Historic England has launched an exhibition of work, carried out by children from primary schools across Oldham, exploring the local history of the area.   The exhibition, on display at Gallery Oldham, showcases the work completed by the schools as part of their involvement in the Heritage Schools programme.   The Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough, Dr Zahid Chauhan, as well as Councillor Eddie Moores, Councillor Peter Dean and Councillor Shaid Mushtaq joined pupils to find out more about the rich cultural, social and industrial heritage on the doorsteps of the schools involved.  

Pupils have learnt about the fascinating history of the area, from Oldham’s industrial prowess built around the cotton industry and the many mills still standing as a reminder today, to important local figures such as Annie Kenney who played a key role in the Suffragette movement. The banners on display show how each school approaches the local history curriculum in Oldham.

Stephen Potts, History Lead at Knowsley Junior School, said: “Being part of the Heritage Schools programme has enabled us to help our pupils make a connection with the fascinating history surrounding them and to understand how these buildings and places relate to the story of Oldham but also to the story of Britain and the wider world.  By including local stories, we have been able to make our history lessons more real, relevant and engaging for the pupils in our school.”

Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough, Councillor Dr Zahid Chauhan FRCGP OBE said: “I was delighted to be at the launch of the Oldham Schools Local History Exhibition, and to see local children from across the community being encouraged to discover more about the rich culture and industrial heritage the area has.”

Historic England’s Daisy Horsley said: “It has been fantastic to work with primary schools across Oldham to launch this exhibition to showcase Oldham’s rich industrial and cultural heritage, and to inspire understanding, curiosity and often a sense of pride in local areas.”

Historic England is encouraging teachers, schools and families to visit the exhibition which is on display at Gallery Oldham and Oldham Library until 3 July.  If schools want to find out more about Heritage Schools and how they can be involved, they can go to Historic England’s webpage. To find out more about the Gallery Oldham schools offer visit this page on our website.