The key that will unlock Westhoughton’s 120th anniversary celebrations

The library, one of many Carnegie Libraries built around the country with funding from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in the early 20th century, officially opened on March 24, 1906.

The anniversary celebrations will take place across two days, Saturday, March 21 and Tuesday, March 24

On the Saturday the library will host a special day of crafts, story time, music, and trails to commemorate 120 years of memories.

To help mark the occasion, Westhoughton Local History Group (WLHG) is supporting Bolton Library and Museum Services with an exhibition and talks focused on the library’s history, local dialects, and community stories.

The history group has also rediscovered a long-lost ceremonial golden key that was given to George Grundy – chairman of the Westhoughton Urban District Council (UDC) – when he opened the Westhoughton Carnegie Library on 24 March 1906.

WLHG has returned the key to the library, where it will go on permanent display in the museum space on the upper floor of the building to help mark the 120-year commemorations.

The group will present a talk on the history of the library on Saturday 21 March and on Tuesday 24 March.

Ahead of this, they are also inviting members of the public who hold historical items connected to the library to come forward to contribute to the celebratory exhibition.

After completing the busiest year in its history, the group marked its own 20th anniversary throughout 2025 and has already begun work on several exciting projects for the year ahead, including Westhoughton Library’s 120th anniversary.

WLHG Chairman, David Kaye, said: “We were delighted when, in late 2025, following informal discussions with Bolton Library and Museum Services about this significant milestone, we were invited to join a working party of colleagues based both at Central Library in Le Mans Crescent and here in Westhoughton.

“WLHG will be supporting the team in staging an exhibition charting the compelling story of Westhoughton Library, which began development in the same month as Rolls-Royce.

“Not only is this a privilege, but also a welcome opportunity to demonstrate our thanks to the local Library Service, which has provided WLHG — and two predecessor heritage groups dating back to the 1980s — with a warm and supportive home.”

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “Westhoughton Library has been at the heart of the community for more than a century, and this anniversary is a chance to celebrate everything it continues to offer local residents.

“It is wonderful to see Westhoughton Local History Group working alongside our library and museum teams to bring the story of this much loved building to life.

“I would encourage anyone with memories or materials relating to the library to get involved and help preserve its history for future generations.”

Further details of the exhibition and the programme of commemorative events will be announced soon.

In the meantime, WLHG is appealing to readers for the donation or loan of any relevant material — including photographs, press cuttings, artefacts, personal memories or anecdotes — for potential inclusion in the exhibition.

Westhoughton Library is one of more than 3,000 public libraries built across the English speaking world thanks, wholly or partly, to the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie.

: Westhoughton Library Ceremonial Golden Key ©? Bolton Council

Often compared to today’s leading innovators, Carnegie was a Scottish born immigrant who became one of America’s wealthiest industrialists through his steel, coal and rail enterprises.

Bolton Library and Museum Services currently operate nine district branch libraries, with Westhoughton being one of the busiest.

Westhoughton Library © Lancashire Online Parish Clerks

The branch hosts a wide range of community groups and activities and serves as the base for the town’s heritage activities and historic collections.

Anyone able to support the WLHG appeal to contribute to the exhibition is invited to get in touch by emailing howfenhistory@gmail.com or calling 07970 131460.

Westhoughton Local History Group is a volunteer-led organisation dedicated to researching, preserving and sharing the rich heritage of Westhoughton and its surrounding districts. The group works closely with Bolton Council’s Library and Museum Services and the wider community to deliver talks, exhibitions, publications and archival projects that celebrate the town’s unique past.