Culture of Bolton. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Back in the 14th century, Bolton was a famous mill town that was prosperous through the Industrial Revolution. Therefore, there is nothing strange in the fact that the town has a rich heritage and many of its landmarks belong to that period. Of course, Bolton is a nice place for young people who seek entertainment and nightlife because there is a popular university, but fans of architectural landmarks will definitely not be disappointed. For many tourists, Bolton is a starting point of their West Pennine Moors adventure.

Tourists, who want to find an optimal route to explore the town on foot, can easily download the walking trail on the website of the local tourism office. A printed copy of the route is also available at the Tourist Information Centre that is located on Le Mas Crescent. The guide covers all most prominent landmarks of the town, such as the Town Hall, Queens Park, the Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, the Corliss Engine at Bolton Steam Museum, Samuel Crompton’s tomb, and other places worth visiting.

The railway station is the main transport hub of Bolton. The town center is located to the north of the station. Walk to the Albert Halls entertainment venue, see the Crompton Place Shopping Center, and don’t forget to attend the award-winning Bolton Market. However, a simple walk on old streets of the town is no less exciting and rewarding as there are many buildings that are true masterpieces of architectural art. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Bolton Town Hall remains one of the most famous landmarks of the town. The fabulous building was constructed in the second part of the 19th century for the County Borough of Bolton. The Town Hall was rebuilt and expanded during a thorough restoration that took place in the 1930s, but the style has remained unchanged. It is still a gorgeous neoclassical style building that is reminiscent of a temple. The tall, baroque style clock tower still has the 19th-century clock that chimes every fifteen minutes. The Town Hall suffered from a fire in 1981, so it was restored and slightly rebuilt. Therefore, two public halls, the Festival Hall and Albert Hall, appeared there.

Next to the Town Hall, tourists will see the Civic Centre. This is a beautiful building that once was a police station. Nowadays, it is a multi-purpose building with a library, a court, a museum, and even health clinics. Quite an interesting fact – the building still has prison cells that remind about the police past. These cells are in use – accused people who await their appearance in the court are kept there.

Fans of architecture will like a walk in Firwood Fold as there are many historic houses in this part of the town. Despite the fact that many of these buildings are protected by law, they are still inhabited. 15 Firwood Fold, for instance, is the oldest inhabited house in whole Bolton. It’s a fabulous 16th-century building in the medieval style initially built with oak trusses and the stone base. Later, the building was renovated and got stone cladding. Hall i’ th’ Wood is one more architectural landmark of the town. This eye-catching manor house was constructed at the beginning of the 16th century. Currently, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council Museum is open there. This manor house is a Grade I building that initially had timber frame and flagged roof. At the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, the manor was rebuilt. Actually, the name of the building is “Hall in the Wood”, but the official name represents how it actually sounds on the local dialect. Finally, Smithills Hall is one more popular place of interest located on a picturesque hill near Bolton. That is one of the oldest manor houses in England’s North West. The grand hall and central part of the building belong to the 15th century. The manor is open to the public.