Fenny Hill

View from Alt Hill Road of the chimneys of the ironworks roller shop to the left and cotton mill to the right

Over the River Medlock at the Park Bridge industrial heritage site

On the Park Bridge industrial heritage site

A railway line from Manchester to Oldham was opened in 1847. In 1863 the line was extended to Rochdale. Railway operations ended on 3 October 2009, and the Oldham Loop Line was closed for conversion to Matrolink. The line was completely rebuilt, with all of the former infrastructure, including the former stations and station buildings demolished, and replaced, and overhead wiring added. The line was re-opened in phases: Tram services started on 13 June 2012 between Manchester and Oldham Mumps: As a temporary measure, until the town centre line was completed, the former railway line through Oldham Mumps was retained, and a temporary tram stop constructed in place of the former railway station. A permanent stop called Oldham Mumps was later opened on the town centre line in a different location. Services were extended to Shaw and Crompton on 16 December 2012, and to Rochdale Railway Station on 28 February 2013. The Oldham town centre line opened on 27 January 2014, allowing the section of former railway line, and temporary stop at Oldham Mumps to be permanently closed. The Rochdale town centre line opened on 31 March 2014.

The Grade II listed former bank Link at Mumps dates from 1902. The bank, originally the Manchester and County, was created by renowned Manchester architects Mills & Murgatroyd. It featured a unique baroque copper-crowned tower and a polished red granite base. Inside, the banking hall housed a 50ft mahogany counter. The bank was taken over by NatWest in 1970. In 1995 it was closed when NatWest merged their Mumps and Yorkshire Street branches. It was put on the market for £170,000. Plans the following year to turn the building into a pub fell through. Several later refurbishment plans have also failed. The building is a focal point within the bus/metrolink tram interchange.

Next to the Metrolink tram stop at Mumps are several bus stops. On the left is the Grade II listed former NatWest bank Link SD9305 : Former NatWest bank.

Only the ground floor of this three storey building are currently occupied. Before becoming Frango's this was Fusion 21. Before that the right hand portion had been Kava and the left hand portion the site office for Westshield. Before Westshield that part had been The Hair Lounge. Around 2012 the right hand side was called Langham House. In 2009 the building was home to a photography studio Xpressions. All the adjoining buildings towards Yorkshire Street were demolished around 2016. There are plans to convert the upper storeys into apartments.

Link

Like many such buildings has seen many alternative uses from when it was built as a theatre

The path goes from Oldham to Grotton following the Oldham to Greenfield railway line. Much of the route is on infill such as here looking east from Glodwick Road, Oldham

This view across Cranbrook Street just off the path shows the route is on the top of infill, since only the bridge parapet is visible of the former railway bridge. The path is on the former Oldham to Greenfield line.

The path is approaching the former railway bridge at St. John Street which is one of the few not infilled on the route. The path runs from Oldham to Grotton along the former line to Greenfield.