At the top of a steep cobbled road to nowhere sits one of the most secluded villages in Greater Manchester. Though its a stones throw from the M66 and just a few miles north of Bury, the charming village of Nangreaves feels like a world unto itself. A walk around the cluster of cottages offers some respite from the chaos of city living with a backdrop of rolling green hills and distant skylines. The beautiful stone pathways and vintage street lamps scattered throughout Mount Pleasant, an idyllic settlement within the village, leave you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. But aside from rows of quaint homes, the hamlet has no shops or restaurants. It was once home to a beloved pub, The Lord Raglan, which closed down in 2017 when its landlord retired. Its devastating closure saw the communitys last remaining local amenity disappear, only adding to the villages isolated nature. But locals say they love feeling tucked away from society saying they wouldnt choose to live anywhere else. Paul Robinson, who has lived in the village with his wife Kairen for 27 years, hands me a magazine article from the 90s. A lonely idyll, the headline reads. It may be on the road to nowhere, but the village of Nangreaves is a rather special place. Retired physiotherapist couldnt agree more. The people are friendly, she said. Its got a good community feeling and were only half away from the city centre. Its just a lovely place to live. Weve always liked living here. Its just really lovely and safe. Everyone watches out for each other. Originally built to house mill workers during the Industrial Revolution, these days Mount Pleasant is a conservation area and a thriving residential community. Designated a conservation area in 1974, Mount Pleasant is a rare example of a purpose-built factory village. The village features a mix of terraced homes dating from the 19th century along with newer terraced houses and apartments developed on the site of the original mill in 1988. The village is supported by a residents association and conservation group, ensuring the area’s rich history and charming character is preserved. Ken OBrien, 86, who has lived in Nangreaves his whole life, said: Its changed with the patrons, obviously. Its re-developed from when I first came here. Its still very pleasant. Its still called the jewel of Bury. The view is lovely. We do have problems with the deteriorating cobble roads. To live here, you have to have a vehicle. Without being rude, the bus isnt 100 per cent all the time. One 52-year-old resident, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said: I like the fact its a small community and we all get on very well. It has close links to the motorway I work in Leeds as an opera singer. Were also close to Ramsbottom which is a great shopping time. There is an awful lot of heavy tractors going up and down in the early hours of the morning. Its not just your normal farm traffic. A few of the older residents have complained to a local MP. I have some nice relationships with my neighbours. You know you can call on someone if youre in need. For me, its a nice sanctuary to get away from the busy cities. We did consider moving to a bigger house, but growing up here, the kids had a lot of freedom. They could go out and explore the local countryside. They had a real interest in the environment and they place they lived. Were very lucky that we have the bus on the hour. Its a real lifeline. One thing that is very missed is the pub. It was the heartbeat of the village. Its a shame. (Image: Paige Oldfield)
Perched atop a steep cobbled incline, affectionately known as the road to nowhere, sits the quintessentially secluded village of Nangreaves in Greater Manchester.
A stone’s throw away from the bustle of the M66 and only a short distance north of Bury, this picturesque hamlet offers an escape into a world of its own.
Wandering through the quaint cottages that make up Nangreaves provides a welcome sanctuary from the relentless pace of urban life, set against a rustic vista of undulating emerald hills.
The time-worn cobblestones and nostalgically designed street lamps evoke a bygone era, particularly within Mount Pleasant a serene hamlet nestled in the heart of the village.
However, beyond the charming homes, Nangreaves is bereft of commercial amenities. The village’s once popular pub, The Lord Raglan, shut its doors in 2017 following the retirement of its publican, marking the loss of the community’s final local establishment and intensifying the village’s sense of seclusion, reports .
