BOLTON ST PETER's sits on a hill overlooking the River Croal. There is evidence a Saxon church existed here, which was then replaced by a Norman one. That was then replaced by a 15th century structure with an embattled west tower, a nave, chancel, north and south aisles and a south porch. The porch was rebuilt in 1694.

The church, althrough frequently modified, was far too small for the rapidly expanding population during the Industrial Revolution. In 1866 the church was demolished and another built to replace it. The construction took four years at a cost of £45,000 (about£3.8 million today!) A local banker and cotton spinner, Peter Ormrod funded the project.

The tower at 180 feet high is the highest in the old county of Lancashire. The church is built of ashlar sandstone and has a slate roof. The nave has a clerestory with north and south aisles, a chancel and lady chapel, with a south gabled porch.

An interesting question - my family began in the Forest of Dean, but some of them (my direct relatives) went to Abson and Wick in search of jobs working in the iron industry. Henry Burgum (1787-1872) was born in Wick, South Gloucestershire, but died in West Ham, London. However his son Henry Burgum (1824-1892) and his brother Thomas (1824-1904) were both born in Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire. Both later moved to East London. Why did the family go to Bolton? Was there other family there? There are two other family groups there, the "HH"family tree and the "PP" family tree. Are we related and, if so, how?