Though Hall i’ th’ Wood remains closed, just a ten-minute walk away is Firwood Fold — delightful hamlet which opens onto a circular, woodland trail by Bradshaw Brook, and boasts its own unique historical sites.
The Grade I-listed, 16th century house at 10 Firwood Fold is the birthplace of Samuel Crompton, who would go on to become Hall i’ th’ Wood’s most famous resident.
Crompton lived in the house for the first few years of his life, from 1753 until 1758, where his family made their living from a small holding, tending sheep and weaving yarn.
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.
Just a couple of houses next-door, 15 Firwood Fold is reputed to be the oldest inhabited building in the whole of Bolton.
Picture Keith Rylance
Immediately behind the Firwood Fold cottages 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 a circular trail around Longsight Park.
Keith Rylance
Longsight Park doubles as an arboretum, boasting a collection of 39 species of trees which were planted in the 1980s. Among this collection are a California redwood and a giant sequoia, both species commonly live for over 1,000 years and include many of the tallest living trees on earth.
Along the sections of the walk which skirt Bradshaw Brook be sure to look out for water birds including dippers, grey wagtails, grey herons, and kingfishers.
The circular trail merges into Longsight Lane before turning onto Bottom o’ th’ Moor and finally continuing back around towards Firwood Fold.
Firwood Fold is just off Crompton Way, the nearest carpark is at the Longsight Park Arboretum.
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