An organisation which is working to preserve one of Bolton’s most historic halls is inviting people to step back in time this weekend and find out more about the building dating back to 1807.

Banana Enterprise is staging a Rock Hall Heritage Walk in which people can find out more about the Grade 2 listed building in the heart of Moses Gate Country Park.

The three mile walk will take place on June 11, starting at noon, with members of the charity leading the walk.

Banana Enterprise is working to bring the hall back into community use and save a piece of the town’s heritage.

The walk will be around the grounds of Rock Hall in Moses Gate Country Park, where walkers will learn about the Crompton Family, the Farnworth Paper Mill and how TB Crompton was a pioneer of paper drying processes.

On the walk, residents will also be able to find out more about the mansion house and the people who lived there.

Walkers will be able to take in lots of interesting information whilst taking in the views of the park area along the way.

Christopher Allman from Banana Enterprise Network and Jim Clarke from Friends of Moses Gate group are both leading on the walk.  

Chris said: “The walk is free of charge as our community activities in the park this year are kindly funded by Bolton CVS and The National Lottery Community Fund.

"During the walk we will be showing people old photos of Rock Hall and the Farnworth Paper Mill and what the surrounding area looked like 200 years ago.

"We will discuss the changes that have happened to Rock Hall and talk about some of the people who have lived there over the years."

Jim said: “We will be walking near the river and up to the canal and along the route we will be discussing many historical and landscape features.

"It will be a fairly easy walk which will be starting and ending at Rock Hall and it will be approximately 3 miles long in total.

"There are only 12 places available for the walk to keep the group to a manageable size and we look forward to meeting everyone."

This walk is for adults only, starting outside the gates to Rock Hall, but the charity has another exciting activity for all to enjoy.

People from across the borough are invited to take part in Rock Hall Landmark Challenge on August 20.

During the charity’s Rock Hall/Farnworth related research work, they were lucky to obtain an interesting “real photo” postcard. 

In June 1906, 300 people from Farnworth & Kearsley Parish Church went to Ilfracombe in Devon.

They gathered together on a hillside called Capstone Hill and formed the word “Devon”. 

It was photographed and a photo postcard was made of the event.  

To show support for the Save Rock Hall project the charity has now decided to create a similar memorable event, 116 years later, again with 300 people taking part.

The free event will be at 2pm.

On the day that we run the event, residents will gather in the park near Rock Hall.

People in attendance are advised to wear a white t-shirt so the words “Save Rock Hall” will be formed.

Jayne Allman, CEO of the Banana Enterprise Network, said: “We are very excited about our Rock Hall Landmark Challenge which will be on August 20.

"We hope that the 300 people we need to spell out the words 'Save Rock Hall', will join us and we can make history together.

"It will be a positive show of support for the project and fun too. 

"We don’t believe this type of activity has ever been done before in the local area and we hope the weather is kind to us.”

To take part, RSVP here. (https://rockhall1807.co.uk/.../rock-hall-landmark-challenge/)