Vanished Streets Of Bolton

While researching my family history, I found that some of the streets people had lived on in Bolton no longer existed. I compiled a list and then used census searches to locate surrounding streets that still exist, along Old Maps Online, to pinpoint their locations. This is by no means a complete list of all Bolton’s lost streets and if you would like me to add any others, let me know. I will be adding to the list as I come across more ancestors’ addresses.

Map of Bolton in 1938 from Old Maps Online

Note that ‘Back’ of any street it listed under the main street name. I may have inadvertently included some streets that still exist today.

• Apple Street, Bolton
  Daubhill area. Ran between Rothwell Street and Back Hammond Street, about where Ashbury Close is today (thank you to David Dawber for the correction).
• Aspden Street, Bolton
  Was in the area where Halliwell Road meets Blackburn Road, just above Egyptian Street. Aspden Street was one of several short streets that linked Moss Street and Victoria Street – both of which also no longer exist. Today the area contains modern housing running off Kentford Road.
• Bull Lane, Bolton
  Daubhill area. Was off Lever Street, ran parallel with Snipe Street and Grecian Crescent, at the side of Robin Hood Mill, it is now the entrance to Bolton Plastic Components goods yard
• Carey Street, Bolton
  Daubhill area. Was near Fletcher Street and Edgar Street, behind the old railway station goods yard, there’s now an Aldi on the site.
• Chemist Street, Bolton
  Ran between Kay Street and Waterloo Street, around where B&Q is today.
• Gilbert Street, Bolton
  Ran off Quebec Street and into Delph Street. Now playing fields bordered by Quebec Street and Edward Street.
• Grecian Street, Bolton
  Ran off Lever Street, near to Robin Hood Mill. Grecian Street is now part of Grecian Crescent.
• Hammond Street, Bolton
  Ran between Parrot Street and Derby Street at the end of Bantry Street heading in the direction of Pilkington Street (see photo below). Was replaced by new streets of houses in the 70s and 80s.
• Isabel Street, Bolton
  Ran between Quebec Street and Gibbon Street, just north of Burnaby Street. Now playing fields bordered by Quebec Street and Edward Street.
• James Street, Bolton
  Was partially demolished by German bombing duringWW2, the rest of the street was demolished in 1965 to make way for the Bolton Institute of Technology. It ran between Deane Road and Derby Street, directly opposite Fletcher Street. The site is now part of the University of Bolton.
• John Taylor Street, Bolton
  Demolished in slum clearances in the 1950s. It was located between Coe Street and Foundary Street.
• Lyon Street, Bolton
  It and all the surrounding streets have been demolished and the area remodelled. It was located above Queens Park, near to Vernon Street.
• Mason Street, Bolton
  Ran off Mayor Street, parallel with Wellington Street, between Deane Road and Queens Park. Today the area has completely changed and been replaced with new housing and industrial units.
• Peel Street, Bolton
  Ran in between and parallel to Parrot Street and Bantry Street (see photo below). There are 70s houses there today.
• Pilkington Street, Bolton
  Whilst Pilkington Street still exists today, it used to be longer, running on past St Peter & St Paul Catholic School and up to Derby Street. When Fletcher Street was widened and redeveloped in the 1980s, the top end of Pilkington Street was lost (see photo below)
• Raby Street, Bolton
  Ran between Rix Street and Walley Street, roughly where Pinewood Close is today.
• Taylor Brow, Bolton
  Was located off Deansgate, near to the present Market Hall, around the Crown Street and Bridge Streets areas. The area was a collection of narrow passages and was demolished in slum clearances long ago. There is a description of living conditions in Taylor Brow in 1847.
• Walter Street, Bolton
  Ran between Quebec Street and Gibbon Street. Now playing fields bordered by Quebec Street and Edward Street.
• York Street, Bolton
  Ran between Nile Street and Coe Street on the south side of Bridgeman Street in the Daubhill area of Bolton. The street was demolished and replaced by industrial units.

You can find some interesting old photos of Bolton at Bolton Worktown, which has Mass Observation pictures, recording everyday life in the late 1930s. St Mark’s Church and School which has photos and information of the old streets and buildings around the Fletcher Street area. Lost Pubs Of Bolton has a large amount of information and photos of Bolton’s pubs, which includes pictures of the streets the pubs were on. There are also a couple of Facebook groups that share old and new photos of Bolton – In and Around Bolton and I Belong To Bolton.

Pilkington Street, Bolton in 1937, showing how the houses continued on past the school. Taken by Humphrey Spender for Mass Observation, copyright Bolton Council.

Looking down Bantry Street and Peel Street, Bolton towards Hammond Street. Copyright Bolton Council.