‘Worktown’ Revisited: A Saturday Stroll in Bolton
11/06/2022
‘Worktown’ Revisited: A Saturday Stroll in Bolton
Saturday 11 June 2022
Start time/place: 10.45am/Museum and Art Gallery entrance hall
Finish time/place: 2.45 pm/Museum and Art Gallery
Steve Marland will lead a walk of Bolton town centre. We finish with a curator led visit to the Museum and Art Gallery exhibition of plans and drawings by Bolton’s celebrated architectural partnership Bradshaw Gass & Hope.
Bolton was immortalised as Worktown by the social researcher Tom Harrisson, when he undertook his ground-breaking Mass Observation study of everyday life there in 1938. A town with a proud history of manufacturing from the 19th century to the second half of the twentieth century, it boasts a varied and interesting town centre with buildings of interest from virtually every decade since 1914.
Highlights include: the impressive Le Mans Crescent, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, (1932-39); the Octagon theatre, Geoffrey Brooks borough architect, (1966-67, rebuilt 2018-21); former Co-op department store, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, (1931); and the Market Place shopping centre, Chapman Taylor (1980-88).
There will be a break for lunch (not included).
Illustrated notes will be provided as a record of the event.
Steve Marland is an explorer and Modern Mooch blogger. Tour research is by Eddy Rhead and David French.
Members: £8. Non-members: £10
Not a member yet? Join here and benefit from event ticket discounts. Looking to support our campaigning? Donate to our casework here
The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider
Above: Le Mans Crescent and Museum & Art Gallery, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, (1932-39). Photograph: AKP Photos / Alamy
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