Bolton, Market town in Greater Manchester, England
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, England, set between the West Pennine Moors and urban neighborhoods. The town hall rises at the center, surrounded by shopping streets, residential districts, and several retail areas with parks along the edges.
Cotton drove the town's growth in the 19th century, when numerous spinning mills appeared along the edge of the center. Steam engines across the region powered these factories well into the 20th century.
The name comes from Old English "Bo thlton", meaning a settlement with a special building. Lo cal people still refer to themselves as Boltonians, and the market tradition remains a weekly meeting point for shoppers from across the sur rounding valleys.
The area suits walking visits, as most shops and sites lie close together. Weekdays see more activity in the markets and shopping streets than weekends.
A museum on the edge of town preserves dozens of steam engines from former factories across the region, some still in working order. This collection shows the mechanical foundation of local industry across more than a century.
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