Bolton Library and Museum Services is seeking stories and objects relating to the life and history of a 200-year-old hall in Moses Gate.
Built in 1807, Rock Hall was once the home of the Crompton family, owners of a hugely successful paper-making business.
It was later occupied by managers of a bleach works before being divided into separate apartments in the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1982, it opened as a visitor centre, serving as the focal point of Moses Gate Country Park.
Rock Hall closed to the public in 2014 but is now the subject of a major National Lottery Heritage Fund bid.
New displays exploring the history of the hall would be a key feature of the new Community Heritage Hub, which would also include a café, activity spaces, and offices for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Library and museum staff are leading on the creation of the heritage displays and are now inviting anyone with objects, photographs, and stories relating to Rock Hall and Moses Gate Country Park to get in touch. Objects of particular interest could be featured in the displays.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said:
“We want to celebrate the long and fascinating history of Rock Hall and Moses Gate Country Park in the new heritage displays.
“Our heritage is a vital part of our identity as a community, helping us understand how our past has shaped the places we value today.
“Preserving these stories ensures future generations can continue to appreciate the borough’s rich history.
“Local people’s memories will be an important part of the displays, which is why we’re putting the call out for people to share their pictures and objects.”
The library and museum team are particularly interested in hearing from people who may have material relating to the following topics:
- Residents of Rock Hall: During the 1940s and 1950s, Rock Hall was subdivided into separate residences. The team would love to hear from relatives of people who lived there.
- Industrial history: Rock Hall was located next to the Crompton family’s paper mills. When the paper-making business failed in the 1890s, the mills became a large bleach works. Museum staff would welcome stories or objects relating to the industrial history of the Moses Gate site.
- Country park memories: Moses Gate Country Park was created between 1974 and 1982. The team would love to hear memories of visiting Rock Hall when it operated as a visitor centre, as well as recollections from the early years immediately following its creation.
Bolton Library and Museum Services cannot promise to take every story and object offered, but they would be delighted to hear from anyone who believes they may have something to contribute.
Please send your stories, photographs, and details of any objects you might have to the Museum Collections Team at: collectionenquiries@bolton.gov.uk
About Bolton Library and Museum Services
A cultural hotspot of Bolton, the Bolton Central Library and Museum hosts eclectic events, galleries, and collections, one of which is its Egyptology collection – the largest of its kind in a local authority museum in the UK. You will also find Greater Manchester’s only public aquarium sits inside this architecturally impressive, Grade II listed building. With venues across the whole town, including the historic Smithills Hall, the Bolton Library and Museum teams organise special events, exhibitions, workshops, and social groups across the town’s libraries and halls; helping to engage, educate, and support communities.
To find out more about Bolton’s libraries and museums and what’s on, visit www.boltonlams.co.uk