At the top of a steep cobbled road to nowhere sits one of the most secluded villages in Greater Manchester. Though its a stones throw from the M66 and just a few miles north of Bury, the charming village of Nangreaves feels like a world unto itself. A walk around the cluster of cottages offers some respite from the chaos of city living with a backdrop of rolling green hills and distant skylines. The beautiful stone pathways and vintage street lamps scattered throughout Mount Pleasant, an idyllic settlement within the village, leave you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. But aside from rows of quaint homes, the hamlet has no shops or restaurants. It was once home to a beloved pub, The Lord Raglan, which closed down in 2017 when its landlord retired. Its devastating closure saw the communitys last remaining local amenity disappear, only adding to the villages isolated nature. But locals say they love feeling tucked away from society saying they wouldnt choose to live anywhere else. Paul Robinson, who has lived in the village with his wife Kairen for 27 years, hands me a magazine article from the 90s. A lonely idyll, the headline reads. It may be on the road to nowhere, but the village of Nangreaves is a rather special place. Retired physiotherapist couldnt agree more. The people are friendly, she said. Its got a good community feeling and were only half away from the city centre. Its just a lovely place to live. Weve always liked living here. Its just really lovely and safe. Everyone watches out for each other. Originally built to house mill workers during the Industrial Revolution, these days Mount Pleasant is a conservation area and a thriving residential community. Designated a conservation area in 1974, Mount Pleasant is a rare example of a purpose-built factory village. The village features a mix of terraced homes dating from the 19th century along with newer terraced houses and apartments developed on the site of the original mill in 1988. The village is supported by a residents association and conservation group, ensuring the area’s rich history and charming character is preserved. Ken OBrien, 86, who has lived in Nangreaves his whole life, said: Its changed with the patrons, obviously. Its re-developed from when I first came here. Its still very pleasant. Its still called the jewel of Bury. The view is lovely. We do have problems with the deteriorating cobble roads. To live here, you have to have a vehicle. Without being rude, the bus isnt 100 per cent all the time. One 52-year-old resident, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said: I like the fact its a small community and we all get on very well. It has close links to the motorway I work in Leeds as an opera singer. Were also close to Ramsbottom which is a great shopping time. There is an awful lot of heavy tractors going up and down in the early hours of the morning. Its not just your normal farm traffic. A few of the older residents have complained to a local MP. I have some nice relationships with my neighbours. You know you can call on someone if youre in need. For me, its a nice sanctuary to get away from the busy cities. We did consider moving to a bigger house, but growing up here, the kids had a lot of freedom. They could go out and explore the local countryside. They had a real interest in the environment and they place they lived. Were very lucky that we have the bus on the hour. Its a real lifeline. One thing that is very missed is the pub. It was the heartbeat of the village. Its a shame. (Image: Paige Oldfield)
Despite this, residents cherish their hidden away slice of country life, with many asserting it’s their ideal place to live.
Local resident Paul Robinson, who has called Nangreaves home for 27 years alongside his wife Kairen, presents me with a nostalgic magazine article from the nineties, headlining ‘A lonely idyll. ‘ It claims, quite rightly, that even though Nangreaves might be considered on the road to nowhere, it remains a remarkable spot.
Echoing the sentiment, a former physiotherapist and retiree embraces the villages solitude. “The people are friendly,” she declares.
