Oldham & Son Ltd

Hyde Rd, Denton
This engineering works was situated on the south side of Hyde Rd, between Saxon St and Bond St, near the hat factory of Booth & Moores.

The company was established in 1865 as a general engineering company making machinery for the hatting and mining industries. Oldham lamps became well known in the mining industry and it was dissatisfaction with the quality of the batteries used that led the company to move into the battery business. During the Great War (1914-18) it was temporarily converted into a munitions works for the manufacture of shells.

Subsequently, the company expanded on the north side of Hyde Rd, where it specialised in the manufacture of batteries.

	Oldham & Son Ltd, early 20th century. South side of Hyde Rd, Denton.
Shell manufacture during the Great War. In the foreground are examples of some of the shells that were manufactured by Oldham & Son Ltd. The man seated in the middle of the front row is Harry Holt and standing behind him in the back row is his son, also called Harry Holt. Both became directors of the company.	Shell manufacture during the Great War.