Bradshaw, Greater Manchester

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Bradshaw is now part of the unparished area of South Turton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire.

[edit] History

Bradshaw was a township (or civil parish) of the ancient Parish of Bolton-le-Moors, in the Salford hundred of Lancashire.

Bradshaw is famous for its "tower without a church and a church without a tower". This refers to St. Maxentius's Church in Bradshaw. This church was originally one of the earliest Chapels of Ease for Bolton Parish Church. The 16th century tower is all that is left of the original Chapel of Ease. The present 1872 church building is near, but separate from the tower.

In 1837 Bradshaw joined with other townships (or civil parishes) in the area to form the Bolton Poor Law Union and took joint responsibility for the administration and funding of the Poor Law in that area.

In 1894 Bradshaw also became part of the Bolton Rural District, which took responsibility over matters such as local planning, council housing, and playgrounds and cemeteries. This Rural District was dissolved in 1898.

In 1898 Bradshaw became part of Turton Urban District. Under the Local Government Act 1972, Turton Urban District was abolished in 1974 and was split with the southern part (including Bradshaw) going to the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, and the rest remaining in Lancashire as part of the Borough of Blackburn.