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Bolton Leasing

Did You Know?

Bolton was a 19th-century boomtown and, at its zenith in 1929, its 216 cotton mills and 26 bleaching and dyeing works made it one of the largest and most productive centres of cotton spinning in the world.

By the 16th century Bolton was known for woolen textiles, but by the 18th century cotton had replaced wool, and the production of yarns and fabrics was increasing. Samuel Crompton, a native of Bolton, invented in 1779 the spinning mule, which revolutionized spinning, and Bolton's first spinning mill was opened in 1780.

10 Little known fact: The ice cream wafer sandwich was invented in Bolton. 11 Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe is a veritable Bolton institution which started life as a butcher's shop in 1667. The queues outside every day say it all. 12 The town has also been a hotbed for acting talent.

Bolton is a common Northern English name derived from the Old English bothl-tun, meaning a settlement with a dwelling, as opposed to a settlement without a fixed dwelling. It was recorded as Bothelton in 1212, Botelton in 1257, Boulton in 1288, and Bolton after 1307.

Apart from Peter Kay, Vernon Kay and the plethora of current and former soap stars including Sammy Winward and Amy Nuttall, famous Boltonians include: Lord Leverhulme, an industrialist who founded the Unilever empire as well as being a philanthropist and generous benefactor to Bolton.

Bolton had a good source of natural free flowing water, which cotton manufacturers utilised to power their mills and wash the cotton, though the process became more mechanised later on using steam power and the 'spinning mule', invented by Bolton born Samuel Crompton.

Bolton, located in the north west of England is situated between Manchester and Burnley and has a very distinctive accent. It's the birthplace to some of today's most well-loved comedians such as Peter Kay, Paddy McGuiness and Jason Mansford as well as TV personality Vernon Kay.

The name Bolton derives from the Old English bothel and tun, meaning a "settlement with a special building". The first record of the town dates from 1185 as Boelton. It was recorded as Bothelton in 1212, Bowelton in a charter granted by Henry III in 1251)

Never mind Britannia...Bolton rules the airwaves. The town has the unique distinction of breeding many of the BBC's top radio DJs -- from Sara Cox and Vernon Kay to Mark Radcliffe. And if that's not enough, keen Wanderers fan Victoria Derbyshire is a Radio Five star.

We are no slouches in the literary stakes either. Former Bolton School pupil Monica Ali narrowly missed out on the Booker Prize with bestselling debut novel Brick Lane. Other noteworthy scribes include Alfie author Bill Naughton and nostalgic novelist Ruth Hamilton.

Bolton Wanderers are helping keep the town in the Premiership. As one of the 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888 and winners of the first Wembley FA Cup Final in 1923 the Whites have been a proud part of the history of the game.