work on the restoration of one of Bolton's most treasured historic buildings has entered a new phase.

Discarded timbers from the roof of Hall i'th' Wood, the home of inventor Samuel Crompton, are being put under the historic microscope to establish a date for extensions to the building.

The restoration project is costing more than £400,000 and only traditional methods of working are being used by the site team.

The timbers, which have been examined by experts on site, have now been sent to Sheffield University. The results of their tests will be known by the New Year.

It is hoped the results will prove several theories surrounding the dating of several wings of the hall.

Although the restoration project will take more than a year to complete, it will not emerge as an exact replica of the building, which was erected in 1483.

Compromises have had to be made because of the cost involved.

But Dr John Gray, head of Bolton's museum service, believes that once the project is complete, people will find it difficult to spot the old from the new.

Dr Gray said: "The dating of the building is an essential part of the work going on at Hall i'th' Wood and should give us a far better idea if our theories are correct.

"Hopefully, once the results of the tests on the timbers are known, we should be able to give some very definite dates to certain extensions and wings."

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