W. S.W. of Huddersfield, 18 S.W. of Halifax, I51/2 E.S.E. of Bolton-le-Moors, 351/2 S.E. of Preston, and 31/2 E. of Middleton.

The ancient parochial chapelry, modern parish, and parliamentary borough are co-extensive, and comprise four Townships, namely - Oldham, Crompton, Royton, and Chadderton. The chapelry, parish, or borough is 71/2 miles in length from N.N.E. to S.S.W., and 4 in breadth from W. to E., and comprises 9,679 statute acres.

It is difficult to determine the precise origin of the name of Oldham. At the first glance it seems obviously to imply the old village or place, from Eald (Saxon) signifying Old, and Ham (Saxon) a house, farm, or village.

In tracing the probable derivation of the names of places there is often considerable light thrown upon the subject by ascertaining the designations imparted to the localities sought after, in the earliest records extant. The first mention of Oldham in any existing, document is to be met with in the Testa de Neville, a survey of landed property of the age of Edward II. 1307-1327, preserved in the chapter house, Westminster, in which the name is expressed as Aldholme. The designation Ald may be regarded as denoting a prominent, high, or elevated situation; and the affix holme frequently occurs as a Saxon provincialism for meadow land. In accordance therefore with this conjecture the name simply imports the the meadow on the hill; and the idea thus embodied receives no little strength, when it is remembered that within memory there was a rich meadow of deep loamy soil in the hollow to the south of Horsedge Hall, the ancient mansion of the Oldham family. If the manner of the native pronunciation of the name be any guide to its origin, probably Howd is to be understood as How

6