Below is some genealogy information and websites about the history and social geography of Bolton.

North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West, Midlands, London, East Anglia

Description: Located in Greater Manchester, Bolton sits next to the Pennines. Traditionally a mill town, workers were focused on the cottage industry. They specialised in fustian. Well-known locals such as Samuel Compton (inventor of the spinning mule) helped to put Bolton at the centre of the weaving world. This paved the way for the industrialisation of Bolton, resulting in the boom of the town. Cotton-spinning was driven by the locally mined coal (which was exported) and good transport links such as the Manchester, Bolton & Bury canal, connected in 1791, and access to the rail network in 1828. Bolton was later connected to the Leeds and Liverpool canal too. In 1911 the textile industry was employing some 36,000 people. By 1929 there were some 219 mills in Bolton. In addition, supporting trades grew too such as bleaching works (of which there were more than 30) and dying works. This boom did not last and mass unemployment followed as cotton became cheaper to produce elsewhere, such as India. Always a part of Lancashire, in 1974 Wigan became part of Greater Manchester.

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