Breightmet

The name is from Old English breorht (bright) and maed (meadow). It was recorded variously as Brihtmede (1257), Brightemete (1277), Breghmete and Breghtmed (1292), Brithmete (1302), Brightmede (1510) and Breightmet (1574).

The manor originated as part of the Marsey fee and one ploughland was held by Augustin de Breightmet in the 12th century. By marriage, one part descended to the Southworths of Samlesbury, who held it until the 16th century. This portion was later owned by Gerards, Ainsworths, Banastres, Baguley and Parker families. The other part was held by the Hollands until they forfeited it in 1461, when it was granted to Lord Stanley and his son, Lord Strange, the Earls of Derby.

In the township there was a quarry and several collieries, including one accessing a seam of coal {{convert|3|yds|m}} thick. There were handloom weavers producing quilts and counterpanes. Two cotton mills and a bleachworks were built.{{citation|title=Breightmet or Breightmead |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50826#s13|work=A Topographical Dictionary of England |publisher=British History Online |pages=353–357|year=1848 |accessdate=27 November 2010 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=Samuel}}

In 1837 Breightmet became part of the Bolton Poor Law Union, which took responsibility for funding the Poor Law in that area.{{Citation |url=http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Bolton/Bolton.shtml |title=Workhouse |publisher=workhouses.org.uk |accessdate=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605223324/http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Bolton%2FBolton.shtml |archivedate=5 June 2011 }} Breightmet was formerly a township in the parish of Bolton-le-Moors,{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/22452|title=History of Breightmet, in Bolton and Lancashire|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=31 October 2024}} in 1866 Breightmet became a separate civil parish, on 30 September 1898 the parish was abolished and merged with Bolton{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10343628|title=Relationships and changes Breightmet CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=31 October 2024}} and Breightmet became part of the County Borough of Bolton.{{citation|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzb.htm|title=Greater Manchester Gazetteer|publisher=Greater Manchester County Record Office|accessdate=27 November 2010|at=Places names - B|archivedate=18 July 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144414/http://www.gmcro.co.uk/Guides/Gazeteer/gazzb.htm}} In 1891 the parish had a population of 1720.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10343628/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Breightmet CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=31 October 2024}} Following the Local Government Act 1972, the County Borough of Bolton was abolished and Breightmet became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester in 1974. It is represented by three councillors on Bolton Council and is part of the Bolton North-East Westminster constituency.

The Breightmet township, which covered {{convert|825|acre|km2}} acres of hilly land was two miles north east of Bolton on Bury road. It was separated from Tonge with Haulgh by the Bradshaw Brook. Breightmet Hill, the highest point, rises to about {{convert|525|ft|m}}.{{citation |url=http://www.boydhouse.com/alice/Haslam/bolton.html |title=Bolton Area Map: Ancient Parishes and Townships |publisher=Boydhouse |accessdate=9 August 2010}}

There is a local nature reserve at Seven Acres Country Park. The park separates the west side of Breightmet from neighbouring Tonge Moor.

{{citation|url=http://www.7acres.org.uk/|title=Seven Acres Country Park|publisher=7acres.org|accessdate=4 February 2011}}

There are several places of worship in Breightmet including two Anglican churches, St James and St John the Evangelist, St Osmund's Roman Catholic church, Red Lane United Reformed Church{{citation |url=http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Bolton-le-Moors/Breightmet/index.html|title=The District of Breightmet, Bolton |publisher=Lancashire Online Parish Clerks |accessdate=8 May 2011}} and the independent Kings Church Bolton, Unit 1, Millfield Rd, Boundary Industrial Estate.

St James' parish church designed by John Edgar Gregan was consecrated in 1855. Canon James Slade, Vicar of Bolton from 1817 to 1856, and founder of the Bolton Church Institute is buried in the churchyard.

Bolton St Catherine's Academy has a community leisure and sports centre. Leverhulme Park, the largest park area within Bolton has a community and children's centre with therapy suites, gymnasium, indoor athletics hall and outdoor athletics stadium, which hosts the town's school athletics competitions. The park has football pitches, 5-a-side football pitches, bowling greens and an athletics stadium as well as nature walks and picnic areas. The park is also home to the Bolton Parkrun.

Bolton St Catherine's Academy caters for children from three to 19. It is a Church of England school incorporating the former Withins School, a secondary school and Top o'th Brow Primary School.{{citation|title=First pupils welcomed to St Catherine's CE Academy |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/4583782.Town___s_newest_academy_welcomes_first_pupils/ |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |accessdate=8 May 2011 |date=7 September 2009 |work=The Bolton News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913081048/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/4583782.Town___s_newest_academy_welcomes_first_pupils/ |archivedate=13 September 2012 }}

Four other primary schools serve Breightmet. These are Red Lane County Primary School, Leverhulme Community Primary School, Blackshaw County Primary School, and St. Osmund and Andrew Roman Catholic County Primary School.

Badly Drawn Boy (real name Damon Gough), indie singer-songwriter, grew up in Breightmet{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Rock and roll singer Johnny Kidd died at age 30 in a car collision on the A58, Bury New Road, in Breightmet, around 2 a.m. on 8 October 1966.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.bolton.org.uk/breightmet.html Photos and information about Breightmet]
• [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Breightmet/StJames.shtml St James parish church]

{{Areas of Bolton}}

Category:Areas of Bolton

Category:Former civil parishes in Greater Manchester