Radcliffes became possessed of Horsedge hall, it may be deemed to point out the state of the place about 1730. During the twenty years succeeding this period, the prosperity of the woollen, cotton, and hatting manufactures was such, that the number of dwellings rapidly increased as compared with preceding periods, and yet the increase was extremely slow when viewed in conjunction with the changes of later times. A plan of the village as it appeared about 1756 represents the houses as chiefly ranged alongside the ancient read from Rochdale to Ashton-under-Lyne. This highway passed over the summit of Oldham edge, and after leaving Oldham, traversed Greenacres moor, and wound its way by Glodwick and Alt. Nearly opposite the church stood one of the only two public houses in the place, the Nag's Head; and on the other side the road was a bowling-green. East of the Nag's Head were a few houses called Goldbourn and Holebottom; west of the Nag's Head there were some few groups of cottages extending towards the Grammar School, and the White Horse public house. These dwellings formed the village of Oldham, as distinguished from the clusters of houses immediately adjacent, which were designated Roundthorn, Cockhouses, Smithy fold, Priest hill, Boggart-hole, Bent, Thorp hill, Orchard, Knott fold, and Nubcote. The road to Manchester passed down what is now called Water street, alongside Jackson pit, and by Fog lane, and Broadway lane. The entire number of habitations in the place and its immediate adjuncts at this time was about 80. Supposing the inhabitants to have averaged five persons to each house, the population of the village would then be about 400. The population of the town of Oldham in 1841, was 28,077, and the present population of the town is at least 34,000. The population of the town of Ashton-under-Lyne about 1755 was 1000, at present it is about 28,000. The population of Stalybridge in 1748 was 140; present population, 26,000. The population of Manchester and its suburbs in 1757 was about 20,000; present popula-

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