Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire from a very early time, Bardsley anciently formed a hamlet within the township and parish of Ashton-under-Lyne. In 1951, owing to urbanisation, part of Bardsley was incorporated into the neighbouring County Borough of Oldham and in 1954, Limehurst Rural District was abolished, with the rest of the parish of Bardsley joining the County Borough of Oldham. Following the Local Government Act 1972, the County Borough of Oldham was abolished and Bardsley became part of the newly-formed Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester.