Four Secret Streets In Bradford-on-Avon
Venture off the beaten track in Bradford on Avon and you’ll be rewarded with dozens of cottages packed with curb appeal, beautiful gardens and mysterious doorways.
Here’s a selection of some of my favourite secret streets to explore.
The pretty cottages sandwiched between The Saxon Church and St Laurence Church on the way to Barton Orchard.
1. St Margaret’s Place via St Margaret’s Steps
St Margaret’s Place is a gorgeous row of grand houses and cute cottages only accessible on foot.
Many of the houses have cottage-style gardens located on the other side of the path, which are packed with rose covered archways and springtime bulbs. There’s some seriously impressive doorways with gorgeous lintels and lights too.
You can access the path from both ends, but it’s nice to walk up St Margaret’s Steps which can be found opposite the library just past the Bridge Tea Rooms on Bridge Street.
Each step tread is extra wide - I think to allow workers from the old woollen mills to easily run up and down them. Today, it makes the climb a little easier. Be sure to stop and look back over the town when you reach the top, then turn left and immediately right down St Margaret’s Place.
2. The weavers’ cottages in Barton Orchard
Bradford on Avon is packed with weavers’ cottages from when the town had a thriving woollen textile industry. One of my favourite rows can be found along Barton Orchard.
Go over McKeever Bridge at the back of the short stay car park and turn left up the road between St Laurence Church and the Saxon Church (definitely worth popping your head in on the way). Walk up past the cute row of cottages overlooking the main church yard and up the Church Lane footpath. You’ll then see the Barton Steps straight in front of you and the Barton Orchard weavers’ cottages off to your left. Most of the owners have tables and chairs out the front, lots of flowerpots and even a bit of bunting along the wall.
Once you’ve had a peak, you can continue on the path down to the railway line and across into the Barton Farm Country Park or turn back and head up the Barton Steps. The house at the top of the steps on Newtown is a little gem of a place and well worth a snap.
3. Huntingdon Street and Bearfield Buildings
I discovered Bearfield Buildings by accident when exploring the northern side of the town one weekend. It’s easy to miss this side of Bradford if you’re visiting for the day as it’s a fair leg workout to walk up from town to the top of the hill. It’s well worth the effort however.
If you head up Barton Steps onto Newtown, turn right and then left up Conigre Hill, just opposite the Priory Steps. It’s a walk that may well require a few stops along the way, but there’s a good view over the rooftops as you head upwards. At the top, cross over Winsley Road onto Huntingdon Street. The street quickly narrows and is lined with Bath stone cottages and pretty gardens. At the top, there’s a right turn onto a footpath which takes you along the front of Bearfield Buildings; a row of cottages surrounded by hollyhocks and wisteria. It’s definitely worth a slow wander, although serious house envy is highly likely.
4. Whitehill
Whitehill is either an easy descent or a fairly hard climb, but it rewards with glimpses of the countryside beyond Bradford on Avon and an eclectic mix of houses.
It’s easily accessible from the middle of town and is located just up from The Bunch of Grapes and their lovely deli or a short walk down from the Castle Inn pub after exploring Huntingdon Street.
It’s a quiet street, but lined with cars belonging to those that live along it, so it’s not quite as picturesque as the pedestrianised lanes. There’s an array of Bath stone cottages with little gardens at the front, packed with lavender and roses. There’s also some more modern houses and extensions interspersed along the way.
