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first regular coach service to
Manchester came into operation in October 1790, with a journey time of over 2 hours and a fare 2s.8d (about 13p), with half fare for travellers on top of the coach. Church lane bustled with businesses servicing the new road, the most famous of which was the Coach and Horses at 3 Church Lane (known as The Masons Arms between 1804 and 1811). Above the door was a Latin inscription: "
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The route of Church Lane passed in front of the old church. It was common in ancient times for the road to pass to the south side of the church or temple as that route was in the sun. To pass to the north would fall within the shadow of the church and was seen as taboo. There is still a superstitious
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Despite the
Turnpike Act 1734, Oldham had no turnpike road to Manchester for another 56 years and Church Lane remained part of the main street through the town. But following the creation of the Manchester, Oldham and Ripponden Trust and a further Act of Parliament the turnpike was constructed. The
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Numbers 1-5 and 2-6 have long since been demolished, making way for a new road and the chambers of the Oldham branch of
Barclays Bank. The oldest remaining building on Church Lane is at number 8 which was built in about 1780 and pre-dates the parish church. This building is possibly the oldest
60:. The lane is significant as it was once part of the prehistoric route through the town which meandered from Hathershaw, via Water Street, Market Place, Church Lane, Church Street, Bow Street, Wallshaw Place, Fowleach, Cross Street then on through Hey to Yorkshire.
67:. The current church building is a relatively recent addition but there have been churches on that site since the 11th century. Archaeologists recognise Church Lane to predate the Romans and a road that is "probably as old as human life in this corner of England."
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Number 8 Church Lane was occupied by solicitors since the late 1790s and was the home of Mellor & Jackson, since about 1920. The logo of the firm depicted the symbol of the turnpike road. The property has been empty since the firm closed in 2023.
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In 1805 the churchyard was enlarged and Church Lane became a cul-de-sac severing the ancient route for ever. The previous continuance of the road (Church Street) was lowered by 6 feet and became an extension of the recently created Church
Terrace.
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until 1990 when it was bought and converted to a cafe by the
Methodist Church and named The Salt Cellar. Following the closure of the county court, the Salt Cellar moved across the lane with number ten becoming the offices of
52:, Greater Manchester, England and one of the few that are still cobbled. It is the only part of the town centre that has survived decades of redevelopment. As a result, all of the buildings on the lane have been designated by
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Oldham County Court moved to New
Radcliffe Street, Oldham in 1998. Despite the loss of the county court, Church Lane remains one of Oldham's legal streets with four firms of solicitors still occupying premises.
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building in the town centre. The rear of number 8 opens onto an alley known as Winter's Court named after the Rev
William Winter, curate of St Peter's Chapel who lived in the Parson's Rooms in the early 1800s.
99:". The pub closed in 1920 but the building survived for a few years as the headquarters of the British Legion until it was demolished in July 1931 to make way for Lord Street.
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The old court house is now occupied by the
Methodist Church which runs a cafe named The Salt Cellar, a Christian book shop and a youth outreach centre from there.
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Numbers 7-9 were a pair of houses but are now in use as offices. They were built around 1800 of brick with stone dressings and Welsh slate roofs.
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prejudice in parts of
England against the north side of a church with many important tombs and monuments being placed to the south.
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Numbers 10-14 were built around 1880 and are all three storeys with a Welsh slate roof. Number 10 had been the headquarters of the
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when questions were asked in
Parliament as to the dampness in the building and whether it caused the death of Judge Edwin Jones.
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Church Lane became the legal heart of the town when Oldham County Court opened in 1894. It was designed by
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and is red brick with white terracotta dressings and has a Westmorland slate roof. It is referred to in
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Oldham Local Studies Library, Roads and Their History; When Emperors Used the Highway Through Oldham.
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In 1785, Church Lane was paved at a cost of £20 probably due to one of Oldham's richest men,
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Oldham Local Studies Library, The Pre-Roman Roads of Oldham by Frederick J. Stubbs
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Number 12 has been occupied by Scott Hyman solicitors since the early 1990s.
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and is the offices of the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth
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Today 'tis mine, Tomorrow, thine, but whose next day I cannot say
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Oldham Local Studies Library, Surveryor's Account Book 1780-81
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Oldham Local Studies Library, Oldham Inns, Taverns and Tokens
339:"Oldham, Greater Manchester, formerly Oldham in Lancashire"
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Oldham Local Studies Library, King's Highway Through Oldham
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Number 11 was built around 1800 and is now occupied by the
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Oldham Local Studies Library, Inns and Alehouses 1714-1992
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Knowledge talk:Articles for creation/Church Lane, Oldham
63:Its existence and name are due to its proximity to
213:14: J Arnold Brierley & Robinson, Solicitors
341:. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013
407:"OLDHAM COUNTY COURT. (Hansard, 1 March 1900)"
93:Nunc mei, mox hujus, Sead postea, nescio cujus
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327:Turnpike trusts in Greater Manchester
272:"Oldham Parish Church | History"
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33:Map of ancient routes through Oldham
228:11A: Vacant pending redevelopment
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393:"County Court, St Mary's, Oldham"
48:is one of the oldest streets in
412:Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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249:"Listed Buildings in Oldham"
210:12: Scott Hyman, Solicitors
463:Roads in Greater Manchester
150:Mellor & Jackson, c2012
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359:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
222:9: UK Credit Management
95:" which translates as "
182:which is now known as
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218:Howarth Housing Group
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225:11: The Labour Party
142:8 Church Lane, c1950
111:The old county court
65:Oldham Parish Church
103:Oldham County Court
175:Conservative Party
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427:"The Salt Cellar"
196:Current occupants
41:Church Lane c1940
16:(Redirected from
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180:Age Concern
134:Present day
46:Church Lane
452:Categories
345:2 November
282:2 November
235:References
201:8: Vacant.
76:John Lees
355:cite web
121:Hansard
458:Oldham
206:Age UK
184:Age UK
50:Oldham
361:link
347:2012
284:2012
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