THE legacy of industrial Bolton is being explored — through a photographic exhibition.

The Mills, Mines and Machinery exhibition has been created by Bolton Documentary Photography in partnership with Bolton Arts Forum and the University of Bolton.

The event, at the University of Bolton, is part of a project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to examine the industrial heritage of the town.

The display features a mix of contemporary photographs along with archive pictures, many of which are from Bolton Museum and Archives. The exhibits cover the positive and negative impacts of Bolton’s major industries over two centuries on the local environment and people’s lives.

A launch event included an introduction by Ian Beesley, Honorary Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society, and extracts from a new play about Samuel Crompton, which were read out by performing arts students.

Paul Longden, of Bolton Documentary Photography, said: “It’s been a very demanding project for a voluntary group like ours but the subject has a huge visual range, with strong aesthetic qualities, and so it lends itself perfectly to photography.

"We’re very grateful for the help we received from the many people who kindly allowed us to take pictures, and also to Bolton Museum for granting permission to use their archive images.”

Elizabeth Tatman, of the Bolton Arts Forum, added: “A great deal of what we take for granted today comes from the Industrial Revolution. Members of The Bolton Documentary Photography Group have produced a series of evocative images that provide a fascinating insight into Bolton’s heritage and the important part the town played in the industrial history of the North West.”.

Sam Johnson, Head of the Bolton School of Arts at the University of Bolton, said they were delighted to be hosting this unique photographic record of Bolton’s industrial past and present.

He added: "Many of our students also explore social documentary photography and visual storytelling, so it's great that they can get to see how work of this kind is emerging from the community around us. “

The Mills, Mines, Machinery Industrial Bolton photographic exhibition is at the University of Bolton, Eagle Restaurant, Chancellor’s Mall, University Way and runs until February 27th and is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 3pm and Fri 8.30am - 2.30pm.

The exhibition then moves to the Social Learning Zone in the same building from the March 2 to 27th Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8pm. Admission is free.