Brandlesholme

In the 13th century a small number of people were living in Brandlesholme. The name belonged to a family who administered the local forests on behalf of Henry III but following marriage they were replaced by the Greenhalgh family.[1] This family lived in Brandlesholme Old Hall, one of the oldest buildings in Bury on the northern outskirts of Brandlesholme. The building comprises the remains of a medieval hall, a single storied cruck-built structure with two farms and a Victorian wing built up around it.[2] A map at Rufford Old Hall shows that until at least 1610, Brandlesholme was known as Brandleffham (Brandlessham).

Historically, mills tended to be located along rivers and streams. Kirklees Brook runs to the west of Brandlesholme and in the 18th century mills stood on the site of the old Kirklees Bleachworks, now demolished and redeveloped into a new housing estate named Miller Brook. In 1884, a French chemist, Hilaire de Charbonnet, Comte de Chardonnay, moved to the area to work on a cellulose-based fabric that became known as "Chardonnay silk". A forerunner of rayon it was an attractive cloth, but like celluloid it was very flammable. Eventually, following numerous accidents, it was taken off the market. More recently the mill was known locally as Courtaulds after the textile company who took over the site in 1962. Its occupation, latterly as a dyehouse, ended in 1980.

To the west of Brandlesholme Road lies the Garside estate, a sizeable council-housing estate of terrace houses, a small middle class area along Birks Drive and a middle class estate encapsulating Bankhouse Road. To the east, two further sizeable middle class estates exist, one encapsulating Trimingham Drive and Hunstanton Drive and the other Rudgwick Drive and Springside View. A second council-housing estate lies south of Brandlesholme on Woodhill Road. The latest housing development in the area is at the bottom of Garside Hey Road. Named Miller Brook, this new development is located besides Kirklees Brook between Brandlesholme and the neighbouring town of Tottington.

Local primary schools include Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, Old Hall Primary School and Woodbank County Primary School. Brandlesholme County Primary School previously existed until the late 1990s, when it was demolished as a result of demographic change in the area.

Brandlesholme is served by Tottington High School, Woodhey High School and Elton High School in terms of secondary education, but many students attend selective church-aided secondary schools, St Gabriel's High School or Bury Church of England High School or the private Bury Grammar School in the town centre.

There is a small selection of shops in Brandlesholme Shopping Precinct, known locally as the 'Top Shops'. They include a Tesco Express convenience store, a sandwich takeaway and bakery, hairdresser's, chemist's, English fish and chip shop, Chinese takeaway, pizza parlour, florist and an off licence. A newsagents, Welcome Newsagents, is located further south next to Woodbank School.

Brandlesholme has the Prospect Service Station, which houses a Spar convenience store and a Subway branch to the south and also the Brandlesholme Service Station to the north which borders with Greenmount. A cattery exists at Brandlesholme Hall Farm.

The William Hare Group has its headquarters in Brandlesholme. It is the leading independent steel design and fabrication company in the UK with an annual turnover in excess of £190 million.[3]

Peel Tower can be seen from Brandlesholme. The area is home to three children's parks: Hunstanton Park, located within walking distance of Burrs Country Park; Purbeck Park, on the Rudgwick estate; and Brandlesholme Park, a newly created facility on the land of the old primary school.

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