Published: Thursday, 31st Jan 2019

A Bolton philanthropist, who helped build the town’s renowned collection of Egyptian artefacts, will feature in an upcoming BBC documentary.

Museum egypt‘The Victorian Queens of Ancient Egypt’ will explore the life of Annie Barlow and her invaluable contribution to the modern-day success of Bolton Museum.

History experts from Bolton Library and Museum Service were interviewed as part of the programme, which will air on BBC Radio 3 at 6.45pm on Sunday (Feb 3).

Annie Barlow, whose family established the Barlow and Jones mill company, was heavily involved with the Egypt Exploration Society.

Fundraising for excavations, and visiting the North African country in 1888, she donated many of her discoveries to the Chadwick Museum, the Victorian forerunner of Bolton Museum.

Today these artefacts can be seen as part of Bolton’s Egypt, a stunning display of thousands of ancient artefacts that also features a full-scale recreation of the tomb of Thutmose III.

Opening in September following a £3.8m refurbishment of Bolton Central Library and Museum, Bolton’s Egypt attracted 133,000 visitors in its first three months alone.

The BBC show will also highlight the work of Annie’s northern contemporaries Amelia Oldroyd and Marianne Brocklehurst.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport, Cllr John Byrne, said:

“The Bolton’s Egypt exhibition is a real success story which is enjoyed by visitors of all ages.

“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to pioneers like Annie Barlow for building a strong link between Bolton and the Egypt Exploration Society and bringing the fascinating history of ancient Egypt to a wide audience.

“Bolton’s collection of Egyptian artefacts is among the UK’s best and this is yet another example of our fantastic museum getting the national recognition it deserves.”