Eanbald, archbishop of york and aethelbert, bishop of hexham dedicated a chapel at smithills to the blessed virgin mary. Other attractions in the area include moss bank park. Smithills hall, bolton this very special hall is normally open to the public but is now closed, until further notice, due to coronavirus concerns. The radcliffe family owned the manor from 35 to 1485, when it was passed on to the barton family until 1659. Set on the slopes of the west pennine moors just above bolton, the impressive black and white frontage of the grade i listed smithills hall has a history spanning over 700 years, with plenty of stories and secrets behind it this architectural wonder appears to be tudor, though actually has parts dating from as early as the 14 th century, a chapel with medieval stained glass and a stone.
However the school continues to coordinate with bolton metropolitan borough council for admissions. The museum features exhibits related to decorative and applied art and fine art. Smithills hall in 1991 halliwell local history society published a book written by derek billington entitled. The hall has a large car park and parking is free for visitors to the hall and park. Guide to smithills hall and smithills country park, bolton. The earliest parts of the building are thought date back around 800 years. Smithills hall is setin land on the edge of the west pennine moors, smithills hall is one of the oldest and best preserved manor houses in the north west of england. Sep, 2018 smithills hall firstly, as a historian, i simply cannot omit to mention a little something about the beautiful smithills hall.
Your guide to smithills hall, undated booklet currently available from the hall shop bolton museum and archive service. It is available from smithills hall, or from halliwell local history society here. Smithills hall, bolton explore the history of one of. The book was a great success and sold well but has. Smithills hall some local history and a few memories. Smithills hall museum bolton 2020 all you need to know. Smithills hall is on smithills dean road situated in the smithills area of bolton, just off the a58 bolton ring road moss bank way. However we have revised and updated it, the print has been enlarged, errors have been corrected and new pictures have been added, many in colour thus making the book at 230 pages, almost twice as thick as the original edition. It has been extended over the years and is now run as a museum by bolton council. It stands on the slopes of the west pennine moors above bolton at a height of 500 feet, three miles north west of the town centre. Stone axe, bronze palstave axe head, early cutting tool found on estate. Weddings at smithills hall bolton libraries and museums.
Substantial refurbishment was done on the west wing in 2017, which included the first floor above the entrance hall, the entrance hall, devey room. Over the past 700 years, many changes have been made to the hall. It occupies a defensive site near the astley and raveden brooks. Join dusk till dawn events as we investigate the very haunted and atmospheric smithills hall in bolton. A short history of smithills hall and its families, 2015 marie mitchell updated by david williams, friends of smithills hall booklet the ainsworths of halliwell, w. Set within landscaped gardens and surrounded by wooded countryside, smithills hall is the perfect location for your wedding. The oldest part dates back to the 15th century, it is run as a museum by bolton council. Substantial refurbishment was done on the west wing in 2017, which included the first. Smithills hall is grade i listed building in bolton with an impressive history. Lying within the boundaries of the historic county of lancashire since the early 12th century, smithills was anciently a manor in the township of halliwell with smithills hall as the manor house. With its medieval great hall and tudor and victorian wings, smithills is a unique venue full of history and charm, its historic past providing the perfect backdrop for your ceremony and an exclusive setting for photographs both inside and out. The ainsworth family of smithills hall from norman times.
The property is owned by bolton metropolitan borough council and open to the public. Smithills hall some local history and a few memories life in the. They lived in a splendid rambling elizabethan manor house called smithills hall, a. However we have revised and updated it, the print has been enlarged, errors have been corrected and new pictures have been. Historian david ross looks at smithills hall in bolton, with a history of the hall. It is situated in the old kitchen area of the hall. Ghost hunting lancashire ghost hunt tours at smithills hall.
