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Revision as of 22:33, 26 October 2006 by M A Mason (talk | contribs) (Correct misspellings of Saddleworth)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Saddleworth White Rose Society is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of the historic county of Yorkshire as the primary geographic reference frame for the English civil parish of Saddleworth. Saddleworth was made part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester under the Local Government Act 1972, and the group, associated with the more general Yorkshire Ridings Society, aims to gain wider recognition for the use of the historic county system over the modern county system.
Successive legistlation regarding county status in the United Kingdom has led to confusion and debate by some sects of the Saddleworth community as to which system should constitue the foremost reference frame.
The Society promotes their contention that Saddlworth remains in Yorkshire, rather than form part of Greater Manchester, via the publication of its newsletter and the organisation of various events, most notably on August 1 - Yorkshire Day.
Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county based around the connurbation surrounding the city of Manchester. However Saddleworth is highly rural, and is at the far reaches, if at all part of, the Greater Manchester connubation. Saddleworth is also the only part of the Metropolitan borough of Oldham which formed part of Yorkshire, the rest being in Lancashire.
The Society is affiliated to the Association of British Counties and has expressed support for the CountyWatch direct action group.
Commentary
The Prince of Wales referred to Saddleworth's continuing Yorkshire status when he visited the area in 2001: "The fact that Saddleworth is still part of the historic West Riding is extremely important".
References
- Newsletter No 29 Winter 2005/2006. Saddleworth White Rose Society.
- David McKie: Elsewhere,The Guardian 23 September 2004