Located at the temporary exhibition gallery, the exhibition brings to life the rich history of the Town Hall, looking back at the story of the magnificent building, from its construction, it’s use and role in public life, and what the building means to the town today.
The exhibition includes original plans and drawings, mayoral items including furniture, jewels and silverware, and many items which have never been on display before.
Not only can adults explore the history but so can children as interactive elements are woven throughout from dress up in the Albert Hall’s section to Town Hall blocks.
As well as the exhibition, which is on display from tomorrow, July 15 until October 1, there will also be the chance for residents to book onto tours of the Town Hall – seeing the history right inside the very building.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Sam, the Head of Service for the Library and Museums said: “It seems like five minutes ago that we were opening ‘Going to the Match’ a fantastic exhibition but here we are now with a new exhibition.
“We are here to open 150 years of Bolton Town Hall; it is a fantastic exhibition, and we also have a fantastic programme of activities on at the same time.
“We are going to be doing tours of the Town Hall, all the back areas that you normally don’t get to see and there is a big family programme of activity here at the museum too.”
Bolton Council Leader, Nick Peel, spoke at the opening of the exhibition, he said: “The Town Hall was officially opened on Thursday June 5, 1873, by the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII and his wife Princess Alexandra.
“At the time Bolton Town Hall was big in scale, confident, a true statement of civic pride and a reminder that Bolton is important as a cotton manufacturing town, it was also at the time the most expensive town hall in the country until Manchester Town Hall was completed a few years later.
“To this day it has proven to be worth its weight in gold to our town.
“There is a new administration in Bolton and one of the things I really want to do is put culture and heritage back in the centre of some of the things we do.
“We have had issues with the town centre, a lot of areas of the town have declined but one of the things that hasn’t declined is the cultural offer, in fact it has improved.
“We have an amazing theatre, amazing museum and library that is currently undergoing refurbishment, Egyptology, and we have lots of amateur theatre groups and this leads to Bolton being an excellent reputation for putting on events like the Food and Drink Festival and the Ironman and so because of our wonderful heritage, the Town Hall, Le Mans Crescent, and the nearby countryside.
“We really need to put culture and heritage firmly on the agenda because this is one our unique standing points as a town.”
Cllr Nadeem Ayub, Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, said the exhibition is ‘absolutely amazing’.
He said: “I think the exhibition is absolutely fantastic.
“Just to get the 150th anniversary there, the history of it, its absolutely amazing and to let young people know the history of Bolton and the Town Hall and how it has developed over the years.
“It is great to see the whole history, the way it is described, and we have just been on a tour of this, and it is absolutely amazing.
“I think the people of Bolton will appreciate this and especially the young people and the elderly people will already appreciate it and even if they don’t know about the history, they can learn about it here.
“For the youth of today it helps them to learn about the history of the people who sacrificed for us to be in the place we are today.”
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