As divisive as Brexit? 50 years of Bolton in Greater Manchester

As a county, Greater Manchester was established on April 1, 1974, following the Local Government Act 1972.

The change saw Bolton go from being an independent ‘county borough’, to part of a city-region encompassing 493 square miles (1,276 square kilometres), stretching from Horwich to Marple – with police, fire services, and transport all brought under one roof.

Parts of Lancashire joined the town in its newly formed borough,…