Grotton
“Blink and you’ll miss it” – that’s commonly how the tiny village of Grotton is described as it is probably one of the smallest villages in the Saddleworth area. It does however, maintain a strong neighbourhood identity with a thriving community centre, a successful Whit Friday brass band contest whilst offering some picturesque areas of local countryside.

The village was once home to its own station (located at the bottom of Station Road) and even now the north platform it is still recognisable and forms part of the pleasant linear park walk from Grotton to Springhead. This station was positioned alongside the famous Delph Donkey railway line as part of the L. & N.W.R. branch-line linking Saddleworth with Oldham. And as well as the north platform, the impressive Station House still survives today as a private residence and retains much of its original character.

What really put Grotton on the map as a village in its own right, was the opening of the Grotton Lido in the 1930s, believed to be the biggest open-air bathing pool in the country. It had a brief, but popular existence, along with its 180ft long pool its facilities included a water chute and a high diving board. A dance floor and bandstand, on which the White Star Dance Band would play on Tuesday and Saturday evenings, completed its ensemble of popular features. Sadly, adverse weather and the onset of the Second World War brought about its closure. The only evidence remaining that these attractions existed is Lido House; occupying what was once part of the open-air swimming pool site is now a sheltered housing residence opposite the Grotton Hotel.