We are open to the public 1 - 4 pm every day
(except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day)
There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection to self-isolate, however if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
Access for disabled people,
For the current covid restriction. Please check our visitor information page.
An introduction to our Galleries
There is something for all the family and although the galleries are wheelchair friendly, you will also find plenty of places to have a sit down.
Before the visitor starts the tour of the galleries, they may like to ask for the family trail or one of our activity bags suitable for children. For the family trail pick up your clue and question sheet from reception and find out which figures we have “hidden” around the galleries. There are also activity areas for dressing up, colouring, weaving and other interactives. Also walk-in areas and discovery drawers that help children engage with the museum, (our activity bag for use on the activity table in gallery three may be avialable).
The museum galleries tell the story of the people, events and history that have created Saddleworth’s landscape and character. The visitor will find that this has been done using a well-designed mix of technologies, old and new, with several “interactive” areas for both young and old. Our galleries do this within the carefully restored fabric of a building that still retains the character you would expect from a building dated 1862. All the four galleries, over two floors, are well lit with additional spotlighting dedicated to highlighting specific display points and an extensive use of clear story boards. Whilst a few items may have some glass, or rail protection, the visitor can still get close enough to see the detail. In other areas, such as the walk-in Victorian parlour, it is possible for the visitor to walk into the space and touch some of the items. New, and old, technologies have been used within many of the visitor interactives and eventually we hope it will be possible to view our collections database, and more, on a secure workstation within gallery three.
Gallery One – ground floor (Due to the current restrictions the interactives will not be available but we may be able to provide a restricted family trail – bring your own pen or pencil!)
This gallery starts with the geology of the Saddleworth area, and then explores the human history, artefacts, and other physical remains in an archaeological display of some of our more interesting collections. There are also several fascinating displays about transportation. The archaeological history, geology, and transportation in the Saddleworth area at the time would help determine the activities, occupations and manufacturing processes and we present some of those here. Especially important are the development of the canals and railways and how local supplies of water played a part in the progress of the industrial revolution. The visitor can connect all these elements by viewing the collections, reading the story boards and labels and our interactives which we hope help explain and hold the interest of young and old alike. There are also records, displays and interactives of the local “People” shaped by this environment and so much more.
Gallery Two – ground floor (Due to the current restrictions the interactives will not be available but we may be able to provide a restricted family trail – bring your own pen or pencil!)
This is, in some ways, is our “signature” gallery with its stunning glass atrium and featured displays of those major Saddleworth icons, the Dobcross Loom and the scaled replica Rushcart of the one used by the Morris Men in 2012 with the museum’s 50th anniversary recognised on the banner used. This and the sash embroidery for the Morris Man on top were all beautifully replicated by the museum’s “Friends” and volunteers. Here we explore Saddleworth’s unique position in the cotton versus wool debate with our collections and story boards helping explain the similarities, and differences, in manufacture Gallery two also has truly breath-taking collections of costume made and worn at the time and of course we have several related interactives (“weave away”, “putting you in the picture” etc.) to help enhance the experience. From here the visitor may use the stairs (or the lift behind reception for wheelchair users) to move up to the first floor galleries.
Gallery Three – first floor (Due to the current restrictions the interactives will not be available but we may be able to provide a restricted family trail – bring your own pen or pencil!)
Those taking the stairs will enter this gallery near our “Pots and Pans viewing window” and will also have an excellent top to bottom view of the Rushcart to their right. For the visitor wanting to sit and stare awhile we have a small bench seat near the viewing window and a “picture show” on the opposite wall. Those taking the lift will enter this gallery at the far end near our Peterloo display and storyboard. This gallery reflects very much the social change in Saddleworth’s own industrial revolution from early cottage life, to religion and reform, and has lots of hidden little “gems” not to be missed. Four of these gems must be the George Dew clock mechanism which runs the museum clock to this day, the outside “lavvy“, the handloom and our cabinet of “mystery” objects. We have “opened up” rooms such as a cottage room and a Victorian kitchen and parlour, so the visitor can touch and feel some of the items from bygone times. There are also learning story boards, interactives and an activity desk for children where we invite them to try the current craft activity. Our church and chapel display with significant other social commentary, such as Peterloo, complete gallery three. There is just about something for everyone in this gallery.
Gallery Four – first floor
A turn out of gallery three takes the visitor into gallery four. Visitors in the days before our last refurbishment, may have known this as the “Carnegie” gallery and we have utilised some of the previous, sound, robust (and useful for storage) display cabinets. The Lord Rhodes display is lovingly maintained by members of the family to this day. The gallery holds many of our most interesting, ever changing, rather miscellaneous collections. Currently we have a “Pelham Puppets” display, toys, brass bands, memorabilia, utensils and story boards about Saddlewort’s past.
We have one display area devoted to the unsolved murder at the Moorcock Inn (Bill o Jacks) in 1832, a commemorative display to the two World Wars and a magnificent wedding dress from our collections currently on display. The children will no doubt find the final “putting you in the picture” dressing up area where they can dress up as soldier or nurse. “Around the corner” we have haberdashery and looking back through the decades (currently 40’s and 60’s) displays. Many of the collections in this gallery (except the Lord Rhodes display) are subject to change as we rotate the items in our collections stores.
..before you leave
On your left, as you leave gallery four we usually display a group of magnificant botanical studies from our collections by Joan Charnley (1928 – 2016). Joan was a textile designer, botanical artist and travel journal writer. Born in 1928 in Southport, Joan studied Textile Design at Manchester School of Art between 1948 and 1953 before becoming a tutor and artist in Great Yarmouth. In 1963 she moved to Saddleworth. Joan donated many items for our collections and was a great “Friend” of the museum.
Joan’s work is often out on loan to other museums or galleries. We often invite a local artist to occupy the space short term to exhibit their work for viewing or sale so this area is subject to change and we cannot guarantee what you will see.
It is now possible to either, retrace your steps back to the ground floor, or leave by the exit only door (this exit is only suitable for wheelchair users seeking a refuge point on this floor in an emergency it is not suitable for wheelchair users needing to exit this floor). Wheelchair users would need to go back to go back to the lift access in gallery 3. Those using this exit by foot would find some steps down to the community gallery and the current free to view art exhibition.
Those families who have completed the family trail or have family bags should return these to reception. Please browse in our shop, or book an event, before you leave and we always value your entry in our visitors comment book in the foyer entrance. Your views encourage us to continue to work at what we are doing or try to find a way to improve the vistor’s experience. Please, also share your experiencee with us on Facebook with a message or photographs. If you have taken any special photographs you think would improve our gallery of images on this website please send them to our curator.
We hope you enjoyed your visit and we look forward to your return!
Saddleworth Museum and Gallery
High Street Uppermill, Saddleworth, Oldham OL3 6HS
Call us on 01457 87 4093 or Email curator@saddleworthmuseum.co.uk
Contact the curator