The hidden histories and heritage behind Bolton place names

But the legacies a history like this leaves behind aren’t all Medieval churches and historic taverns.

The town and its surrounding villages have also become notorious for some names that have left many a more recent visitor wrongfooted when trying to pronounce them.

We’ve rounded up some of Bolton’s most intriguingly named locales and included a few that hint at a hidden history that many of us never knew existed behind the name.

Daubhill in the 1950s (Image: Newsquest)

Daubhill

Ask for directions to “Daub Hill” and you’re like to provoke or confused, or maybe derisive, response.

But that was exactly how the district to the south west of the town was originally pronounced when it simply marked the highest point on what was then known as “Bolton Moor.”

Cllr John Walsh, who served as the borough’s mayor from 2002 to 2003, said: “It was at the time when it was the highest part of the moor.”

“And so the hill is effectively ‘Daub Hill’, the highest part of Bolton Moor.”

The junction of Castle Street and Radcliffe Road in The Haulgh 1953 (Image: Newsquest)

The Haulgh

The Haulgh, pronounced “The Hoff” is another that can throw recent arrivals off track.

But again, history has played its part in shaping how we know the district today.

Cllr Walsh said: “The Haulgh was a hollow and going back to 1875 there were bronze age relics found in an archaeological excavation there.

“So over time the hollow became known as The Haulgh.”

Hall i' th' Wood (Image: Newsquest)

Hall i' th' Wood

The area to the north of the town, well known to train travellers making their way from Bolton to East Lancashire owes its name to Bolton’s own distractive dialect.

Cllr Walsh said: “This was where there was a hall in the wood and so that became ‘Hall i' th' Wood’ in Bolton parlance.”

Farnworth

The town just to the south of Bolton was originally known for its natural qualities and it would be this that gave it the name we know to this day.

Cllr Walsh said: “It was known as Fernworth because originally a mossy, wooded area.

“Fernworth derived from ferns down by the river and so that eventually became Farnworth.”

Halliwell

The name for the district just to the north of the town centre again has historic connotations and derives from “holy well.”

Cllr Walsh said: “It was originally holy well and this over time became ‘Halliwell’, again in Bolton parlance.”

Blackburn Road in 1960 (Image: Newsquest)

Astley Bridge

Astley Bridge again drew inspiration from the natural world when it comes to its name.

Cllr Walsh said: “It was Ashwood down by the river and that had a bridge running over it.

“So Ash became Ast and over time Astley Bridge.

“Astley Bridge actually exists and runs as a bridge over Blackburn Road.”

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Bolton

The town itself was recognised by Act of Parliament in 1838 which created the first set of wards, which at the time where all known as geographical place names.

But Bolton’s heritage stretches much further back to Saxon times, having originally been known as “Boddleton.”

Cllr Walsh said: “Bolton was known as Boddleton, which then became Boulton with a u.

“This was in Saxon times so it predates the Norman invasion.

“There were then three Boultons in Lancashire so we became Bolton le Moors to distinguish us from Bolton le Sands and Bolton by Bowland.”