The webmaster wishes to offer the fullest acknowledgement to the Bollington
Civic Society Historical Group who spent many years
in the 1970s, 80s and 90s researching the history of Bollington,
its people, its mills and other industries. The principle historians
were George Longden, Molly Spink and Roger Bowling. They were
supported by James Hough, Carol Burgess, G R Alexander, Geoff
Coe, A Fearnhead, Brenda King, David King and others. Further
later work was carried out by George Longden for the Kerridge
Ridge & Ingersley Vale project
.
We, the people of Bollington, owe them a great debt of thanks!
One of their greatest achievements was the collection of more than 5,000 historically important pictures which were so generously donated by the people of Bollington - indeed they are still passing to us most interesting and valuable pictures and documents today (if you have something of interest please see this page). The late Dr John Coope was instrumental in both setting up the Historical Group (as part of his already established Civic Society) and in encouraging the residents of the town, most of whom were his patients, to search out and make available their pictures. These pictures have been digitised and are available for all to search, view and enjoy at the Discovery Centre (a Bollington Civic Society project). The collection's curator today is Fiona Swailes.
A selection of the history gleaned by this group, together with some of the pictures, were published in various books. Most are now out of print but one, Looking Back at Bollington, has been reprinted and is available at the Discovery Centre or by mail order. The high cost of republishing these books has prevented the Civic Society from making more available. However, the internet and the Happy Valley web site provide an affordable means of making the material available to a wider public.
I also acknowledge the work of the Wilmslow Historical Society Industrial Archaeology Group who researched the cotton industry in Bollington and published their findings in Cotton Town, Bollington and the Swindells family in the 19th Century. This excellent book is still in print and available at the Discovery Centre or by mail order.
Much of the historical information exhibited in these pages comes
from the researches of those mentioned above with additional material
from a wide variety of people, both town residents and those who
have moved away, and from correspondents who have taken an interest
in the web pages and provided their own information. Very many
thanks to them all. The history of Radion's Ltd. was researched
and written by Ian Macwhirter to whom I am most grateful; for permitting
its publication here.
Newer pages are being contributed to by members of the reformed
Histrorical Group and I am most grateful to them for their efforts
and for making the material available for publication here.
Historical Presentations and Walks
If your society or social group would like a presentation on the
subject of Bollington history, lavishly illustrated by pictures
from the archive, then please email
the webmaster who is a regular presenter on waterway subjects
and Bollington history. Presentations are available on any date
and at any time of day subject only to my availability. I come
fully equipped. All I ask is a donation to the Discovery
Centre of about £1 per head of audience. If you
are interested, please email me.
History walks around interesting parts of Bollington can also be arranged,
day time or evening, for interested groups, length to suit your requirements,
please
email me.
