Tootill Bleachworks, Seven Acres Park, Bolton, Greater Manchester. Archaeological Investigation.

Seven Acres Park is a local nature reserve that follows the course of the Bradshaw Brook in the Breightmet area of Bolton. The area is teeming with wildlife, and also has considerable heritage attributes, as has been highlighted in important research carried out by The Friends of Seven Acres and members of the Bolton Archaeological Society. Another local group of enthusiasts recently carried out some informal intrusive investigation at the site of the Toothill Bridge Bleachworks, a former industrial complex that lies within Seven Acres Park. This demonstrated that important archaeological remains survived in situ although Bolton Council, in consultation with the Greater Manchester Archaeology Unit, expressed concern that an appropriate record of the exposed remains had not been compiled in accordance with professional guidelines. In order to redress this shortcoming, a programmed of community based archaeological excavation was proposed by the County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester and the Heritage Landscape Officer for Bolton Council