History of Bolton Royal Infirmary (Frances Raftery)

Upcoming Talk - September 2024

7.30pm at Harwood Methodist Church
Thursday 26th September 2024

Speaker: Frances Raftery

This much-loved hospital was built entirely by local donations, opened in 1873 and was finally demolished in 1990. There is hardly a family member in Bolton and district who didn’t have treatment there at sometime during their life. The remarkable story of its origin and history tells of an age before government funding and political involvement. Every item of equipment - even the aquarium for leeches - was provided from funds raised by a generous public. The story is dotted with anecdotes by the speaker, who worked there. (She watched post-mortem examinations at the age of 17 even though she was only a clerk!)

Bolton Royal Infirmary in 1924

Survey of Turton Tenants 1770

"A Survey of the Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments in the County of Lancaster, late belonging to Edward Chetham of Castelton Esq. Deceased. Taken in the Year 1770"

The original document gives additional information, such as the number of bays and outbuildings the building consisted of, the building materials (stone, slate, thatch etc.), the area of land (in acres, roods and perches), rental value, and the lease length including number of lives and ages.

Transcribed from a reproduction of the original in the Walch Papers (Bolton Archives ref: ZWL/54), originally sent to Robert Walch from John Rylands Library, Manchester.