1884: The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway established its Locomotive Works in Horwich and it became one of the country's six major railway towns. Bolton became synonymous with railway craftsmanship for nearly 100 years.

1885: February 26 - Human remains found in a bog in Kearsley.

1885: June 18 - Clifton Hall Colliery Explosion, 176 died. Bolton raised £2,000 for widows.

1885: July 9 - Samuel Dutton, 15, given Royal Humane Society medal. Saved boy from drowning at Daubhill.

1886: February 3 - Ambrose Tattersall given life for trying to murder Grace Bradley of Bolton.

1886: July 5 - Permission granted to erect a statue to Earl of Beaconsfield in Chorley New Road Park.

1886: May 15 - Memorial stone of new Westleyan Chapel and Schools near Tonge Fold, was laid.

1886: May 26 - Bolton FC were presented with Challenge Cups.

1887: January 11 - John Pearson of Little Lever died trying to save a drowning boy.

1887: August 9 - Bolton was deemed quiet enough for Hussars, camped in the park since July 4, to leave.

1887: October 29 - Strike of iron workers in Bolton finally settled after 25 weeks.