Bolton School of Art

Bolton Mechanics’ Institute was established in 1825 following the development of other Mechanics’ Institutes in London and Scotland. It offered local working-class people opportunities to learn skills that included art and its ancillary subjects. By 1827 the School of Art was established and was still part of the Mechanics Institute until the turn of the century. In 1901 a dedicated art school was built but it took two years until art classes began in 1903. In 1928 a Junior School opened offering full-time education to 13–16-year-olds but such schools gradually disappeared leaving Bolton Junior School of Art as a unique institution. During the 1980's the College became a department of Bolton Institute of Higher Education and eventually became part of the University of Bolton. Alumni include Principal Roger Hampson and comic-book illustrator Denis McLoughlin.

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