Saddleworth Historical Society

Saddleworth Place Names

                                                                                                                    Ravenstones, Greenfield by Ammon Wrigley                         

Saddleworth is a region of dramatic natural  features.  Its rivers, cloughs, hills and moorland hilltops have over time each acquired a unique designation.  Combined with the fact that, for most of its history,  Saddleworth was an area of scattered settlements, each with its own distinctive name; sometimes derived from the occupants of the settlement, sometimes from the physical location, sometimes from the name of field or enclosure on which the site was originally established; it is not surprising that, like other areas in the Pennine uplands, Saddleworth  boasts a wealth of interesting and varied place names.

As an aid to  local and family history researchers, and those not so familiar with the district,  a comprehensive compendium  of Saddleworth place names is listed below. The names are taken from the first 6" Ordnance Survey Map of Saddleworth published in 1849-51 (Yorkshire West Riding Sheets 258, 259, 270, 271 and 279).  This survey represented the first systematic attempt at recording place names in Great Britain and considerable local consultation took place in ascertaining  correct names and spellings.   The 1849-51 list is not exhaustive; old deeds, parish records and church registers mention others, some now long forgotten and some whose location is now unknown.  In relation to the large number recorded by the Ordnance survey, however, the number from other sources is small and the mid nineteenth century survey represents a comprehensive and valuable reference.

Next to each place name is given the six digit National Grid Reference.  These relate to the SD and SE 100Km squares of the national grid,  the west of Saddleworth falling in the SD square and the east the SE square.  Each place name is linked to a map showing the 1Km square in which the place name is located.  A Reference Map shows the location of each 1Km map in relation the whole of Saddleworth.

Just select the initial letter of the place you are looking for

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M
N O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z