostly churches, along with the town centre as sites in the borough which are at risk as of 2023.

The at risk sites are as follows:

Union Street United Reformed and Methodist Church

The church, which was built in 1855, is an early example of a Gothic style non-conformist church in the North West of England.

In the 1930s, the original spire was removed and a castellated top was added.

The town centre church is in need of repairs

Since then, repair works have been undertaken in different phases with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Grants for Places of Worship scheme, however issues of water ingress and the roof structure remain.

The Grade II listed building is deemed to be in a "poor" condition and is in "slow decay", with no solution having been agreed.

Foxdenton Hall

The two-storey house was built in the 18th century on a basement which reuses features and stonework from a building of 1620 and still maintains many original features.

The vacant structure is said to be in a deteriorating condition, with damage from water ingress, both through the roof and the basement, loss of pointing, and deterioration of windows.

Foxdenton Hall can be found in Foxdenton Park

According to Historic England, discussions with Oldham Council are ongoing regarding the schedule of repair works and finding a long-term use for the building.

The Grade II listed building is deemed to be in a poor condition and is in slow decay, with a solution yet to be agreed.

Church of St Chad

The Grade II listed church was originally built in 1746 before being rebuilt in the early 1830s.

Despite its remote location, the church still attracts visitors in the summer, according to Historic England.

The church is the only at risk heritage site in Saddleworth

Repairs have been completed on the tracery to the east window, where this had bowed due to rusting iron dowels within the joint positions and church volunteers are looking for further funding opportunities.

The church is in a poor condition and is in slow decay, with an agreement yet to be reached.

St Paul's Methodist Church

The chapel in Shaw was built in a classical style in 1863 and was shared with a day school until 1975 when a new school building was built.

Due to a lack of income, the building stopped being used and worship was moved into the attached Sunday School, leading to the original chapel being empty ever since.

The chapel's condition declined before a roof collapse in February 2019, which led to the building being demolished down to a level at which it was safe to remove the road closing scaffolding.

The structure was partially demolished a few years ago

In July 2022, plans were submitted for the partial demolition of the chapel and construction of a new car park at the site. There is yet to be a decision on this proposal.

The Grade II listed chapel is deemed to be in a "very bad" condition and is at "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric", with no solution agreed.

Church of St Stephen and All Martyrs

Built in 1873, the church has undergone four separate works over the last two decades, however a Minor Repair Grant from the Taylor Review Pilot was received in 2019 to help with roof maintenance, with further stabilisation to the wall required.

Works were carried out in 2006, 2013, 2014 and 2018

The Grade II building is in a poor condition and is in slow decay, with an agreement yet to be reached.

Church of St Mark with Christchurch

The Gothic style church with its landmark tower and spire was built in 1875 and is generally in a very bad condition, with particular concern over the roof and high level stonework.

The church is one of the most at risk sites in Oldham

There is immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric and no solution has been agreed for the Grade II listed building.

Church of St John

Another Gothic style church with a distinctive spire, repair works to the eastern roofs and the tower and spire have been completed, however the slate roofs to the nave and aisles are still in a "vulnerable condition".

The church received an Emergency Heritage at Risk grant in 2020 to help address issues with water ingress and rot in the tower, with the works now completed.

The church is the only at risk heritage site in Failsworth

The Grade II church still remains in a poor condition with slow decay and a solution yet to be agreed.

1-5 Hollins Road

Along with Foxdenton Hall, the only other at risk building which is not a church is one of very few pre-industrial revolution buildings in Oldham, with parts of it dating back possibly as far as the 15th century.

It is part of a range of buildings and was split into cottages after it was abandoned in the early 19th century.

The structure is thought to be the oldest of the at risk heritage buildings in Oldham (Image: Google Maps)

Four of the cottages were converted back into one dwelling and extensively restored by the current owners in the 1970s, however, it is now deemed to be at risk because of the poor condition of the roof, which is allowing considerable water ingress.

Historic England has said the Grade II listed building is in a poor condition and slow decay, with a solution yet to be agreed.

Oldham town centre

The town centre, which is part of a conservation area, is said to be in a poor and deteriorating state.

Historic England offers little other details about the state of the area, which it puts at "medium" vulnerability.