Gallery Oldham Collections

Oldham’s museum and gallery service dates back to 1883. Over the last 120 years Oldham Art Gallery and Museum has established itself as the cultural focus of a town that was built around the cotton and engineering industries and has developed one of the largest and most varied permanent collections in the North West of England.

The current collections include over 12,000 social and industrial history items, more than 2,000 works of art, about 1,000 items of decorative art, more than 80,000 natural history specimens, over 1,000 geological specimens, about 3,000 archaeological artefacts, 15,000 photographs and a large number of books, pamphlets and documents.

All of these items belong to the people of Oldham, who are free to come and view their collections. Gallery Oldham’s job is to make sure these items are stored safely and that they are accessible. If you would like to view specific items in the collections, please make an appointment with us before you visit. Either phone us on 0161 770 4653 or e-mail galleryoldham@oldham.gov.uk.

Identification Service

If you have ever wondered how old a family heirloom really is, who the artist who painted your favourite painting is, or seen a strange plant or animal that you couldn’t identify, now is your chance to get some answers. Exhibition Co-ordinators based at Gallery Oldham provide a free object and natural history identification service to members of the public. All you have to do is bring your mystery object to us and we will have a look at it. We can’t promise to have all the answers but if we don’t we will know someone else who does. (Please note, we are unable to give valuations.)

To avoid disappointment, please make an appointment in advance.

Natural History -
Alan Price, Collections Co-ordinator
Tel: 0161 770 4653
Email: alan.price@oldham.gov.uk

Social History -
Sean Baggaley, Collections Co-ordinator
Tel: 0161 770 4653
Email: sean.baggaley@oldham.gov.uk

Fine Arts -
Dinah Winch, Senior Collections Co-ordinator
Tel: 0161 770 4653
Email: dinah.winch@oldham.gov.uk