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Projects

Bolton FHS has a long history of undertaking Project Work and this has resulted in more than 40 Bolton specific documents/databases in the Online Data area of the MLFHS webpages. A list of all the completed Bolton projects can be found in the Members Area / Document Collection. There is usually transcribing work available, the size of which varies, and it normally involves use of an Excel worksheet specifically designed for that job.

A long-running project to transcribe the Creed Registers of the Bolton Workhouse has been completed. These registers recorded the name, religion, age, dates of arrival and departure, and other details of the inmates. The records were photographed and then transcribed into Excel worksheets. The photographs were of pages ranging in size from A4 to A3.

On 6th April 2024, the final 6,444 names were added from the Turton Workhouse for the years 1837 to 1861. This project has now been completed, bringing the total number of workhouse records to over 130,000.

The results can now be viewed in the Great Database, which is available to all members.

Bolton Workhouse, Creed Registers

Volunteering Opportunities

The Bolton FHS is run by a happy band of volunteers and we are extremely grateful to all of them for their contributions, be they individually small or substantial. 

Our volunteers make the society what it is. Highlighting local collections values the work done by our volunteers and the difference they have made, whether working in teams or individually, to transcribe large and small archives for the benefit of both members and non-members

You too can contribute to the running of the Society by becoming a Volunteer. To discover more, contact any Committee Member at any Bolton FHS meeting, or the Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are interested in helping with transcribing, please contact the Project Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bolton's Heritage

Hall i' th' Wood

Image reproduced with permission from David Whenlock

Hall i' th' Wood is an early 16th-century manor house in Bolton. It is a Grade I listed building and is currently used as a museum by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.

Originally built as a half-timbered hall in the 16th century and owned by wealthy yeomen and merchants, after 1697 the Hall was rented out to various tenants.

It was during this period that a young Samuel Crompton came to live there with his parents. In 1779 he invented his Spinning Mule, which revolutionised the cotton industry.

Further reading: Wikipedia & Bolton Library and Museum Services