Bolton le Moors was originally a part of the ancient parish of Eccles. In the 14th century it became a parish in its own right.[1] It resembled what is now the town of Bolton and some outskirts. As with many large parishes in the north of England, it was split into townships in 1662 for easier civic administration.[2] Some of the townships had chapels and were known as chapelries.[3]
For civil purposes, these townships and chapelries were largely autonomous. For ecclesiastical purposes they were presided by and gave an overall precept to the vicar of Bolton. In 1866, the young civil parish (civil parishes in England were set up for almost all parishes from the 1840s to 1860s) was ended; the townships became civil parishes in their own right.[4] These townships, later civil parishes, were used for the censuses until 1891, after which most were absorbed into the County Borough of Bolton or became urban districts. Anglezarke and Rivington became part of the Chorley Rural District.
Sources: Pauline Tatton. Local population statistics 1801-1986. Bolton Central Library Archives. "A vision of Britain through time". Retrieved 15 March 2009.
Total population of each of the townships in the Parish of Bolton le Moors
Sources: Pauline Tatton. Local population statistics 1801-1986. Bolton Central Library Archives. "A vision of Britain through time". Retrieved 15 March 2009.
