What's new...

Detail of Bolton town centre Peregrine chickAbout Bolton Town Centre's latest residents 

Bolton town centre’s newest residents - a pair of magnificent Peregrine falcons and their three new chicks - have prompted a new addition to the natural history collection.


Sam Allardyce Feature as a 'face' in our summer exhibition

Find out about the way faces have been drawn, painted and photographed over time at 'Face to Face'. Boltonians are encouraged to send in their photos to be included in the displays.


Roll of Honour with Collections 

Rationalisation Officer Ben WhittakerClarendon School war heroes

Two Rolls of Honour that have been in the Museum collection since 1979 will return to their rightful home. They list the names of pupils from Clarendon school who served and died in the First World War.


125th anniversary of Bolton Museum 

logo125th anniversary talks at Bolton Museum

This year marks the 125th year since Bolton Council first employed William Waller Midgley in 1883 as its first professional curator. To celebrate this fact there are a number of free lunchtime talks.


Exhibitions...

Peruvian Mummies unravelled

3rd May to 2nd August 2008 @ Bolton Museum
This exhibition unravels the stories surrounding two of the mummies in Bolton Museum’s collection and aspects of Peruvian culture.

Face to Face

17th May to 6th September 2008 @ Bolton Museum
A fun and family friendly exhibition with activites and interactive displays. The way the faces of the people of Bolton have changed over tiime to the way celebrities are portrayed can be explored here.

View all Exhibitions


Bolton Museum Services include...

thumbnail view of 

Hall i'th' WoodHall i' th' Wood

Discover Hall i’ th’ Wood Museum, a 15th century half-timbered hall and birthplace of the spinning mule.

Detail of Smithills 

HallSmithills Hall

Explore Smithills Hall, a Grade 1 listed building set in formal gardens on the edge of the West Pennine Moors.


thumbnail view of 

Bolton MuseumMuseum & Archive

Bolton Museum and Archive service is located above the Library behind the Town hall on Le Mans Crescent.

thumbnail Aquarium imageBolton Aquarium

The only public aquarium in Greater Manchester. Come and see the amazing knife fish, piranha and many more.

Features...

Bolton Observed

Working mans hair specialist - a detail of a 

photgraph taken by Humphrey Spender for the Mass Observation

Bolton, the town and its people as photographed by Humphrey Spender for the Mass Observation.