Welcome to Firwood Fold - The Birthplace of Samuel Crompton
1753-1827
Firwood
Fold is perhaps better known for being
the birthplace of Samuel
Crompton, but it is also the location
of several fascinating and historically valuable buildings.
Here can be seen a collection of mainly seventeenth century farm workers
cottages. However, in addition, and
clearly visible, there is evidence of much simpler timber framed (cruck)
dwellings dating from the sixteenth century.
Evidence of this nature is rare enough even in the North of England,
Bolton being very fortunate to have two such examples here at
Firwood. Indeed,
Samuel Crompton’s birthplace, number
10 Firwood Fold, is
the only residence remaining with a thatched roof in the Borough of Bolton.
Numbers 8 and 15 in The Fold have visual evidence of the original timber
frame, or ‘cruck’ as it is known – huge timbers still project from their
exterior walls.
Samuel
Crompton, one of the forefathers of the
Industrial Revolution, was born here on December 3rd 1753.
His parents had a small farm and they also employed their time in
carding, spinning and handweaving. Young
Samuel attended school in Bolton and at an
early age was instructed by his mother in the art of handweaving, insisting that
a certain length should be woven in addition to his studies each day.
He was a very shy child, but extremely fond of music and eventually
managed to make a violin which was a great solace to him, and provided an
interest which later was to prove an absorbing part of his life.
In 1774 Samuel Crompton started
work on the construction of a machine that took five years to complete; it was
christened ‘The Mule’.
Little did he know at that time what a
great step forward he had made, and only in his latter years did he receive the
recognition that he deserved.
The
Fold still retains many of its original
features, which have been added to over the years, but nonetheless still harks
back to a bygone age with the
combination of thatch and stone roof tops, cruck cottages, cobbled lane and
Victorian lampposts. Visitors often
marvel at being able to ‘step back in time’, and being able to talk to
residents who have ghostly tales to tell. They
are still proud to live in such an area steeped with history and heritage and
are very approachable, even throwing birthday parties for
Old Sam even though he has long gone.
The local brewery even produces ale in his honour, aptly named
Samuel Crompton’s Ale, which is consumed in
large quantities to celebrate a proud son of Bolton, born here in Firwood
Fold.
The
area surrounding The Fold is
also rich in wildlife with kingfishers, swans, geese, ducks, herons, water hens,
foxes, deer, and the Kingfisher Walk is a trail to view all these – it takes
in lodges, riverbanks, wooded pathways and Longsight Country Park.
Travel:
1-½
miles from Bolton town centre via A676 Folds Road, Tonge Moor Road, right at
Bolton Castle public house, left onto Firwood Lane – coach parking after
Brailsford Road, cars turn right onto Ashdown Drive and follow round to
The Fold.
A58
ring road, right into Firwood Lane – coach parking after Brailsford Road, cars
turn right onto Ashdown Drive and follow round to
The Fold.
Parking:
Could all visitors using cars please park responsibly in front of Firwood Stables (marked below). Coaches should park on Firwood Lane on the right hand side at the junction with Brailsford Road – which can be used for reversing into when leaving. To view Multimap directions please click the picture below. If you have Google Earth installed you may wish to look at this Link which will give you aerial shots of the area.
