Historically part of Lancashire, Hollinwood in pre-industrial times was a moor or common on the borders of Chadderton and Oldham.
The rights to the land were disputed by the townships with Chadderton claiming 8 acres, but a 1713 court settlement stipulated that Hollinwood Moor should be within Oldham.
The mid to late 18th century saw Hollinwood develop into a village.
Mid 19th century gazetteers described Hollinwood as 'an extensive village in the townships of Chadderton and Oldham'.
In 1880 there were further exchanges of land in the Hollinwood area between Oldham Borough and Chadderton township.

James Butterworth (1826) described it as being of 66.5 Cheshire acres (approx.
140 statute acres).
It was enclosed by the Oldham Enclosure Acts (42 and 43 George III; May 1802).
Hollinwood's mills such as the Heron, Fox, Asia, Wharf, Richmond and Park were later built on what had been the Hollinwood Common.
The Chapel Road playing fields is one of the few open spaces remaining in the district.
 The pitches occupy the site of a former reservoir serving a now-defunct stretch of the Hollinwood Branch Canal.

Long existing as an industrial district, Hollinwood is today home to the Northern Counties Housing Association, and Mirror Colour Print Ltd; the printing division of the Trinity Mirror group, which prints and distributes thirty-six major newspapers, and employs five hundred staff.

From the late 19th century, the area was largely occupied by workers in Oldham's cotton mills and miners at the large collieries at Oak and Bower, and several smaller ones.
 Much of Hollinwood's more recent growth was due to the Ferranti factory which produced power transformers in its heyday.
Later the factory produced container lifting trucks as the building had the height to do so.
The transformer works building, built after the war on the old Bower site, is now used as a newspaper printing plant.
A neighbouring, much older, Ferranti factory produced electricity meters.
The meter factory was sold to Siemens in the 1980s and became known as FML; Siemens later closed the FML factory.

Hollinwood was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.
The tornado later moved over Oldham town centre, causing further damage.

Until its closure in 2005 Hollinwood was home to the popular Roxy Cinema.
 The Roxy opened on 20 December 1937 screening the film 'Fire Over England'.
Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels for 1,406 and there was a cinema cafe.
 In 1978 the cinema was split into two screens, then in 1981 it became a three screen cinema.
Further sub-division occurred to create six screens which seated:470, 130, 260, 260 320 and 96.
In 1998 a seventh screen was added.
In 2002 the Roxy received a £100,000 upgrade.
After closure the Roxy was subsequently demolished in February 2007.

Several other cinemas existed in the Hollinwood area during the early to mid 20th century period including the La Scala and The Queens.
Historically part of Lancashire, Hollinwood in pre-industrial times was a moor or common on the borders of Chadderton and Oldham. The rights to the land were disputed by the townships with Chadderton claiming 8 acres, but a 1713 court settlement stipulated that Hollinwood Moor should be within Oldham. The mid to late 18th century saw Hollinwood develop into a village. Mid 19th century gazetteers described Hollinwood as 'an extensive village in the townships of Chadderton and Oldham'. In 1880 there were further exchanges of land in the Hollinwood area between Oldham Borough and Chadderton township.
James Butterworth (1826) described it as being of 66.5 Cheshire acres (approx. 140 statute acres). It was enclosed by the Oldham Enclosure Acts (42 and 43 George III; May 1802). Hollinwood's mills such as the Heron, Fox, Asia, Wharf, Richmond and Park were later built on what had been the Hollinwood Common. The Chapel Road playing fields is one of the few open spaces remaining in the district.  The pitches occupy the site of a former reservoir serving a now-defunct stretch of the Hollinwood Branch Canal.
Long existing as an industrial district, Hollinwood is today home to the Northern Counties Housing Association, and Mirror Colour Print Ltd; the printing division of the Trinity Mirror group, which prints and distributes thirty-six major newspapers, and employs five hundred staff.
From the late 19th century, the area was largely occupied by workers in Oldham's cotton mills and miners at the large collieries at Oak and Bower, and several smaller ones.  Much of Hollinwood's more recent growth was due to the Ferranti factory which produced power transformers in its heyday. Later the factory produced container lifting trucks as the building had the height to do so. The transformer works building, built after the war on the old Bower site, is now used as a newspaper printing plant. A neighbouring, much older, Ferranti factory produced electricity meters. The meter factory was sold to Siemens in the 1980s and became known as FML; Siemens later closed the FML factory.
Hollinwood was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day. The tornado later moved over Oldham town centre, causing further damage.
Until its closure in 2005 Hollinwood was home to the popular Roxy Cinema.  The Roxy opened on 20 December 1937 screening the film 'Fire Over England'. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels for 1,406 and there was a cinema cafe.  In 1978 the cinema was split into two screens, then in 1981 it became a three screen cinema. Further sub-division occurred to create six screens which seated:470, 130, 260, 260 320 and 96. In 1998 a seventh screen was added. In 2002 the Roxy received a £100,000 upgrade. After closure the Roxy was subsequently demolished in February 2007.
Several other cinemas existed in the Hollinwood area during the early to mid 20th century period including the La Scala and The Queens.
Hollinwood, Greater Manchester