I thought this may be of interest to people who have never been to Bolton and not seen the Market Cross. There are bronze shields around the base of the cross showing a number of principal incidents in Bolton's History. 1253 A.D. Bolton a Free Borough by Charter 1256 Charter for Market by Henry 111 to Bodelton 1337 Flemish clothiers settled. 1513 'Lusty Lads from Bolton-i'th'Moors' (Ballad of Battle of Flodden Field.) 1540 'Bolton-upon-Moor standeth mostly by cottons and coarse yards' (Leland) 1623 Lectureship founded for sermons at Cross 1631 Population 500 1641 Grammar School founded 1643-4 During Civil War Bolton besieged thrice and taken once with much slaughter. 1651 James, seventh earl of Derby beheaded near this spot 1661 'Bowlton hath a market on Mondays which is very good for clothing and provisions and is a place of great trade for fustians' (Blome's Brittania') 1753 Crompton, Inventor of the Spinning Mule, foundation of modern Cotton Industry, Born in Bolton 1760 Arkwrright, founder of the Cotton Factory system, kept a barber's Shop in Bolton. 1763 Cotton Quiltings & muslins first made in Bolton 1791 Canal to Bolton opened 1828 First Railway from Bolton opened 1832 First Parliamentary election, Population 41,195 1838 Charter of Incorporation 1842 Parliamentary enquiry about extreme distress in the town 1852 Adoption of Free Libraries Act 1861 Population 70,396 1872 First Extension of Bolton 1877 Further extension, Population 106,214 1898 Bolton again extended 1901 Population 168,215 Anne in Bolton.