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.