Bolton’s historic links to Lancashire were commemorated in a town centre event ahead of a day of celebration.

A ceremony outside Bolton Town Hall on Sunday saw Astley Bridge councillor John Walsh present the Mayor of Bolton with a red rose to mark the town’s historic place in Lancashire.

The ceremony came ahead of Lancashire Day, taking place today, which marks the day in 1295 when Lancashire first sent representatives to King Edward I’s parliament in Westminster.

The Bolton News: Cllr John Walsh reads the Lancashire Day proclamation outside the town hallCllr John Walsh reads the Lancashire Day proclamation outside the town hall (Image: Henry Lisowski)

Photos by Henry Lisowski

And on November 27 1995, the then MP for Bolton North East, Peter Thunham, tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling on all local authorities to signpost the boundaries of Lancashire and other historic counties.

Lancashire Day was adopted in 1996 to celebrate the county and its history on November 27.

In a speech given to the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Mohammed Ayub and heard by residents in the town centre, Cllr Walsh recited the Lancashire Day Proclamation: “Know ye that tomorrow, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty Three, the 2nd year of the reign of His Majesty King Charles I, II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

The Bolton News: Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Mohammed Ayub and Cllr John Walsh, at the ceremonyMayor of Bolton, Cllr Mohammed Ayub and Cllr John Walsh, at the ceremony (Image: Henry Lisowski)

“Know ye also and rejoice that by virtue of his majesty’s country palatine of Lancaster the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, north and south of the sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby and forever entitles to style themselves Lancastrians.”

The county palatine refers to the Palatinate powers, powers belonging to the palace, which were bestowed on Lancashire in 1351 due to its position in defending England from Scotland.

In recent months, Bolton has seen renewed interest in rejoining Lancashire, rather than remaining part of Greater Manchester.

In June, Bolton councillors debated but ultimately dismissed the idea of holding a referendum to decide the town’s future, after a petition to return the town to Lancashire gained 3000 signatures.

The Bolton News: Former Mayoral candidate, Nick Buckley and Bolton For Change leader Trevor Jones call for Bolton's return to Lancashire in JuneFormer Mayoral candidate, Nick Buckley and Bolton For Change leader Trevor Jones call for Bolton's return to Lancashire in June (Image: Newsquest)

Last month, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it was ‘up to the people of Bolton to decide’ whether it rejoined the county.

Speaking after the ceremony on Sunday, Cllr Walsh said many Boltonians still felt a strong affinity for Lancashire.

He said: “Historically, Bolton has been in the county of Lancaster, Lancashire as it became, for a thousand years since just after Doomsday when the various areas were split up.

“We’ve always been Lancastrians since just after 1066.

“There’s massive, massive support for Lancashire, you need to talk only to many, many of the citizens of Bolton and the whole county to see the opposition to being deemed to be Greater Mancunians.

“We are part of Greater Manchester in terms of administration, but we remain within the country Palatine, a unique and distinct honour.”

As an act of unity, and no matter where they were in the world, Lancastrians were asked to raise their glasses at 9pm and drink the Loyal Toast to "The Queen, Duke of Lancaster". Now, King Charles is the Duke of Lancaster.

Today the Lancashire Day proclamation will be read out town criers throughout the county.