BL2 is a large postcode area of Bolton which includes areas such as Harwood, Bradshaw, Tonge Moor, and is home to several poplar secondary schools and primary schools.
The residential districts of BL2
Harwood
Harwood, Bolton is a popular semi rural village in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton. Situated in the suburbs of Bolton it is a great family and social location with superb transport links, shops, sporting facilities, pubs and restaurants. Cardwells have been successful estate agents in Harwood since 1982.
Harwood is approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Bolton town centre and situated within the West Pennine Moors, as such there is beautiful countryside around the residential areas and some beautiful views. It is easy to travel to Bury from Harwood and we often find that buyers from a property in Harwood come via either our Bolton or Bury Estate Agents offices.
There is a consistently high level of demand for properties in Harwood for either sale or to let. As letting agents, Cardwells manage a number of properties in Harwood and often find ourselves with tenants waiting for properties in Harwood. If you need an estate agent in Harwood, look no further than Cardwells.
There are quality facilities nearby such as sports clubs and Turton Sports Centre offers many activities including swimming, karate and roller skating. There is a Cricket Club in Bradshaw which has a bar and is an ideal venue for a private function.
Local to Harwood there is an eclectic mix of night time venues ranging from the traditional pubs such as House Without a Name, Seven Stars, White Horse and The Crofters. Baci is also a very popular restaurant.
In the village centre of Harwood there is a Morrisons supermarket, village shops and John Francis Menswear to which we understand discerning gentlemen have travelled to from afar for formal clothing. Cardwells are estate agents in Harwood and we have been selling and letting property in the Harwood area since 1982.
Travel and commuting from Harwood is simple and convenient as Bromley Cross railway station is nearby which serves Blackburn, Manchester and Bolton as does Hall i’ th’ Wood train station. Whilst via the road network both Bolton and Bury are easily accessible. The neighbouring areas to Harwood are Bradshaw and Ainsworth.
Bradshaw
For families and children, there are quality venues nearby such as Turton Sports Centre which offers many activities including swimming, karate and roller skating. There are local football teams in Bromley Cross, Turton and Harwood and Bradshaw has its own Cricket Club. Bradshaw Cricket Club has a bar and is an ideal venue for a private function.
Local to Bradshaw there is an eclectic mix of night time venues ranging from the traditional pubs such as “the Sportsman”, and “The Spread Eagle”, “Flag”, “House Without A Name”, “Seven Stars” and “The Crofters”.
Near to Bradshaw in Bromley Cross is the Last Drop Village, a collection of barns on farmland that in the 1960s was converted into a picturesque hotel, restaurant, bar, event venue and gym with swimming pool, popular for its boutique shops and events throughout the year.
Close to Bradshaw there is a Co-Op supermarket, several shops, beauty salons, hairdressers, barbers, pet grooming salons and a Sainsbury’s Local.
Travel and commuting from Bradshaw is simple and convenient as Bromley Cross railway station is nearby which serves Blackburn, Manchester and Bolton. Whilst via the road network the A666 runs through nearby Egerton and is the road which links Blackburn and Manchester, and provides easy access to Darwen and St Peter’s Way to join the motorway network. It also has several bus routes into Bolton and the surrounding area.
Bradshaw (BL2) is a popular village in the South Turton part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton. A great family and social location it boasts good transport links, shops, sporting facilities, pubs and restaurants. Cardwells have been successful estate agents in Bradshaw since 1982.
Ainsworth
The village of Ainsworth is a fantastic residential location situated between Bury (approx 2.5 miles) and Bolton (approx 3 miles) and approximately 9 miles north west of Manchester, using the Bolton postcode of BL2 and falling under Bury Metropolitan Borough.
Ainsworth village was first recorded as a settlement as early as 79AD when settlers put down roots at the side of the old Roman Road. Despite such a long history, Ainsworth’s growth has never been strong, providing a place for a modern population of roughly 2000 people to call home, within a small tight-knit community that epitomises the term ‘village’. After the Second World War there was a boom in development in Ainsworth, with a number of bungalows, semi-detached homes and terraced properties that brought the village to how it is seen today – a drive along Bury Old Road and Church Street will give any prospective buyer a taste for the houses that might be available, ranging from terraced homes, to three storey cottages, to expensive bungalows and maybe even a glimpse of the odd detached home located at the far end of a winding cul-de-sac.
