 Cotton spinning and milling were introduced to Oldham when its first mill , Lees Hall , was built by William Clegg in about 1778 , the beginning of a spiralling process of urbanisation and socioeconomic transformation . Within a year , 11 other mills had been constructed , and by 1818 there were 19 – not a large number in comparison with other local settlements . Oldham 's small local population was greatly increased by the mass migration of workers from outlying villages , resulting in a population increase from just over 12 @,@ 000 in 1801 to 137 @,@ 000 in 1901 . The speed of this urban growth meant that Oldham , with little pre @-@ industrial history to speak of , was effectively born as a factory town . 
 Cotton spinning and milling <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> introduced to Oldham when its first mill , Lees Hall , was built by William Clegg in about 1778 , the beginning of a spiralling process of urbanisation and socioeconomic transformation . Within a year , 11 other mills <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been constructed , and by 1818 <a href='dey_it' title='3'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> 19 – not a large number in comparison with other local settlements . Oldham <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>small local population was greatly increased by the mass migration of workers from outlying villages , resulting in a population increase from just over 12 @,@ 000 in 1801 to 137 @,@ 000 in 1901 . The speed of this urban growth meant that Oldham , with little pre @-@ industrial history to speak of , was effectively born as a factory town . 
Cotton spinning and milling was introduced to Oldham when its first mill , Lees Hall , was built by William Clegg in abt 1778 , the beginning of a spiralling process of urbanisation and socioeconomic transformation . Within a year , 11 other mills done been constructed , and by 1818 it was 19 – not a large number in comparison witt other local settlements . Oldham  small local population was greatly increased by the mass migration of workers from outlying villages , resulting in a population increase from jus over 12 @,@ 000 in 1801 to 137 @,@ 000 in 1901 . The speed of this urban growth ment that Oldham , w lil pre @-@ industrial history to speak of , was effectively born as a factory town .