It was mentioned in the Domesday Book but became more established as a mining community for the local coal pits in Norton and Chatterley Whitfield.

A hostel existed on the east side of Chell Heath Road until the 1970s, where incoming miners from different parts of Britain and also overseas would be housed.

A Co-Op grocery store stood on Moorland View with an attached butchers shop.

Moorland View also boasts a public house called The Talbot Inn at the junction with Unwin Street and, at one time, Bradeley Workingmens Club on a site that is awaiting redevelopment.

Bradeley was also known for brickmaking until the early 1970s - the Wilkinson Bros. factory was located at Acreswood, on the west side of the village, where clay was drawn from a pit and high quality bricks made.