Bolton School is one of the oldest schools in Lancashire. The origins of the Boys' School can be traced back to at least 1516 when the Bolton Grammar School for Boys was recorded as being "a going concern". In 1644 it was endowed by Robert Lever and so began a long and close relationship with the Lever name.
The Bolton Girls' Day School was established in 1877 and was one of the earliest public day schools for girls in the country. It was quickly renamed to Bolton High School for Girls and moved to the Park Road site (where the current Junior Boys' School stands) in 1891 with 67 girls.
In 1913 Sir William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme, gave a generous joint endowment to the High School for Girls and the Bolton Grammar School for Boys on condition that the two should be equal partners known as Bolton School (Boys' and Girls' Divisions). On 1 April 1915, the Bolton School Foundation formally came into existence.
William Lever's vision included the building of a new school, with one wing for boys and one for girls. War delayed the construction and it did not begin until 1924: it was only fully completed in 1965.
A full history of the School can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.
| Year |
Event |
| ante 1516 |
Bolton Grammar School for Boys is "a going concern” |
| 1644 |
Robert Lever endows the Bolton Grammar School |
| 17th Century |
Robert Lever funds the School's move from its original Tudor building with white washed walls and thatched roof to a site next to Bolton Parish Church |
| 1 October 1877 |
Bolton Girls' Day School is established: it is one of the earliest public day schools for girls in the country |
| 1891 |
The Girls' Day School quickly changes its name to Bolton High School for Girls and moves to a site on Park Road (where the current Junior Boys" School stands) |
| 1899 |
The Bolton Grammar School for Boys moves from its site next to the Parish Church in Bolton to Westbourne (where the current Boys’ Division Senior School stands) and amalgamates with Bolton High School for Boys |
| 1908 |
A swimming pool, now the Arts and Conference Centre, is constructed on the Chorley New Road site |
| 1913 |
William Hesketh Lever, Baronet (later the 1st Viscount Leverhulme) re-endows the School as he realises his dream of amalgamating the Bolton Grammar School for Boys with the Bolton High School for Girls; the Bolton School Foundation formally comes into existence on 1 April 1915 |
| 1923 |
The School coat-of-arms is granted |
| 1924 |
Construction of new buildings on Chorley New Road begins: one wing for the Boys’ Division and one for the Girls’ Division |
| 1950s |
The Tillotson Pavilion is erected through the generosity of the Tillotson family |
| 1965 |
Completion of the building of the main wings of Bolton School on Chorley New Road |
| 1982 |
Leverhulme Pavilion at Oldfield on Chorley New Road is opened |
| 1993 |
The Arts & Conference Centre replaces the old swimming pool: it is officially opened by the Princess of Wales |
| 1998 |
Bolton School Nursery is opened |
| 1998 |
Beech House After School Club begins and, subsequently, becomes Kidzone |
| 2008 |
Work begins on the building of a new Infants' School on Dobson Road and on refurbishments to the Junior Boys' School |
Other links:
School Invests in the Future
Girls' Division: So Goodly A Heritage
A History of the Junior Boys' School
A Short History of the Boys' Division's Chained Library
History of the Old Boltonians' Association
The History of the Old Boltonians AFC