The gorgeous manor house dating back to the 14th century is Bolton’s hidden gem

Stepping inside an old manor house with black and white timber-farming and wood-panelled rooms is like travelling back in time to another world. Luckily for us one of the best preserved examples of a manor house can be found right here in Greater Manchester.

Smithills Hall is located on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, a 15-minute drive from Bolton town centre. The original mediaeval hall was built in the 14th century and was constructed entirely from timber framing.

Over the years the building has been extended and now includes Tudor and Victorian wings, as well as a private chapel. The Grade I listed building is set in stunning formal gardens, perfectly complementing the grand exterior.

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You can easily spend a few hours here wandering around each of the mesmerising rooms and imagining what life was like in centuries gone by. Follow it up with a stroll around the gardens where you can admire the gorgeous architecture.

Like a lot of old buildings, Smithills has an interesting history being passed from various families. The hall is first mentioned in written records in 1335 when it was obtained by William Radcliffe. It was passed along to different families in the local area but in 1659 it entered a period of neglect. The Ainsworth family bought the hall and estate in 1801 and Smithills was extensively renovated and rebuilt.

In 1838 Bolton Council bought Smithills for £70,600 and the Victorian parts of the hall became a council residential home and later a day centre until the late 1990s. Following conservation work on the older sections, parts of the building were opened as a museum in 1963.

The museum was then extended