Hi, Gail, In your message relayed to ENG-LANCS-PRESTON you wrote > My question is does anyone know of Fishpool Institution, Farnworth. > Believed to be a hospital. I'm form Bolton but have never heard of it, > neither had my cousin. The Fishpool Institution was the Workhouse of the Board of Guardians for the Bolton Poor Law Union. The Board of Guardians came into being following the Poor Law Act of 1834 and originally used the old parish workhouses. In the late 1850s they decided that a new Workhouse was necessary and purchased Fishpool Farm, Farnworth, from Cockey Moor Church. The Institution was opened in 1861. The farm later provided land for Bolton District General Hospital and the Workhouse later became known as Townley's Branch Hospital. BDGH has undergone considerable change and extension in the last 10 or so years and is now known as the Royal Bolton Hospital. The Bolton Royal Infirmary has been closed, the buildings demolished and the site redeveloped. A history of the establishment was published by Neil Richardson in 1989 - 'A Pauper's Palace, A History of Fishpool Institution' by Betty Connor. I have seen copies recently so you may be able to obtain one. If you have problems, contact me off list Hope this helps Jim Lancaster (Bury, LAN)