Thornham, Greater Manchester

Thornham is a suburban area straddling Middleton, Royton and Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England.^[1][2] The area crosses the border of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham and the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale and is divided at a constituency and electoral ward level.^[2]

Thornham
St John the Evangelist Church, Thornham
Thornham Location within Greater Manchester
OS grid reference	SD910096
Metropolitan borough	Oldham Rochdale
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OLDHAM
Postcode district	OL2
Post town	ROCHDALE
Postcode district	OL16
Dialling code	0161 01706
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Oldham West and Royton Rochdale
List of places UK England Greater Manchester 53.583123°N 2.135204°W / 53.583123; -2.135204

Historically part of Lancashire, Thornham was once a township within the parish of Middleton, encompassing the outlying hamlets of Slattocks, Stake Hill, Buersill Head and Tandle Hill, before being divided between Middleton, Royton, and Rochdale by the Local Government Act 1894.^[3] Part of this area was known as Gravel Hole, because of large gravel pits, and is still referred to as such on some maps.

Governance

Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire since the early 12th century, Thornham was a township in the ecclesiastical parish of Middleton and Oldham poor law union.^[1] In 1879, part of the township was included in the area of the commissioners for the improvement of Middleton and Tonge townships, and in 1886 became part of the municipal borough of Middleton.^[1] In 1879, other parts of the township were included in the Royton and Castleton-by-Rochdale local boards of health.^[1] In 1894 the township was dissolved and its area divided between Middleton, Royton Urban District and Castleton-by-Rochdale Urban District, with the latter district divided between the County Borough of Rochdale and Municipal Borough of Heywood in 1900.^[1]

Transport

The intersection of the M62 and the A627(M) is known as Thornham Interchange.^[4]

Education

Thornham is served by "Thornham St. James Cof E Primary School" (which lies within the border of Royton and is thus administered by Oldham L.E.A) and "St John's CE Primary Thornham" (which lies within Rochdale), and thus administered by Rochdale L.E.A.^[5] For secondary education, St Cuthbert's RC High School is also located in the Rochdale part of the area.

Notable people

• Sir Harry Platt, 1st Baronet, orthopaedic surgeon^[6]

References

1. "Greater Manchester Gazetteer". Greater Manchester County Record Office. Place Names T to W. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
2. "Greater Manchester Final Recommendations" (JPG). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
3. Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 173–174. ISBN 978-0-7129-1055-2.
4. M62 J20 Thornham Interchange, accessed 10 November 2018
5. St John's CE Primary Thornham – Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council Archived 6 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
6. Duthie, R. B. (September 2010) [2004]. "Platt, Sir Harry, first baronet (1886–1986)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/40077. Retrieved 20 July 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)