It is contiguous on all sides with other urban areas, including parts of Werneth to the north and east, and Cowhill, Block Lane, and Butler Green/Washbrook in Chadderton.

Platt Bros were for a time the largest manufacturers of machinery for the cotton industry in the world, employing some 15,000 people.

By the early 2000s, the building was occupied by a soft furnishing company, but it had been demolished by 2009 and the site was cleared for housing development.

[8] After cotton production ceased in 1969, the mill was abandoned and fell into dereliction; an application to have the building de-listed and demolished was approved by the owners and the local authority in 2015.

[9] Another Grade II listed building located in the Freehold area is Werneth Lodge, a former coach house dating from c. 1790,[10] now used as a private residential care home.

[12] The school has a history dating to 1880, having been originally located on Derby Street close to the junction with Manchester Road.

Stotts Tours (Oldham) operate bus services 159 to Oldham via Chadderton town centre and to Middleton via Hollinwood, Woodhouses, Failsworth and New Moston plus service 396 providing links to Ashton-U-Lyne and to Middleton via Chadderton town centre.