From: GALLERY : A PICTORIAL BACKGROUND TO THE LIFE & TIMES OF WILLIAM ROWBOTTOM, circa 1757 - 1830
The Brierley Map : Oldham Market Place, High Street & Yorkshire Street, 1815
Drawn by CP Brierley, many years later and copied in 1929.
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Courtesy of Oldham Local Studies & Archives
Not to be reproduced without permission of Oldham Local Studies & Archives
The Brierley Map : Oldham Market Place, High Street & Yorkshire Street, 1815
Drawn by CP Brierley from memory, many years later, and copied in 1929.
The Original in Oldham Local Studies and Archives is on 2 sheets of A4 size paper; in colour. Handwritten notes on back.
Ref BR1/1 and BR1/2
illegible words shown as _ _ _
BR1/1
The following is written on the back of the map :
"On the rejoicing day they shot old Bony(sic) in effigy. I did dance when I saw his cocked hat and straw fly in the air. I was nearly burning this sketch it is such a botch but it will give you an idea who was living in Market Place at that time.
Stump did not _ _ _
_ _ _ Mother did not _ _ _ Rowbottom.
It is not correct in many points. Connels Hamlet 'Loire'(sic) and 'Dog & Partridge' I think where(sic) the only stone houses. Lots of Public Houses and Butchers shop. It is easier to find fault than mend it. C... Frith and Barber Wild's houses where(sic) down in hollow. I recollect one morning snow reached near to the slates and we tunnelled an(sic) hole for them to get out. Lots of neighbours with hand shovels. ........ in Manchester Street was down two steps. One story(sic) high us lads could touch the slate. Opposite was up 5 or 6 steps to Crown & Cushion kept by Mary Heap sister to James Heap pf Cock Inn and Hannah Booth of Dog IOnn Cowhill and John Heap Wesleyan minister and Joe Waterhouse wife Butcher.
flags colour of every description flying from every house and Bonaparte on his way to St. Helena. He was the terror to all.
Old bob Farrand lived near to Red LIon. He used to run into his house for his best hat whenever he saw Sir Watts Horton of Chadderton Hall coming to make his bow. Us lads used to do it when Sir Thomas Horton. I did not know Sir Watts. No gas nor waterworks then.
I was one of the young Campbell pump set.
BR1/2
I remember Kings Arms and Connell shops being built.
I was one of the commissioners to superintend the building of Town Hall, Andrew Schofield, James Rowland, Edward Wright, Richard Stump and myself. I was very near falling into the stone quarry one night. I had been to Mr. Jones's of Walshaw Street then 23 years of age. I just remember the houses opposite the stocks us lads went one night up the stone steps about 10 or 12 in the chamber singing. Tubs where (sic) made at the round about shop. You could make a sketch fit to be seen from this. Everyone will laugh at it. except some old person. My father John Brierley lived and died in the Market Place my grandfather Joseph Brierley in George Street, then Bardsley Brow my great grandfather John Brierley in Chapel Street and was tailor in _ _ . The stone _ _ was used to distribute provisions to the poor people not allowed to have more than a certain quantity of flour according to the number of the family not evan(sic) if they would pay for it. Talk of the good old times I want to see them no more. Bread once a day and then it was as thodden as clay for a brick. After that we imported American flour in tubs so good and so white. and repeal of the Corn laws. I made a botch of the church roofs. and _ _ the privies. _ _ send a dog in a newspaper for little Johnny. "
