The original cross marked Bolton's market place was erected in 1482 and at one time used by John Wesley to preach from. It was demolished in 1786 when coachmen complained that it caused an obstruction.
This replacement cross was donated by George Harwood, Member of Parliament for Bolton and unveiled by him on November 29th 1909.
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THIS CROSS, SIMILAR TO ONE
WHICH STOOD ON THIS SPOT
FROM 1486 TO 1786,
WAS PRESENTED TO HIS
NATIVE TOWN BY
GEORGE HARWOOD
FOR SOME TIME
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
FOR BOLTON.
1909
The timeline inscribed over three plaques is as follows.
1253 A.D. BOLTON A FREE BOROUGH CHARTER
1256 CHARTER FOR MARKET
BY HENRY III TO BODELTON.
1337 FLEMISH CLOTHIERS SETTLED.
1513 "LUSTY LADS FROM BOLTON-I-'TH'
MOORS". (BALLAD OF BATTLE OF FLODDEN FIELD)
1540 "BOLTON UPON MOOR STANDETH MOSTLY BY
COTTONS AND COARSE YARNS". (LEYLAND)
1623 LECTURESHIP FOUNDED FOR SERMONS
AT CROSS.
1631 POPULATION 500
1641 GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDED.
1643-4 DURING CIVIL WAR BOLTON BESIEGED THRICE
AND TAKEN ONCE WITH MUCH SLAUGHTER
1651 JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY,
BEHEADED NEAR THIS SPOT.
1661 "BOWLTON HATH A MARKET ON MONDAYS
WHICH IS VERY GOOD FOR CLOTHING AND
PROVISIONS AND IS A PLACE OF GREAT
TRADE FOR FUSTIANS". (BLOMES "BRITANNIA")
1753 CROMPTON, INVENTOR OF THE SPINNING
MULE, THE FOUNDATION OF MODERN
COTTON INDUSTRY, BORN IN BOLTON.
1760 ARKWRIGHT, FOUNDER OF THE COTTON FACTORY
SYSTEM, KEPT A BARBERS SHOP IN BOLTON.
1753 COTTON QUILTINGS & MUSLINS FIRST MADE IN BOLTON
1791 CANAL TO BOLTON OPENED.
1828 FIRST RAILWAY FROM BOLTON OPENED.
1832 FIRST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.
POPULATION 41,195
1838 CHARTER OF INCORPORATION.
1842 PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY ABOUT
EXTREME DISTRESS IN THE TOWN.
1852 ADOPTION OF FREE LIBRARIES ACT.
1861 POPULATION 70,396.
1872 FIRST EXTENSION OF BOLTON.
1877 FURTHER EXTENSION, POPULATION 106,214.
1898 BOLTON AGAIN EXTENDED.
1901 POPULATION 168,215.