Lees, Greater Manchester
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lees is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.[1] With a population of 10,132, it is nine miles (14.5 km) northeast of the City of Manchester and two miles (3.2 km) east of Oldham.
Historically part of Lancashire, Lees lies on the steep foothills of the Pennines bordering Springhead in Saddleworth. The border between the two is known locally as "County End", as this forms part of the ancient county boundary between Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The settlement dates back to the 14th Century, and is thought to have been named after former retainer of the manor, John de Leghes.[citation needed] In the early 19th Century the village gained a reputation for its mineral springs, but the Industrial Revolution brought cotton spinning to the town in the form of eleven mills, changing the character of the village completely (as indeed the rest of the wider Oldham area).
[edit] Recent growth
Lees has grown in size recently in terms of both amenities and residential population, in its role as a commuter village for people working in Oldham and West Yorkshire. It is also home to several medium-scale commercial and distribution companies. The main street is notable for the number of Pubs in close proximity. Starting with the "Lees Brook", then "The Angel" followed by "The Swan" and finally "The Red Lion" with further up the hill (technically in Springhead) "The Railway & Commercial" AKA "The Front House" and "The Commercial" AKA "The Top House" It also has a number of Bars including "Legends of Lees", "Cafe Bar Milan" and "Bar Coco".
A Saddleworth & Lees area committee meets regularly to discuss the progress of the villages.
[edit] Governance
Between 1894 and 1974, Lees constituted Lees Urban District, in the administrative county of Lancashire. As it was situated entirely between the County Borough of Oldham and the West Riding of Yorkshire, it constituted an exclave of the administrative county of Lancashire.
[edit] Geography
The village consists of a small cluster of shops and businesses on either side of the A669 Lees Road, surrounded by some terraced houses and some small estates. Lees is separated from the main conurbation of Oldham by a small amount of green belt land in the valley of Leesbrook, on either bank of the River Medlock.
[edit] Transport
Lees is accessed on the roads on the A669 from Saddleworth and Oldham. Along this road, there are frequent buses running towards Oldham and Manchester on First Manchester's 180 and 184 services. Other destinations which can be reached from Lees on the bus are Huddersfield, Hyde, Middleton, Mossley, Saddleworth and Stalybridge. The bus services in Lees are:
- 180 Greenfield - Grotton - Lees - Oldham - Hollinwood - Failsworth - Newton Heath - Manchester (First Manchester)
- 184 Huddersfield - Marsden - Diggle - Uppermill - Oldham - Hollinwood - Failsworth - Newton Heath - Manchester (First Manchester/First Calderdale & Huddersfield)
- 343 Oldham - Greenacres - Lees - Grotton - Mossley - Stalybridge - Hyde (Mon-Sat daytime: Speedwellbus / Eve/Sun (via Greenacres): First Manchester)
- 344 Oldham - Waterhead - Lees - Grotton - Mossley - Stalybridge - Hyde (Speedwellbus)
- 415 Holts Estate - Lees - Greenacres - Oldham - Butler Green - Foxdenton - Alkrington - Middleton (First Manchester)
- X84 Carrcote - Uppermill - Grotton - Lees - Garden Suburb - Hollinwood - Failsworth - Newton Heath - Manchester (First Manchester - Peak times only)
There is also no train station. Lees railway station closed in 1955, followed by the complete closure of the line in 1964.[2] The nearest train stations to Lees now are:
- Oldham Mumps, for journeys to Manchester Victoria, Shaw & Crompton and Rochdale.
- Greenfield or Mossley, for journeys to Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge, Ashton-under-Lyne and Huddersfield.
[edit] Notable people
- Helen Bradley, acclaimed artist.
- Phil Woolas, British Politian (MP and Minister of State)
[edit] References
- ^ "Official British Place Name Archives - Lees", Greater Manchester County Records Office - URL accessed June 13, 2006
- ^ An Illustrated History of Oldham's Railways by John Hooper (ISBN 1-871608-19-8)