Here guests can walk through an extensive exhibition taking them all the way from 14 th century beginnings to the present day. Moss bank house and ainsworth bleachworks, halliwell. Smithills hall firstly, as a historian, i simply cannot omit to mention a little something about the beautiful smithills hall. Previously a community school administered by bolton metropolitan borough council, smithills school converted to academy status on 1 january 2014. An open hall, the oldest part of the building, dates from the late 14th c. Located in the city of bolton, this grade 1 building has an impressive history. This book has provided much of the information on this webpage. Smithills hall smithills dean road, bolton bl1 7np england. Visit smithills hall museum on your trip to bolton or united. Smithills hall is more than 800 years old and the first written records about the hall began when william radcliffe obtained the manor from the hulton family in 35. In 1554 george marsh, a protestant preacher from another area of the town, was accused of heresy and questioned at smithills hall by justice robert barton, and its said that after questioning he stamped his foot so hard to reaffirm his protestant faith that his footprint was left in the stone floor outside the withdrawing room. The ainsworth family of smithills hall from norman times to the 17th century by john keelan. My wife, daughter and i visited smithills hall after failing to visit turton tower closed when website stated it was open smithills was welcoming and very interesting. Smithills hall is a grade i listed manor house, and a scheduled monument in smithills, bolton, greater manchester, england.
It is a beautiful building with a rich history right here on our doorstep and well worth a. The 10 best hotels near smithills hall in lostock, united kingdom. Although there is evidence of people living in the area now covered by the smithills estate for thousands of years, the first. Today much of the hall has been restored to its original splendor and you can see rooms and displays. The building has been renovated many times and today, it serves as a museum by the bolton council. Why not come and visit the museum and stunning gardens, lovingly cared for by the wonderful volunteer gardeners. Set in 2,200 acres of woodland, on the edge of the west pennine moors, smithills hall is one of the oldest and best preserved manor houses in the north west. Smithills hall, bolton ticket price timings address. Smithills hall ghost hunt experiences haunted houses events. In 1659 smithills hall and estate passed by marriage to the belasyse family but as. Smithills hall halloween ghost hunt lancashire 31st.
Origins as a medieval hall house, early c14, extended c15 or early c16 with the addition of an east wing. The ainsworth family of smithills hall from norman times to. Containing fine examples of architecture through the ages, from medieval and tudor right through to victorian times, the hall is set in formal gardens next to the west pennine moors. Smithills hall which is set amidst formal gardens next to the west pennine moors is a magnificent grade 1 listed building and is steeped to the brim with history and stories of many ghostly encounters. With its medieval great hall and tudor and victorian wings, smithills is a unique venue full of history and charm, its historic past providing the perfect backdrop for your ceremony and an exclusive setting for. Over the years the original medieval hall has been added to, and provides a fascinating history of the people who lived there. Smithills hall ghost hunt bolton ghost hunting events. A small tour of the place offers plenty of information. We started the day with breakfast croissant in the library for top borrowers across years 7, 8 and 9. Please note if you are wishing to book an event solely based on a medium being present, or if an event includes a history tour, then please. Little is known about the radcliffes and bartons, however the radcliffes were present in the war at agincourt and the war of the roses on the lancastrian side. However we have revised and updated it, the print has been enlarged, errors have been read more. The bower and solar rooms were added in the 15th century.
In 1991 halliwell local history society published a book written by derek billington entitled. Smithills hall has a long story made accessible and interactive thanks to the timeline exhibition now situated in what was the old kitchen area of the hall. The 10 best hotels near smithills hall in lostock, united. However we have revised and updated it, the print has been enlarged, errors have been corrected and new pictures have been added, many in. Smithills hall is an interesting place steeped in the local history. Although there is evidence of people living in the area now covered by the smithills estate for thousands of years, the first written records relating to the hall began when william radcliffe obtained the manor from the hulton family in 35. Smithills hall museum bolton 2020 what to know before you.
Smithills hall weddings, smithills dean road, bolton 2020. Smithills hall, bolton explore the history of one of greater. Smithills school is a mixed secondary school located in smithills, bolton, greater manchester. Smithills hall this 15th century hall is full of character and charm. They lived in a splendid rambling elizabethan manor house called smithills hall, a few miles from ainsworth.
