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 postcode is populated by 46,068 people across 20,113 households (census 2011).
The residential districts of BL2
Harwood, Bolton
Harwood, Bolton is a popular semi rural village in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. 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 letting agents in Harwood since 1982.
Harwood is approximately two and a half 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 Letting Agents offices.
There is a consistently high level of demand for properties in Harwood. As letting agents, Cardwells rent a number of properties in Harwood and often find ourselves with tenants waiting for properties to let in Harwood. If you need a letting agent in Harwood, look no further than Cardwells.
For families and children, 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. Erico’s is a very popular restaurant and Baci has a strong reputation with the staff in our offices.
In the village centre of Harwood there is a Morison’s supermarket, village shops and John Francis Menswear which we understand discerning gentleman travel from afar for formal clothing. Cardwells are letting agents in Harwood, has been letting property in the Harwood 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 Ith 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, Bolton
For families and children, there are quality venues nearby such as fidgets play centre, the village hall, and Turton sports centre which offers many activities from swimming to karate to roller skating and everything in between! 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. If live music is more to your taste Bradshaw has possibly the “The Railway”. Erico’s is a very popular restaurant and Baci is within easy reach.
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, and pet grooming salons and in 2015 it added a Sainsbury’s Local to its already well-provisioned location.
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 that can (eventually) link 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.
Bradshaw (BL2) is a popular village in the South Turton part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. A great family and social location it boasts good transport links, shops, sporting facilities, pubs and restaurants. Cardwells have been successful letting agents in Bradshaw since 1982.
A study conducted by investment mutual Family Investments in September 2011 found (using criteria that compared crime rates, schooling, average incomes, affordable house prices and amenities) that Bromley Cross was rated the fifth best place in Britain to raise a family, Bradshaw is a neighbouring village and as such enjoys many of the same benefits that were highlighted in the report.
Ainsworth, Bolton
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-North-West of Manchester City, 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 – many of our past and present clients have been regulars here!
Ainsworth, like many areas in Bury, has a village football team; however, for other sports the residents rely mainly on the clubs in nearby areas, such as Elton Vale Cricket Club. The previously mentioned Duke William also gives a home to the local bowling club, and competitions between different pubs occur regularly.
Bradley Fold, Bolton
Small but perfectly formed Bradley Fold sits neatly between Bury and Bolton (just 3 miles from each). Though it forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury it has Bolton phone numbers and Bolton postal addresses. Cardwells have been proudly letting properties in Bradley Fold for over 30 years.
For keen anglers, Bradley Fold offers a well-stocked fishing reservoir at Browns Road, and for the 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 Letting Agents Bolton 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, Bolton
A suburb of Bolton, and is about two miles northeast of Bolton and four miles north west of Bury. Neighbouring areas and villages include Ainsworth, Bradley Fold, Harwood and Darcy Lever. In the past Breightmet has had a reputation for being an area of trouble and has not been very popular with the buying public for this reason. That said a big percentage of the property was made up of local authority housing and the local schools were in some cases not up there with the best.
That said the last decade has seen a big investment within the area, many, if not the majority of housing in the area is now private and the schools have 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 Letting Agents Bolton 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 Rd BL2 6RL tel 01204 385339 is a fantastic attraction. Cardwells Letting Agents Bolton 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 in between, eight teams at last count. That is only a small part of this very successful club which has a fantastic bowling green, ladies rounder’s, 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 Rd. BL2 5PA 01204 527381 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, Bolton
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 Letting Agents Bolton have had the distinction of letting several of these properties over the last 30 years.
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 Rd 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, Bolton
Supposedly ¾ mile north of Bolton but quite honestly it virtually enters Bolton town centre is just on the other side of St Peters Way (dual carriageway). 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. Then in the 1930s more property was built and again in recent times new, small estates have sprung up. All in all 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 i.e. 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 aside and full-size football pitches, plus a community centre on Long Lane.
The Schools of BL2
There are several excellent Schools in the BL1 not all of which are listed here, but below are links to several local schools.
SS Osmond’s and Andrews RC CPS
Popular restaurants and bars in BL2
Council
Local hospital/health centre
Sports centres/Clubs
