The Lancashire town of Bolton has a rich heritage, much of which is derived from its former cotton industry. During the Industrial Revolution it grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest textile manufacturing centres in the world; however, by the 1980s the town’s pre-eminent industry had come to an end.

In A-Z of Bolton local author David Burnham focuses on the town’s history and seeks to provide a link between its past and present. He highlights notable people, places and events across the centuries. Among famous characters, such as Nat Lofthouse, Peter Kay and Fred Dibnah, he features those who have been forgotten including Henry Ashworth, the Quaker model mill owner, martyred priest George Marsh and experimenter in mesmerism Dr Joseph Haddock. There is a mix of well-known and obscure history included. The author looks at the 1651 execution of James Stanley (7th Earl of Derby) and the 1946 Burnden Park disaster. Then there are more recent events, including the first street demonstration anywhere in the world against Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses. Illustrated throughout, this engaging and informative book will appeal to local residents and all those interested in the town’s heritage.