Bradwell is surrounded by spectacular hills with a rich heritage that includes hill forts, a Roman camp and an ancient defensive ditch.
The majority of Bradwell’s quaint little cottages date from the lead mining heyday in the 18th/19th centuries. Initially there were separate areas of the village such as Bradwell Hills, Smalldale, Towngate and Hollowgate, with stone cottages and terraced houses clustered in higgledy-piggledy fashion around a hotchpotch of narrow lanes, ginnels and alleyways, some stretching up steep banks towards Bradwell Edge or Bradwell Moor. However, these once individual and outlying settlements have now become united with the infill of modern development to create a village of considerable size.
Bradwell has a small parade of local shops along its main street including a post office, newsagent, greengrocers and fish and chip shop. There is also a small petrol station, garage and Fire Station.
Bradwell’s current claim to fame however must surely be Bradwell’s Dairy Ice Cream which is now manufactured and distributed all round the country, but can still be purchased from the tiny cottage shop where the recipe was invented in the front parlour by Grandma Hannah Bradwell over 100 years ago.
Bradwell has good recreational facilities with a sports field and large established play area, and being surrounded by National Park countryside there are numerous tracks, trails and footpaths to offer cycling and walks in Bradwell.
