The 'shire' frozen in time nestled between woodland and beautiful reservoir

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12 hours ago

If you'd had told me a day ago that Bolton had its very own version of J.R.R Tolkein's Shire village, I would not have believed you.
That was until I finally visited Firwood Fold for myself.
Just two miles from Bolton town centre, Firwood Fold is a charming hamlet which opens onto a circular woodland trail next to Bradshaw Brook.
Cottages in Firwood Fold date back to the sixteenth century. (Image: Leah Collins) Though small, the delightful space is reminiscent of something straight out of a period drama and boasts its own unique history to match, with the earliest buildings dating from the early 16th century.
Number 15 is rumoured to be the oldest inhabited building in Bolton. (Image: Leah Collins) Number 15 is even reputed to be the oldest inhabited building in Bolton as one of the cottages build Medieval style using the cruck construction method. The walls were originally made from wattle and daub, then later clad in stone.
(Image: Keith Rylance)
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Cottage number 5 was once the old schoolhouse, which still retains two doors at it's front. One belonged to the original school entrance whilst the other led to the schoolteacher's house.
Cottage number 5 is the old schoolhouse building. (Image: Leah Collins) Firwood Fold was previously surrounded by a hive of industry, including the bleachworks, but perhaps the most notable figure to come from this picturesque retreat is the inventor of the spinning mule, Samuel Crompton.
(Image: Keith Rylance)
Samuel was born in Grade-I listed number 10 house on Firwood Fold in 1753, where he lived until age five. He later moved to a house in Hall i' th' Wood, just up the road.
Samuel Crompton grew up in this Grade-I listed cottage. (Image: Leah Collins) It is from these cottage-weaving roots that Crompton would develop an expertise in spinning yarn, knowledge that undoubtedly formed the basis for his invention of the spinning mule.
As someone who spends most of their time in Bolton, finding a space imbued with distinct heritage was akin to discovering an undisturbed relic of the past, transporting me back over 500 years in time.
I was blown away by the beauty of Firwood Fold. (Image: Leah Collins) Just a stone's throw away from Firwood Fold is The Bunk, a reservoir left over from the old Firwood bleachworks which operated in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The reservoir has since been left to nature and supports diverse plant species including lesser celandine and wood anemone.
Walkers can follow a path from Firwood Fold which bridges Bradshaw Brook. From here, there is an eight-mile circular trail around Longsight Park.
(Image: Keith Rylance)
The route overlaps with the famous Kingfisher Trail, a scenic 14-mile route connecting the rural West Pennine Moors to the centres of Bury, Bolton and Salford.
Firwood Fold is a stone's throw away from natural scenery. (Image: Leah Collins) Lucky ramblers might get to glimpse the majestic Kingfisher, dippers, grey wagtails and herons.
It was a gloriously sunny day upon my visit and the water was a cerulean blue, almost tropical in its appearance. I closed my eyes and felt truly at peace as I basked in the sun's rays.
Marie Pike, who was visiting the area to walk her dog said: 'It's a beautiful space with lots of heritage. It's a lovely little stretch; there's always dog walkers coming up and down here.
'I like to come here and get some sunshine! At least once a week.'
The circular trail merges into Longsight Lane before turning onto Bottom o' th' Moor and finally continuing back around towards Firwood Fold.
According to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the name of this area reflects the older history of the site? The word 'fold' refers to a farmstead and 'Firwood' to a wood. Similarly, the name of the river also reflects this with 'Bradshaw' coming from the Old English for a 'Broad-wood'.