A railway viaduct with 23 arches, waterside walking routes and a museum on the Huddersfield Canal reveal different sides of Uppermill. The village brings together traces of its industrial history, routes along the River Tame and historic buildings. When looking for a holiday rental, it may help to consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on walks, the Saddleworth Museum or the village’s architectural and memorial sites.
Waterside walking routes
Uppermill has walking routes along the canal and river. The Proud Mary Walk follows the River Tame through the village. An alternative route is available that avoids stiles.
The “By Turnpike and Towpath in Saddleworth” route starts at the Saddleworth Museum car park on Uppermill High Street. It goes along Uppermill High Street and Wool Road, and the return leg follows the towpath of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. While the Proud Mary Walk follows the River Tame through the village, the second route focuses on the High Street, Wool Road and the canal towpath. The routes therefore differ in the places and landscapes they pass through.
Museum, mill history and landscape
Saddleworth Museum is on the Huddersfield Canal in the village of Uppermill. Its galleries tell the story of the people who shaped the landscape and character of Saddleworth. The museum thus offers a cultural and historical perspective on the wider Saddleworth landscape, while the routes along the canal and river provide another way to experience the area.
Uppermill was once known for its wool and cotton mills. The Ladcastle Quarries define the western side of the village and now appear as a natural feature of the landscape. Together, the former mills and the quarries as they appear today represent different aspects of the area’s history and landscape.
Buildings and memorial sites
Uppermill Viaduct is a railway viaduct dating from 1849, with a total of 23 arches. St Chads House is a Grade II listed building dating from 1798. Its façade was designed in the mid-19th century and extended in the 20th century. These different dates give the building a history that spans its origins in the 18th century and later alterations.
St Chad's War Memorial was erected in 1921 in memory of the First World War and later expanded to include additions for the Second World War. It commemorates 252 men from the Saddleworth area who died in the First World War. The former Wesleyan chapel is also connected with Uppermill Methodist Church, which was founded in 1813.
Finding your way around the village
The park complex of Saint Chad’s Gardens and King George V Playing Fields is in the centre of the tourist village, away from the High Street. It can also be reached via Wade Row and St. Marys Gate and is connected to linear walking routes along the River Tame and the Huddersfield Canal. The village layout thus brings together green spaces, riverside routes and canal routes as distinct points of reference.
The nearest railway station to Saddleworth Museum is Greenfield. It is just over half a mile away on the line between Manchester and Huddersfield. If you choose Uppermill as your base, you can shape your stay around the things that interest you most: waterside walking routes, the museum, or the architectural and memorial sites.
Discover more destinations: Mottram In Longdendale, Altrincham, Pemberton, Ramsbottom, Whitefield, Farnworth, Prestwich, Bolton
For the overview of the wider area: Greater Manchester.
