For many years the Oldham Chronicle was the source of news for the town. In its pages are thousands of stories capturing life in Oldham. Some of you may even remember having your own picture in the newspaper.
In August 2017 the last Oldham Chronicle newspaper came off the press and the newsroom closed. Oldham Archives stepped in to save the archive. The collection holds many fascinating local stories and covers all aspects of the newspaper’s operation and reach. The Chronicle archive is 77.3 cubic metres in size, which would fill around three quarters of a double decker bus, and consists of the firm’s own business records, news cuttings covering key people, events, places, communities, crime and sport plus photographs and negatives or glass slides dating back to the 1930s.
Since then, the Oldham Chronicle archive has been stored safely offsite whilst Oldham Archives have been focused on building a new search room and store which will open in the town centre in Autumn 2025.
The Oldham Chronicle archive has not been forgotten; over the next few years our ambition is to make it more accessible to the public. We are delighted to receive a Scoping Grant of £3000 from The National Archives (TNA) to take the first step in understanding what is in this extraordinary archive.
Hold the Front Page: Chronicling Oldham Life will enable Oldham Archives to sample the potential of the Oldham Chronicle archive. The focus of this project is on records that reflect life in Oldham and how they connect with Oldham’s communities today.
Oldham Archives is the home to the documented history of Oldham borough. We want anyone with a connection to Oldham to feel that our service is theirs to use.
Through this project Oldham Archives will find ways to expand existing audiences, work with new communities and harness the skills and knowledge of volunteers. By gaining a better understanding of how the content of the collection relates to Oldham’s diverse communities, we will build a stronger plan to set out next steps to make the collection more accessible and apply for further funding.
Councillor Peter Dean said, “The Oldham Chronicle had something for everyone. Over its 163-year history, its staff ensured the significant and everyday stories about life in Oldham reached the homes of the town’s residents. This project will help us identify stories that connect with communities and groups who are underrepresented in our archive collections.”