The village is centred around a green and playground on Bury Old Road, providing outdoor entertainment for families. Adjacent to the green is The Duke William public house, a popular meeting point for locals and Ainsworth Parish church is a beautiful traditional place of worship located just across the road with the associated Village Hall providing a centre to the community for events and meetings. The Old White Horse pub on Church Street is also a reputable establishment.
Ainsworth has a village football team but for other sports the residents rely mainly on the clubs in nearby areas, such as Elton Vale Cricket Club. The Duke William also gives a home to the local bowling club and competitions between different pubs occur regularly.
Bradley Fold
Bradley Fold sits neatly between Bury and Bolton (3 miles from each). Though it forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury it the Bolton dialling code and postcode. Cardwells have been proudly selling and renting properties in Bradley Fold since 1982.
For keen anglers, Bradley Fold offers a well stocked fishing reservoir at Browns Road and for enthusiastic gardeners there is Bradley Fold Garden Centre. The area has just the one pub, The Queens, a popular family pub offering great food and a great drink.
A venue very close to our hearts at Cardwells is Dobbies Sports and Social Club. As well as being an excellent venue for social events Dobbies have several football teams all of which are sponsored by ourselves.
Breightmet
Breightmet is a suburb of Bolton about 2 miles northeast of Bolton and 4 miles north west of Bury. Neighbouring areas and villages include Ainsworth, Bradley Fold, Harwood and Darcy Lever. The area has seen a big investment within the area with much of the housing now private and the schools improved beyond measure. The former Withins secondary has now become St Catherine’s Academy and has an excellent reputation. As estate agents selling and renting property in Breightmet, Cardwells have seen a real turnaround in demand for the Somerton Road estate the areas around with Tarbet Drive leading the way. Quite simply there is good quality modern housing to be bought at relatively modest prices in what is now excellent residential localities.
Dobbies Sports and Social Club on Bradley Fold is a fantastic attraction. Cardwells know this as we have the pleasure of sponsoring all their football teams which range from very young to very young at heart with plenty inbetween, eight teams at the last count. That is only a small part of this very successful club which has a fantastic bowling green, ladies rounders, snooker and all sorts of other things going on even regular car boot sales. It is a members club with excellent facilities, a huge concert room and regular shows, cabaret and discos with families at the centre of events. We think you will love it too.
Breightmet Golf Club is actually in Ainsworth, off Bury Old Road. This is a lovely course and has a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. The course of 6400 yds is quite challenging and rewards risks with a big result or total disaster, you choose.
Firwood Fold
Firwood Fold is a small but historically significant Hamlet in Bolton near Tonge Moor. The homes here date back as far as the 15th Century with number 5 Firwood Fold thought to be one of the oldest inhabited homes in the country. Cardwells have had the distinction of selling several of these properties since 1982.
Consisting of cottages and a converted schoolhouse, 10 Firwood Fold most famously is where Samuel Crompton was born on 3rd December 1753. Samuel Crompton was the inventor of one of the industrial revolution most significant machines, the Spinning Mule.
Close to Tonge Moor Road and Crompton Way, this small hamlet is just a mile from the centre with frequent buses in and out of Bolton and a train station at Hall i’ th’ Wood.
The Haulgh
Supposedly 3/4 mile north of Bolton but quite honestly it virtually enters Bolton town centre is just on the other side of St Peters Way when leaving Bolton going towards Bury. Very convenient and in its time a very highly regarded residential area with some beautiful examples of Victorian and Georgian built houses. Cardwells have some currently available for sale/rent. In the 1930s more property was built and again in recent times new estates have sprung up. The housing is a mix ranging from small terraced houses upwards.
Fred Dibnah lived on Radcliffe Road at the Haulgh and had an unusual property built in an ecclesiastical style. It certainly was unusual because he built in a mine shaft in his back garden! Now known as the Fred Dibnah Heritage centre it is open to the public as a museum and well worth a visit (check opening hours) see Bolton Museums.
The Haulgh is naturally surrounded by neighbouring areas ie. Tonge Park, Darcy Lever, Breightmet and Burden (separated by St Peters Way) and bordering onto Leverhulme Park which incidentally has a superb athletics and field event centre, five a side and full size football pitches, plus a community centre on Long Lane.
The Schools of BL2