BOLTON literally hung out the flags when its magnificent Town Hall was opened by royalty in 1873.

It was a spectacular scene. "The streets were profusely decorated with hundreds of Venetian masts and trophies of flags; triumphal arches and street balconies were erected," records the 1888 Annals of Bolton by James Clegg.

It was June 5, and the town's finest were ready to welcome the Prince of Wales and his Princess -- later to become King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra -- for the town's first royal visit.

The royal party had been staying down the road at Haigh Hall, guests of the Earl of Crawford and Calcarres.

They had already performed one official duty -- the opening of the new Infirmary at Wigan. But this was Bolton's turn for the pomp and ceremony. A grand procession of the mayor in all his finery, bigwigs from the corporation and leading gentry set off to greet the royal party.

Accompanying them were members of the local trade and friendly societies, escorted by detachments of Dragoons, Yeomanry Cavalry, and the local Rifle Volunteers.

It must have been a grand sight.

At the boundary of the borough at Chorley New Road, the two parties met and then in front of 150,000 spectators who lined the route, (despite the rain) they covered the principal thoroughfares of the town, about three miles.

At the Town Hall, in front of a massive crowd in Victoria Square, the Prince was presented with a magnificent silver key by the corporation, which he used to unlock the main doors and declare Bolton Town Hall open officially.

The celebrations continued with a grand banquet in the Albert Hall. The Prince then thanked the guests before leaving. But the celebrations were not over. They were to last another two days. In the evening, hundreds flocked to the park to watch a brilliant fireworks display. The following evening, a huge ball was held in the Albert Hall and on the Saturday, the festivities ended with a performance of The Creation in the same hall.

The corporation set aside the princely sum of £1,500 to pay for the festivities -- but only spent £1,130!

The final cost of the Town Hall, including the site, was £170,000 and the project took seven years from the first recorded discussions to the building. It was designed by a Leeds company and one from Bolton. It was built in a Classic style of Corinthian order and based on Grecian models -- by all account the councillors of the day had definitely voted against Gothic!

The fine building was constructed of stone quarried at Horwich, Halifax, Darley Dale, Huddersfield and Longridge, and has stood the test of time. It is still as magnificent today and features some spectacular sculptures and carved columns. The eight feet high figures were executed by Royal Academy artist Mr Calder Marshall. For those who have never noticed, these include the central figure representing "Bolton" with a mural crown holding a shield that bears the borough arms. On her right is "Manufacture" with a distaff and leaning on a bale of goods. Near her is a cylinder and wheel and in the angle is "Earth" pouring out her gifts from a cornucopia and with a Negro boy bearing a basket of cotton. On the left of the central figure is "Commerce" with the winged staff of Mercury and in the angle is the "Ocean" with a boy holding a boat by the bows.

The Town Hall remained in all its glory as the town centre's focal point -- until 1981 when the Albert Hall was devastated in a blaze. It took £3.4million and three and a half years before it was reopened.

The new Town Hall stood on the site of the old Pot Market on the west side of the then Market Square, later formally designated the Town Hall Square.

The two stone lions are 12 feet high and 6 feet in length. They were not ready in time for the Royal opening and were added later. They cost £201-17s. There are 29 steps leading to the main entrance.

The domed tower over the main entrance contained one of the largest clocks in the country with four dials each 12 feet in diameter. The clock had five large bells. It was originally powered by weights of more than 25 cwts. Today it is powered by electricity.

Extensions costing £1million were built and formally opened by the Early of Derby in June, 1939.