Welcome To Horwich Heritage Centre

Horwich Heritage was formed in 1985 following a series of public meetings aimed at re-establishing a sense of local pride in the wake of the closure of Horwich Locomotive Works the previous year.

The Society first began holding its meetings in the Public Hall, moving to Horwich Resource Centre in 1990 where its monthly meetings still take place. It opened its first Heritage Centre within the Resource Centre in 1995 and moved into its current premises in 2006. It gratefully acknowledges the support given by Horwich Town Council, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council and the Resource Centre in the development of its activities.

Membership currently numbers around 200 and the Society not only runs its own Heritage Centre and meetings but produces its own books and DVDs on subjects of local interest.

The groups aims are:

• To stimulate public interest in and appreciation of our area.
• To provide suitable premises for the display of social and industrial history.
• To secure the preservation, conservation and improvement of features of general or historic interest.
• To promote tourism and encourage use of the surrounding countryside as part of a heritage framework.
• To encourage research into the history of Horwich and Rivington and to publish the results.
• To provide a social and educational service, giving advice and information and to act as a coordinating body to cooperate with local services.
• To raise funds to enable the pursuit of our objectives.

On this website you will find details of how to become a member Horwich Heritage, dates of forthcoming meetings and events, a list of publications available frm the society and information about the exhibitions and archives at the Heritage Centre.

As the Society approaches its 31st year, we look forward to further developing our activites based on our much-admired Heritage Centre where we have the opportunity to do justice to the rich and varied history of Horwich and all the people who have helped to make us so proud of the town today.

We hope you find that Horwich Heritage has something to offer and welcome your interest, suggestions and support.

Stuart Whittle, Chairman

Download Our 2017 Programme

Our 2017 programme has now been finalised, featuring our popular Open Days, Monthly Meetings and Joining Information.

You can download your own PDF copy by clicking here: Horwich Heritage - Events Programme 2017

Val Leese's Family History Course: 2017

Do YOU have many 'Crysm' children in your family tree? Have any of YOUR ancestors been awadred a 'Virgin's Crown'?

Find out at the Horwich heritage Family History 10 Weeks Course, which begins in the Heritage Centre room on Monday 6th February at 10.30am and at 7pm.

The costs is £25 for the whole course payable to Carol Walker (treasurer) or Val Leese

The 10 Golden Rules

1. How To Start YOUR Family Tree
2. Civil Registration
3. Census (1911 - 1881)
4. Earlier Church Census and (1871 - 1841)
5. Sources Of Information (e.g. Electoral Registers etc.)
6. Individual Research
7. Parish Registers
8. Burial Records
9. Wills 7 probate
10. Visit to Bolton Family History Room - Julie Lamara's Talk

FREE Family History Magazines, Family History Society Booklets, Tea / Coffee & Biscuits and Chances To Win 2 Prizes

Conatct Val Leese on 0778 473 7660 or val.leese@btinternet.com.

'The Founding Fathers of Horwich Heritage' - taken at one of our many appearances in 'period dress' at Horwich Carnival.

At the 30th Anniversary celebrations of Horwich Heritage