Grave of Hargreaves Bolton family, Llandrillo

Grave of Hargreaves Bolton familyHargreaves Bolton family grave

Captain Henry Hargreaves Bolton was born into a family of Lancashire colliery proprietors in 1856, writes Adrian Hughes. The business included 17 mines and employed over 1000 men in and around Bacup, Accrington and Darwen by the time he became the managing director. The mines primarily produced coal for the local manufacturing mills, but also for domestic use.  In 1883 an explosion at one of the collieries resulted in 68 deaths.

He lived with his wife Florence, four sons and two daughters at Highbrake Hall in Accrington, and had another home, Heightside, in Rhos-on-Sea.  All four sons were educated at Shrewsbury School before joining the army and were commissioned into the East Lancashire Regiment.  The three eldest - Harry, John and Maurice - were killed in the First World War. 

Henry and Florence’s youngest son, George, survived the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry;. He later became managing director of the family mining business and a prominent member of Manchester Chamber of Commerce.  In September 1922, George Hargreaves Bolton unveiled Altham War Memorial commemorating 30 men who died in the First World War, including his three older brothers.

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