National records and indexes
Although the bulk of our holdings relate specifically to Bolton and district (including Blackrod, Farnworth, Horwich, Kearsley, Little Lever, Turton and Westhoughton), some national family history sources have also been acquired. These include:
- microform copies of the General Register Office (“St Catherine’s House”) Index
- the 1881 census returns for the whole of England and Wales
- the International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) for the United Kingdom and Ireland and the National Probate Index
Archive material
Apart from the material listed in detail in this section, Bolton History Centre also has large collections of original archives of:
- families
- estates
- businesses
- societies
- trade unions
- religious and political organisations
- private individuals
- printed books
- articles
- pamphlets
- periodicals
- photographs
- maps and plans relating to the Bolton area
In addition to the catalogues and lists, the Bolton History Centre has compiled extensive surname indexes to biographical newscuttings and obituaries and to many useful archive sources, including apprenticeship indentures, poor law affiliation, settlement and removal papers, police records and title deeds.
Please note that we are not able to undertake research on behalf of the public, but a list of professional record agents who operate in the Bolton area can be supplied on request.
- Boyd's Marriage Index
- Burgess Rolls
- Cemetery Registers
- Census Returns
- Church of England Registers
- Directories
- Electoral Registers
- General Register Office Index
- International Genealogical Index
- Nonconformist Registers
- Poll Books
- Probate Indexes
- Rate Books and Valuation lists
- Roman Catholic Registers
- School Admission Registers
- Sources on CD ROM
- Useful Addresses
- Workhouse Registers
