Bolton Steam Museum

The Bolton Steam Museum houses restored industrial steam engines inside a former cotton mill storage building on Mornington Road. The collection features machines that once powered textile factories in the surrounding region, showing how steam drove the local economy.

The Northern Mill Engine Society founded this museum to save steam engines from regional mills from being scrapped and lost. One significant engine is the Crossfield Mill Beam Engine, which powered textile factories starting in 1840.

Local enthusiasts share their passion for steam technology and demonstrate how these machines powered the textile industry that shaped the region. Their dedication shows how much this industrial heritage means to the community.

The museum operates on specific days only, so plan your visit by checking opening hours ahead of time. Special demonstration events run during holiday weekends throughout the year, offering chances to see the engines in action.

A rare single-cylinder Uniflow engine from Baltic Sawmills sits in the collection, showing that not all machines came from textile factories. This unusual example reveals how other industries also relied on steam power.