A WALK along one of Bolton’s most famous roads can provide a fascinating insight into the lives and times of the families who once lived there.

Chorley New Road is awash with huge houses that used to be home to some of the town’s most well to do wealthy entrepreneurs.

While many of the houses that belonged to the rich and famous are in Chorley New Road there are other parts of Bolton where these famous men chose to make their homes.

Jean Boardman’s book about the great houses of Bolton gives an in-depth insight into their lives and how they managed to create such wealth to enable them to buy such magnificent properties.

This former teacher with a keen interest in local history has written several books about Bolton and its people including one about the quaint little village of Chew Moor.

“Who Lived in a House Like This” is book two in the series of books about the manor houses of Bolton and while the first offering was based in Chorley New Road this one takes the reader further afield.

The legacy of many of Bolton’s entrepreneurs remains in the factories, buildings, street names, parks and houses which they built, explains Jean.

This labour of love for Jean investigates the history of such places as Smithills Hall — many will have visited the museum but perhaps know little of the people who once lived there — Sharples Hall, Birtenshaw and Watermillock — now a very popular restaurant.

Hollywood — now a private hospital — High Lawn and Higher Dunscar all come in for some scrutiny from Jean who leaves no stone unturned in her mission to educate us all about the town’s interesting history.

These are the men who made Bolton great and their wealth a by-product, often, of the great contribution they made to the local economy. They are well worth remembering.

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