THERE is so much history to be had in Bolton town centre that it really is a fascinating place to work.

Of course it is not so long ago that many people not only worked in the town centre but also lived here too.

Looking at the photograph we found in our archives of Chorley Grove, off Chorley Street in 1927 not all the housing was as smart as town centre living often is today but for many families it would be an ideal place to set up home.

It was also a vibrant place for nightlife with plenty of cinemas and theatres where local folk could be entertained — as our photograph of Churchgate goes to prove.

There would be no question of people heading for Manchester for their shopping or entertainment as Bolton was the place to be.

The name Bolton is derived, we believe, from the Old English bothl-tun which means a settlement with a dwelling.

Over the years the name has changed and has included such variations as Botheltun, Bodeltown, Bowelton and Bolton-super-Moras before becoming the Bolton we know today.

Incredibly people have lived on the moors around Bolton since the early part of the Bronze Age and evidence of this included a stone circle on Cheetham Close above Egerton. If any of our readers have information about this stone circle we would love to hear about it.

There were Bronze Age burial mounds found on Winter Hill and a Bronze Age mound excavated in Victorian times outside Haulgh Hall.

There is a claim that Agricola — responsible for most of the Roman conquest of Britain — built a fort at Blackrod. Again we would be delighted to hear from readers who may know more about this.

A charter to hold a market in Churchgate was granted on December 14, 1251 by King Henry III and Bolton became a market town and borough by a charter from the Earl of Derby, William de Ferrers, on January 14, 1253.

A market was held until the 18th century.

Flemish weavers came to Bolton in 1337 and they introduced the manufacture of woollen cloth.

More Flemish weavers came here in the 17th century making a cloth which comprised linen and cotton.

Of course famous inventors Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton helped to give Bolton a real place on the country's map thanks to their spinning technology developments and the town was well known for hundreds of years for its cotton industry.

We should never forget Bolton's fascinating past and just walking around Bolton town centre — with a keen eye for the buildings that surround us — give us a real insight into how our ancestors lived.

Bolton was clearly a very grand place to live and a very grand place to work.

The buildings would house some of the most respected lawyers and businessmen in Lancashire and some of the large houses on the roads into the town centre would be home to the richest and most influential families of their time.

Probably some of the most interesting areas of Bolton town centre include Churchgate — Ye Olde Man and Scythe and Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe being just two of the oldest buildings still standing in this area — and the St Helena Mill Cotton waste spinning mill in Pool Street which today is no longer used for the purpose it was built but proves interesting to historians visiting Bolton.

Nelson Square is an historical focal point in the town centre and, of course, the town hall square has much historical importance.

We would love to hear from Looking Back readers who have their own historical stories to tell of Bolton town centre.

Any amateur historians who can add help with a historical account of Bolton town centre's past should get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk and we will endeavour to feature stories in a future edition of the paper.