Historically, Bradford was a rural township that lay beyond the eastern fringe of Manchester. Settlement probably comprised little more than a few cottages scattered around Bradford Old Hall, a moated monor house that was built in the mid-fourteenth century.

Historically, Bradford was a rural township that lay beyond the eastern fringe of Manchester. Settlement probably comprised little more than a few cottages scattered around Bradford Old Hall, a moated monor house that was built in the mid-fourteenth century. It was largely an agricultural area, although some coal was being mined from shallow workings by the late sixteenth century. This rich natural resource was the principal reason for the nineteenth century transformation of Bradford into a key industrial area, know locally as the 'engine room' for Manchester. This booklet rediscovers the history of Bradford, and summarises the findings from archaeological excavations of two important industrial sites: Bradford Colliery; and the famous ironworks of Richard Johnson & Nephew.