The first test tube baby , Louise Joy Brown , was born in Oldham General Hospital on 25 July 1978 . Formerly known as Oldham District and General , and occupying the site of the town 's former workhouse ( named Oldham Union Workhouse in 1851 ) , the hospital is notable for being the birthplace of Louise Joy Brown â `` the world 's first successful In vitro fertilised `` test tube baby '' , on 25 July 1978 .