Monday 9 September 2024

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