Astley Bridge

Settlement in Lancashire

England

Astley Bridge

Gateway to Smithills Hall Smithills Hall is a grade I listed building. The gateposts are probably C19. — Gateway to Smithills Hall Credit: Phil and Juliette Platt

Astley Bridge is a suburban area located in the borough of Bolton, Lancashire, England. Situated approximately 2 miles north of Bolton town center, it lies on the western bank of the River Tonge. Historically, Astley Bridge was a small rural village that saw significant growth during the Industrial Revolution, thanks to the booming cotton industry in Bolton.

Today, Astley Bridge is a thriving residential area with a mix of Victorian terraced houses, semi-detached properties, and modern developments. Its close proximity to Bolton town center and excellent transport links, including a nearby train station and several bus routes, make it an attractive location for commuters working in the city.

The area boasts a range of amenities and facilities, including schools, supermarkets, shops, and restaurants. Astley Bridge also benefits from its proximity to the beautiful countryside, with nearby green spaces such as Moss Bank Park and Jumbles Country Park offering opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Despite its urbanization, Astley Bridge has managed to retain a sense of community spirit, with various local events and initiatives organized by residents. The area is also home to a number of places of worship, reflecting its diverse population.

In summary, Astley Bridge is a vibrant and sought-after residential area in Lancashire, offering a mix of housing options, convenient amenities, and access to both urban and rural attractions.

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Astley Bridge Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.602443/-2.427634 or Grid Reference SD7111. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Gateway to Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall is a grade I listed building. The gateposts are probably C19.

Phil and Juliette Platt

Formal garden at Smithills Hall

To the right is the Victorian extension to the house, and to the left is the chapel which was reconstructed circa 1856 after a fire destroyed the original. The garden is maintained by a volunteer group, the Friends of Smithills Hall.

Phil and Juliette Platt

Fledgling robin

In the grounds of Smithills Hall.

Phil and Juliette Platt

Entrance to Smithills School

On Smithills Dean Road.

Phil and Juliette Platt

Smithills Hall Drive

The entrance to Smithills Hall.

Phil and Juliette Platt

Monument at Smithills Hall

Looking down a promenade in the gardens. The hall is Grade 1 listed and the oldest part still standing, the Great Hall, was erected in the 14th century.

Phil and Juliette Platt

The Great Hall, Smithills Hall, Bolton

This is what remains of the original, mediæval hall. When first built, it would have been timber-framed with wattle and daub walls; the floor would have consisted of beaten earth covered with rushes. The two long walls and floor were rebuilt in stone ca1335, creating a more solid structure. During the 1300s, the Great Hall was the main living space for the first owners of Smithills Hall. The Radcliffe family and their servants ate and slept in this room. Livestock would also have been brought in at night for protection.

David Dixon

The Solar Room, Smithills Hall

This room was added in the 15th century to provide private quarters for the Radcliffe family who owned the hall at that time. Prior to then, all members of the household, including the servants, would eat and sleep in the Great Hall and the livestock would be brought indoors at night for safety. Later, it became the fashion for the Lord and Lady of the Manor to have more privacy. The furniture dates from the seventeenth century. The carved wooded cover over the bed is called a tester; when in use, the curtains would be drawn around the bed to keep out draughts.

David Dixon

Smithills Hall, The Solar Room

This room was added in the 15th century to provide private quarters for the Radcliffe family who owned the hall at that time. Prior to then, all members of the household, including the servants, would eat and sleep in the Great Hall and the livestock would be brought indoors at night for safety. Later, it became the fashion for the Lord and Lady of the Manor to have more privacy. The wooden furniture in the room dates from the 17th century.

David Dixon

The Solar Room

David Dixon

Oak Chest, Smithills Hall Solar Room

This Solar Room was added in the 15th century to provide private quarters for the Radcliffe family who owned the hall at that time. Prior to then, all members of the household, including the servants, would eat and sleep in the Great Hall and the livestock would be brought indoors at night for safety. Later, it became the fashion for the Lord and Lady of the Manor to have more privacy. The furniture in this room dates from the seventeenth century. This wooden box with the date “1607” and the name “Henry Ambrose” carved on the lid, would have been used to house the family bible.

David Dixon

The Bower Room, Smithills Hall

Like the Solar Room, on the floor above, the Bower Room was built in the early part of the fifteenth century to provide private quarters for the Lord and Lady of the Manor. For this reason, it has a more intimate, domestic feel than the grand and spacious mediæval hall (SD6911 : The Great Hall, Smithills Hall, Bolton).

David Dixon

Smithills Hall, The Withdrawing Room

The withdrawing room is part of the two-storey wing built in the early 16th century by Andrew Barton whose family owned the hall for almost 200 years following the death of the last of the Radcliffe family who died without a male heir in 1485. The room, which was altered in the eighteenth century, is panelled with relief carving made by Flemish craftsmen. The carved portraits depict generations of the Barton family and the emblems of stags’ heads and acorns below them are taken from the family’s coat of arms.

David Dixon

Relief Carvings, Smithills Hall Withdrawing Room

The withdrawing room is panelled with relief carving made by Flemish craftsmen. The carved portraits depict generations of the Barton family and the emblems of stags’ heads and acorns below them are taken from the family’s coat of arms.

David Dixon

Heraldic Panel, Smithills Hall Withdrawing Room

Coloured panels, near the window, were commissioned in 1831. They show the coats of arms of arms of all the families who had lived in the hall.

David Dixon

Carved Chair in the Withdrawing Room at Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall is a manor house, standing on the slopes of the moors above, two miles north west of the town centre. It is one of the oldest manor houses in the north west of England; its oldest parts, including the great hall, date from the 15th century and it has been since been altered and extended particularly the west part. The hall is owned by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council . The oldest parts were opened to the public as a museum in 1963, and in the 1990s, the museum was extended into some of the Victorian extensions. The west wing was restored by the council in 1999. It is Grade I-listed (List Entry Number: 1388279 Link

Heritage Gateway) Link

Smithills History (Bolton Museum)

David Dixon

Smithills Chapel

The private chapel, reputedly established in AD 792, was rebuilt about 1520 by Andrew Barton and maintained by the families who lived there. Although the basic structure of the chapel is sixteenth century, it has subsequently been added to. It was substantially refurbished and restored following a major fire in 1856. It remains a consecrated church and is still used for worship on alternate Sundays as well for weddings and funerals.

David Dixon

Ceiling Angel, Smithills Chapel

The private chapel, reputedly established in AD 792, was rebuilt about 1520 by Andrew Barton and maintained by the families who lived there. Although the basic structure of the chapel is sixteenth century, it has subsequently been added to. It was substantially refurbished and restored following a major fire in 1856. The carved wooden angels holding up the roof are from the original Tudor chapel were amongst the few original artefacts that survived the fire.

David Dixon

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Astley Bridge is located at Grid Ref: SD7111 (Lat: 53.602443, Lng: -2.427634)

Unitary Authority: Bolton

Police Authority: Greater Manchester