Bolton Union's Cottage Homes were built close to the workhouse buidling (above). They were some of the first cottage homes to be built in England, building having started in around 1876.

There were just four houses initially but the institutions was later extended.

For the BBC TV series, Who do you think you are?, Paddy McGuinness (the actor and comedian) was featured and his family researched.

It was revealed that, following his great grandfather being sent to prison in 1915, Paddy's great grandmother went into the workhouse and her child went into the cottage homes. It was expained in the programme that this came as a surprise to Paddy who knew little about his family's history.

Quite why the cottage homes became known as 'Hollins Cottage Homes' remains a mystery. If anyone could shed any light on this, I would be very grateful!

hello@formerchildrenshomes.org.uk