UPPERMILL
The Saddleworth Museum and Gallery on the High Street is open every day from 1pm to 4pm (though the art gallery itself is closed until November 2026, so do check before you visit). They’re in a wonderful location on the canal and have a super gallery collection that tells the story of Saddleworth through the eyes of Saddleworthians. They have regular exhibitions of artwork by amateur and professional local and nationally acclaimed artists. The details of their art exhibitions can be found here.
They also have a decent shop that sells local hand-crafted items, many with a Saddleworth theme, alongside toys, DVDs, cards, souvenir items, jewellery, maps, walking guides, and books about Saddleworth. One great resource available at the museum is their archive that contains photographs, deeds, wills, census returns and Parish records dating back as far as the late 1500s.
They also have the nicest toilets in the village (20p a go if you are not visiting the museum) and the friendly and helpful staff are great sources of local knowledge.
Millyard Gallery is upstairs at 97 High Street, above Garratt’s Wine Merchant in the square. It was founded in 1985 by Joan and John Frost and has moved twice since. It shows original work by established and emerging artists, with three main exhibitions a year and the artwork and ceramics changing in between. Everything is for sale, and the Own Art scheme lets you spread the cost over ten months interest-free.
The gallery is also home to Saddleworth Picture Framing, where Rebecca and Janis do all the framing on the premises.
DELPH
The Gallery Down the Stairs is hidden away below Saddleworth Crafts Centre in Delph. They generally open at weekends (Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm), but it’s worthwhile checking in advance before visiting. They present the artwork of local artist Richard Clare, famous for his wonderful Saddleworth Daily Sketches series and have a collection of oil paintings by Joyce Parfitt. Pop in for a chat and a glass of wine or a coffee!
John McCombs Gallery on the high street in Delph showed a collection of works by local artist John McCombs, who sadly died in January 2025. He focused mainly on the Saddleworth landscape and developed a comprehensive visual record of the area in and around the village of Delph. He also painted beautiful figure paintings, with many iconic Saddleworth characters captured such as the Saddleworth Morris Men and Brass band members. The gallery has since closed.
FURTHER AFIELD
The Holmfirth Artweek exhibition held in Holmfirth every year is one of the largest open art exhibitions in the UK. The exhibition is traditionally held over a week in July, and the 2027 event runs from Sunday 4th to Saturday 10th July. In 2027 there won’t be a main exhibition at the Civic Hall; the week will focus on the Fringe venues instead.
Normally the main exhibition is in Holmfirth Civic Hall, with exhibitions at more than 40 Fringe venues across the Holme Valley, the Colne Valley and Saddleworth as well. Millyard Gallery in Uppermill has been one of them.
LOCAL ARTISTS
Chris Cyprus is a local artist based at Woodend Mill in Mossley; his paintings of Saddleworth and Greater Manchester are unique and very much sought after.
Ashley Jackson is a celebrated artist and one of the country’s leading and most successful landscape watercolourists. He is famous for his paintings of the area around Holmfirth where his studio is located.
Angela Tate-Wright is a local photographer who presents a unique vision of Saddleworth and the surrounding area through her atmospheric photography.
ART GALLERY DIRECTORY
Uppermill
Millyard Gallery
97 High Street, Uppermill
07480 835077
Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Saddleworth Museum and Gallery
High Street, Uppermill
01457 874093
Every afternoon, 1pm – 4pm. The art gallery itself is closed until November 2026.
Delph
The Gallery Down the Stairs
Saddleworth Crafts (basement), 12 King Street, Delph
07940 382155
Usually open at weekends. Call before visiting.
Mossley
Chris Cyprus
Third Floor, Woodend Mill, Warmco Industrial Estate, Manchester Road, Mossley OL5 9RR
07903 455388
Call before visiting.
Holmfirth
Ashley Jackson Gallery
13/15 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 2JR
01484 686460
Monday to Saturday 11am – 4pm. Closed Sundays and bank holiday Mondays.