Oldham’s new town centre park to be named ‘Tommyfield Park’

Oldham Council has announced that the town’s new five-acre park - currently under construction in the town centre - will be named Tommyfield Park, in honour of the historic Tommyfield Market.

The name is a tribute to a site that has been central to Oldham’s community life for more than two centuries.  

Tommyfield Market will close its doors this August as part of the town centre’s wider regeneration programme.  

The name traces its roots back to farmland once owned by a local man named Tommy. The market officially began in the early 19th century on what became known as the “Tommyfield Estate.” 

In 1860, Tommyfield gained national culinary fame when it became the first place in Britain to sell fried chips, a tradition that would spark the nation’s love affair with fish and chips. A blue plaque commemorates this delicious moment in history. 

With the market’s closure, the next chapter in Oldham’s story begins. Tommyfield Park will be a fully self-sustaining green space, featuring: 

• Solar-powered lighting 
• Wildlife friendly landscaping 
• Open green areas for families and residents 
• A commitment to sustainability and biodiversity 

Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah said: “Tommyfield has always been a big part of life in Oldham. It’s so much more than just a market. For so many of us, it’s a place full of memories. Generations of people have come here to shop, to work and to be part of something that feels like home. 

"That’s why we’re naming our new park in the town centre Tommyfield Park, to honour that history and the people who’ve made it so special. We want to carry the spirit of Tommyfield forward into something new that everyone can enjoy. 

"While the market is moving to a new space, its name and everything it stands for will live on, at the heart of the town and in what comes next for Oldham.

"This is the end of an era for Tommyfield, but also the start of something new. The new park will be a wonderful addition to Oldham and breathe new life into our town centre.”