At the top of a steep cobbled road to nowhere sits one of the most secluded villages in Greater Manchester. Though its a stones throw from the M66 and just a few miles north of Bury, the charming village of Nangreaves feels like a world unto itself. A walk around the cluster of cottages offers some respite from the chaos of city living with a backdrop of rolling green hills and distant skylines. The beautiful stone pathways and vintage street lamps scattered throughout Mount Pleasant, an idyllic settlement within the village, leave you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. But aside from rows of quaint homes, the hamlet has no shops or restaurants. It was once home to a beloved pub, The Lord Raglan, which closed down in 2017 when its landlord retired. Its devastating closure saw the communitys last remaining local amenity disappear, only adding to the villages isolated nature. But locals say they love feeling tucked away from society saying they wouldnt choose to live anywhere else. Paul Robinson, who has lived in the village with his wife Kairen for 27 years, hands me a magazine article from the 90s. A lonely idyll, the headline reads. It may be on the road to nowhere, but the village of Nangreaves is a rather special place. Retired physiotherapist couldnt agree more. The people are friendly, she said. Its got a good community feeling and were only half away from the city centre. Its just a lovely place to live. Weve always liked living here. Its just really lovely and safe. Everyone watches out for each other. Originally built to house mill workers during the Industrial Revolution, these days Mount Pleasant is a conservation area and a thriving residential community. Designated a conservation area in 1974, Mount Pleasant is a rare example of a purpose-built factory village. The village features a mix of terraced homes dating from the 19th century along with newer terraced houses and apartments developed on the site of the original mill in 1988. The village is supported by a residents association and conservation group, ensuring the area’s rich history and charming character is preserved. Ken OBrien, 86, who has lived in Nangreaves his whole life, said: Its changed with the patrons, obviously. Its re-developed from when I first came here. Its still very pleasant. Its still called the jewel of Bury. The view is lovely. We do have problems with the deteriorating cobble roads. To live here, you have to have a vehicle. Without being rude, the bus isnt 100 per cent all the time. One 52-year-old resident, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said: I like the fact its a small community and we all get on very well. It has close links to the motorway I work in Leeds as an opera singer. Were also close to Ramsbottom which is a great shopping time. There is an awful lot of heavy tractors going up and down in the early hours of the morning. Its not just your normal farm traffic. A few of the older residents have complained to a local MP. I have some nice relationships with my neighbours. You know you can call on someone if youre in need. For me, its a nice sanctuary to get away from the busy cities. We did consider moving to a bigger house, but growing up here, the kids had a lot of freedom. They could go out and explore the local countryside. They had a real interest in the environment and they place they lived. Were very lucky that we have the bus on the hour. Its a real lifeline. One thing that is very missed is the pub. It was the heartbeat of the village. Its a shame. (Image: Paige Oldfield)
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“It’s got a good community feeling and we’re only half away from the city centre.”
Mount Pleasant, originally built to house mill workers during the Industrial Revolution, now stands as a conservation area and boasts a thriving residential community.
With its charming array of 19th-century terraces and more recent housing additions, the village represents a seamless blend of historical beauty and modern living.
Residents are actively involved in preserving the area’s unique character through a dedicated association and conservation group.
GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
The longstanding resident Ken O’Brien, aged 86, who has spent his entire life in Nangreaves, remarked on the evolution of the village: “It’s changed with the patrons, obviously.”
Commenting on the locale’s appeal and challenges, he added: “It’s re-developed from when I first came here. It’s still very pleasant. It’s still called the jewel of Bury. The view is lovely.”
GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Notwithstanding the occasional gripes about “We do have problems with the deteriorating cobble roads.”
he notes the necessity of personal transport given the unreliable bus services: “To live here, you have to have a vehicle. Without being rude, the bus isn’t 100 per cent all the time.”
GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Echoing the sentiments of friendly community spirit is another resident, a 52-year-old opera singer settled in the village for three decades, who admires the solidarity among villagers alongside practical benefits: “I like the fact it’s a small community and we all get on very well.”
She further appreciates the strategic location that grants her easy access for both work and leisure: “It has close links to the motorway I work in Leeds as an opera singer. We’re also close to Ramsbottom which is a great shopping time.”
views of Peel Tower from Mount Pleasant . GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Residents in a rural idyll are being disturbed by the thunderous rumbles of heavy tractors trundling through the night. “There is an awful lot of heavy tractors going up and down in the early hours of the morning. It’s not just your normal farm traffic. A few of the older residents have complained to a local MP,” shared one local.
GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Speaking of community bonds, another resident said, “I have some nice relationships with my neighbours. You know you can call on someone if you’re in need.”
The countryside also offers a peaceful haven from bustling city life: “For me, it’s a nice sanctuary to get away from the busy cities. We did consider moving to a bigger house, but growing up here, the kids had a lot of freedom. They could go out and explore the local countryside. They had a real interest in the environment and the place they lived.”
GVs of Mount Pleasant , Nangreaves , Bury . 25 September 2024 (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
In terms of local amenities, a villager appreciated the public transport links but lamented the loss of a central social spot: “We’re very lucky that we have the bus on the hour. It’s a real lifeline. One thing that is very missed is the pub. It was the heartbeat of the village. It’s a shame.”
Bury Council and Transport for Greater have been approached for comment.