Eighteen ESOL students joined a My Place Heritage Walk around Queen’s Park, Bolton, on Friday 19 June 2026.
In warm, sunny weather, the group spent around an hour and a half exploring the park’s winding paths, rivers, Lakes and hills while guides Laura and Peter shared stories about its fascinating past. The students discovered that Queen’s Park first opened in 1866 as Bolton Park before being renamed in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. They learned how the park was created during a difficult time for the town, following the Lancashire Cotton Famine, providing both jobs and a much-needed green space for local people.
The walk brought Bolton’s rich history to life, touching on the town’s industrial heritage, Irish migration, public transport and the life of local writer Bill Naughton. Students also visited monuments dedicated to figures such as Doctor James Dorrian, Trade Unionist John Fielding and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, as well as memorials commemorating those who lost their lives in war.
As they walked, the group explored many of the park’s original Victorian features, including the entrance lodges, fountain, sunken garden, lakes and promenade terrace. They also heard how the park developed over the years with additions such as Dobson Bridge, Bolton Royal Infirmary and a number of important memorials.
The tour ended at the site of the former Chadwick Museum, leaving everyone with an appreciation of Queen’s Park as one of Bolton’s most treasured historic and community spaces.
Photos: Peter Firth