In 1801 richard ainsworth purchased the smithills hall. One of the oldest manor houses in the north west of england, its oldest. Visit smithills hall museum on your trip to bolton or. Smithills hall is set in land on the edge of the west pennine moors, smithills hall is one of the oldest and best preserved manor houses in the north west of england. Great day out with kids to smithills hall also visited poppins tea room for breakfast and food and service was exceptional, definitely recommend to anyone visiting smithills hall. One of boltons original family homes, smithills hall is a grade 1 listed building, full of history and drama.
Moss bank house and ainsworth bleachworks, halliwell, bolton. The book was a great success and sold well but has been out of print for several years now. Smithills hall opened to the public as a museum in 1963 but its history dates back to the 14th century. Smithills hall ghost hunts, bolton, lancashire ghost hunts. Smithills hall is a grade i listed manor house near bolton in north west england. In 1877, the southeastern area of halliwell became the ninth electoral wards of the county borough of bolton. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. One of the oldest manor houses in the north west of england, its oldest parts, including the great hall, date from the 15th century and it has been since been altered and extended. This exhibition charts the remarkable history of smithills hall from 35 along a timeline until the present see events page. Much of smithills hall was built in the 15th century and 600 years of history speaks to you as you walk through the building. Would give 5 star but felt like there was more to explore but unfortunately it is closed to public. Make a date with history and visit smithills hall museum.
Smithills hall was taken over by the radcliffe family in 35. The hall has a fascinating history from medieval times to present day. Published 1993 by the friends of smithills hall in bolton 19,leighton ave,heaton,bolton. Smithills hall museum bolton 2020 what to know before. Read more smithills school hosted 2 days of the bolton primary school sports hall athletics championship. Bolton smithills dean road east side off smithills hall 230452 gv i large house, part now museum, the rest vacant on inspection. Smithills hall is a fascinating place with a history that many people are possibly not fully aware of. Ancient british cross, once used as a footbridge across a stream at smithills. Smithills hall is set in land on the edge of the west pennine moors, smithills hall is one of the oldest and best preserved manor houses in the north west of england over the years the original medieval hall has been added to. The following day, marsh surrendered willingly at smithills hall and he was sent to lathom house, near ormskirk, where he stood trial accused of heresy before the 3rd earl of derby. A short history of smithills hall and its families, 2015 marie mitchell updated by david williams, friends of smithills hall booklet.
The ainsworths of smithills hall in the 18th century 100 years or more after my ancestor departed for america members of the ainsworth family became extremely wealthy in the cotton bleaching industry. Over the years the original medieval hallhas been added to, and provides a fascinating history of the people who lived there. View all restaurants near smithills open farm on tripadvisor. Trough marriage and acquisition the manor has passed through many families and has spent some time being neglected. Smithills hall in bolton, lancashire has a long history of paranormal activity and overnight ghost hunts have delivered some terrifying experiences. With a multitude of dark rooms and hallways to investigate, a ghost hunt at smithills hall is a daunting prospect and only for the very brave. The major families that have been constant throughout history with this property were the radcliffes, ainsworths, and bartons. Once again our students were the sports leaders and did an amazing job, facilitating the event to ensure all 15 primary schools could compete at a high level in each track and field events. On 12th marsh 1554, master barton of smithills hall sent his servants to find george marsh by order of the earl of derby. Book your event smithills hall ghost hunt bolton a haunted house with a mysterious history spanning over 800 years friday 26th june 2020. Smithills school is a mixed secondary school located in smithills, bolton, greater manchester previously a community school administered by bolton metropolitan borough council, smithills school converted to academy status on 1 january 2014. Visitors today can see a copy of foxes book of martyrs displayed within, containing an account of george marsh and his death. Today much of the hall has been restored to its original splendor and you can see rooms and displays from across the centuries.