BOLTON Community College has a long history in the town — dating back to 1884 when, during the reign of Queen Victoria, a report from the Royal Commission said there was a need for a technical school within Bolton if it was to compete with the Continent and the Americas.

At that time Britain — and Bolton — was a leading centre for the cotton industry and the report stated that if the UK was to stay ahead it was necessary to educate the workers, something that was already happening on The Continent and America.

On February 28, 1887, at a meeting held in the Albert Hall, that the Queen’s Jubilee should be celebrated by raising funds for the establishment of a technical school.

The committee of the Mechanics Institute had previously offered to give their building to the public for this and in 1888 it was made clear that this was a free gift.

A meeting of the Trades’ Organisation and Working Men of Bolton and District discovered it would cost no more than £5,000 to bring the building up to the required standard and there would need to be an annual subscription of at least £600 for maintenance and teaching staff.

Dobson and Barlow had offered to provide cotton spinning machinery.

In 1895 The Bridgeman Place Technical School for Engineering and Textile Subjects was opened.

In 1898 there were 50 students of art, 323 science students and 191 taking technology. In 1901 the ever growing demand for technical education and the identification of an appropriate site in Spa Road led to the purchase and development of this £75,000 site.

Unfortunately World War One and the depression put the building project on hold and it became clear the Spa Road site would no longer be adequate. The Bolton Corporation Act, 1925, authorised the acquisition of the Manchester Road site. The first full-time principal of the college, Mr J W Simpkin, was appointed.

On Friday November 12, 1937 the building operations began but the main structure was not competed until 1941 — fittings and equipment had to be put on hold because of World War Two.

During World War Two the building was fully occupied by the College Authority and by various Government departments. During the war servicemen attended the No 6 RAF Radio School at Bolton Technical College. Here they studied their final course of training as wireless mechanics.

In 1946 Mr Simpkin stepped down as principal and Mr A J Jenkinson stepped into his shoes.

After the war the building was handed back as a Technical College and in 1950 the college became independent and moved to Chadwick Street.

An official opening of Bolton Technical College was held on Friday April 4, 1952, at 2.45pm.

In 1953 houses were built, from start to finish, by apprentices working under a building apprenticeship scheme.

In 1959 the college gained academic status and was approved by the University of Manchester.

The college split, in 1963, to become Bolton Technical College and the Bolton Institute of Technology (now the university). Dr A G Peace was appointed principal of Bolton Technical College.

In 1971 an additional building was added to the side of the main building. A technology block and sports hall opened and this would later become the Excel Centre.

In 1982 all further education colleges in the borough merged, with the exception of the Institute of Technology, Manchester Road became Bolton Metropolitan College, Mr Colin Terry was appointed principal based at Clarence Street but moved to Manchester Road in September.

In 1989 Colin Terry stepped down and Mr Terry Hogan was appointed.

The Community Education Service was formed in 1990 and Bolton Council’s focus was now on vocational training and education.

In 1991 refurbishment gave the college a new guidance centre to offer new and existing students careers advice and in 1993 principal Terry Hogan officially opened the college’s revamped library and the college gained its independence from Bolton Council and becomes Bolton College.

In 1999 Dr David Collins was appointed acting principal and in 2000 Community Education Services and Bolton College merged. Terry Hogan retired and a new principal, Ali Bowes was appointed. On April 6, 2001 Bolton College was renamed Bolton Community College.

In 2006 Wilf Cox, who was vice principal, took over as acting principal and in November Ali Bowes left and the search for a new head began. In 2007 Carol Bannerman was appointed principal.

In 2008 Bolton Sixth Form College opened its new campus in Queen Street, Farnworth and Bolton Community College rebranded its logo to a more colourful version.

On March 4, 2009 the Government gave the green light for the new building in Deane Road and on April 1, 2010 Bolton Community College was rebranded to Bolton College in preparation for the new building being erected. On September 6, 2010, Manchester Road closed its doors for the last time and on September 13, Deane Road opened its doors for the first day of term.

In January 2011, Carol Bannerman took early retirement and Ian Fitzgerald took up the post of acting principal. And on May 3, 2011 new principal Marie Gilluley took up the post.