Historical architects and architectural milestones in Oldham
1. The Stott Family – Mills that defined Oldham
One of the most influential names in Oldham’s architecture is the firm Stott & Sons, founded by Abraham Henthorn Stott in Oldham in 1847. The practice designed over 190 buildings, mainly cotton mills — many of them in Lancashire and several in Oldham itself.
His son, Sir Philip Sidney Stott (1858-1937), further expanded on the family practice and is credited with designing 22 mills in Oldham and 55 elsewhere in Lancashire, accounting for 40 % of the new spindles laid down in Oldham between 1887 and 1914.
These mills were not just industrial: many of them were designed with structural innovations (e.g., triple brick arches, steel beams) and aesthetic ambition — making them architectural statements of their era.
Their legacy remains visible in Oldham’s urban fabric, showing how architecture served industry, identity and place.
2. Edward Potts – Fire-proofing and form
Edward Potts (1839–1909) practised in Oldham and made significant contributions to mill design. Among his innovations was the use of seven-inch thick concrete floors, an alternative to the usual triple brick arch method, to create more rigid floor structures for spinning machinery. He designed around 200 mills in his career, sixteen of which were in Oldham. His work demonstrates how architectural ingenuity was integral to the industrial success of Oldham in the Victorian era.
3. Ernest Simister & the civic-commercial turn
Moving beyond mills, Ernest Simister (1877-1959) was born in Oldham and practised locally. He formed the partnership Taylor & Simister in Oldham in 1913 and undertook civic, commercial and institutional work, including extensions to the Oldham Royal Infirmary, Oldham Town Hall and other public-works. His career marks the shift from heavy industry-led architecture to buildings serving the broader life of the town.
This progression shows that when people search “Architect Oldham”, they are not just referring to mill architects, but to the full architectural heritage that shaped its evolution.
Why this matters for the modern architect in Oldham
When clients search for “Architect Oldham” they’re implicitly looking for someone who understands:
- The industrial heritage and the character of Oldham’s built fabric.
- The way older buildings (mills, public offices, historic housing) might need adaptation for modern uses without losing identity.
- Local planning context: heritage, conservation areas, listed buildings, change of use, regeneration.
The historical architects of Oldham left a legacy not only in form, but in the way architecture responded to economy, society and place. A modern practice in Oldham needs to step into that continuum.
Belal Rashid Technical Architecture: building on the legacy
We are based in Oldham, so we operate within the town’s planning and built-environment framework and know the context intimately.
We have experience across commercial, residential, heritage, and mixed-use projects, which are all key fields in Oldham’s regeneration agenda.
We adopt the careful, standards-referenced approach you’d expect when working with older buildings (drawing on our survey and technical architecture background).
We align with your search intent: when someone types “Architect Oldham”, we ensure the phrase is integrated into our content and positioning, delivering both local presence and design/technical competence.
