School loans
Bolton Museum and Archive Service now has 12 loan box themes on offer to schools. All boxes include resources and suggested activities which link to the National Curriculum.
The themes available are:
Click on each heading to see more detailed lists of items in the loans boxes.
- Africa
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greeks
- Asia
- Aztecs and Explorers
- History time-line
- Romans
- Seashore
- Toys
- Victorian Costume
- Victorian Life
- Local Wildlife and Birds
Charges
Prices per 2 week hire period are:
- £10 per box for Bolton LA Schools
- £15 per box for Non Bolton LA Schools
To book a loan box, please contact:
Telephone: 01204 332211
Email: bolton.museum.education.services@bolton.gov.uk
You can request collection of your museum loans box from on of the 5 different sites.
These are:
- Farnworth Library, Market Street, Bolton BL4 7PG
- Harwood Library, Gate Fold, Bolton BL2 3HN
- Horwich Library, Jones Street, Bolton BL6 7AJ
- Westhoughton Library, Library Street, Bolton BL5 3AU
- Schools Library Service, Pike Nook Workshops, High Street, Bolton BL3 6JZ
Collection and return of loans to an agreed library site needs to be confirmed when you are making your booking.
A minimum of one week notice for booking is required.

Africa box
- Large statue of traditional man from the Gold Coast
- Bronze Ashanti statues
- Bronze Ashanti lion
- Senagalese material
- Nigerian girl’s costume
- Ghanian girl’s costume
- Wooden carved fertility doll
- Drum with antelope skin
- Percussion instruments
- Wooden piano
Ancient Egypt box
- Replica writing material
- Sarcophagus
- Replica Sphinx model
- Pharaoh
- Jewellery
- Egyptian illustrated papyrus
- Cosmetic knife
- Scarab beetle
- Cat with earrings
- Amenhotep II
- The Jackal
- Shabti figure
- Canopic jar
- The Falcon
- Small seated cat
Ancient Greeks box
- Shield
- Helmet
- Classical Greek woman’s costume
- Replica Greek coins
- Greek hoplite
- Greek discuss
- Hygieia
- Mask of Hercules
Asia box
- Japanese food bowl
- Japanese kimono
- Chinese jade dragon
- Assyrian griffin ivory relief
- Babylonian stone tablet
- Mesopotamian ibex
- Indian Radna and Krishna statue
- Brass turtle
- Brass bowl
- Brass bell
- 2x Brass chimes
- Homemade brush and collector
- Chapatti pan
- Chapatti pins
- Indian snack press
- Indian children’s sandals
- Indian adult sandals
- Indian sari
- Hindu costume
- Punjabi Kafni, Hafni or Kurta
- Koran stand
- Chania Choli costume
Aztecs and Explorers box
- Calendar stone
- God of fire pot
- Jaguar warrior
- Triple death mask
- Aztec god of maize statue
- Conquistador's helmet
- Soldier’s armour
- Soldier’s leather tunic and boots
- Gold Escudo necklace
- The Santa Maria
History Timeline box
- Prehistoric
- Hammer stone
- Neolithic blades
- Bronze axe head
- Celtic / Roman
- Roman pottery
- Lindow figure
- Roman Tribune figure
- Anglo Saxon
- Saxon horse
- Viking
- Viking figure
- Norman
- Norman Seals
- Medieval/Tudor
- Medieval gauntlet
- Tudor candle stick
- Tudor watering pot
Romans boxes
2 boxes are available. Both boxes have the following items in common:
- Samian pottery
- Roman pottery pieces
- Replica Roman coins
- Roman brooch
- Writing boards
- Toga
- Wine flagon replica
- Oyster shell
- Fragments from Pompeii
Additional items for each box:
Box 1
- Celtic Torc
- Marble dog head
- Theatre mask
- Models of British Celt & Roman Legionary
Box 2
- Replica jar
- Roman Dragonesque brooch
- Helmet
- Auxiliary Cavalryman
Seashore box
- "Round our Coasts" magazine late 20’s
- Porthcawl booklet late 40’s
- Blackpool paperweight Edwardian
- Boys bathing costume
- Girls bathing costume
- Sperm whale tooth
- Spider crab shell
- Shark jaw
- Starfish
- Skate eggs
- Brain coral
- Nautilus cross section
- Spiny Murex shell
- Cowry shell
- Top shells trochidae
- Red Abalone shell
- Cockle shells
- Oyster shells
- Scallop shell
- Helmet shell
- Conch shell
- Fasciolonia trapezium shell
- Cone shell
- Auger shell (dotty)
- 2 halves of clam
- Giant Clam
Toys boxes
3 boxes are available. All boxes have the following items in common:
- Hoop
- Yoyo
- Skipping Rope
- Whip and Top
- Zoetrope
- Ball and Cup
- Diabolo
- Punch and Judy
- Snakes and Ladders
Additional items for each box:
Box 1
- Flip Book
- Woodpecker
- Solitaire
Box 2
- Flip Book
- Merry go round
- Train
Box 3
- Wooden Snake
- Jacobs ladder
- Trapeze Artists
- Pecking Chickens
Victorian costume box
- Parasol
- Boots & boot hook
- Clogs
- Child’s shoe
- Lady’s leather gloves
- Child’s leather gloves
- Mittens
- Child’s bonnet
- Top hat
- Child’s frock
- Child’s dress
- Purse/reticule
- Lady’s dress
- Images of Victorian dress
Please note: these items of clothing cannot be worn.
Victorian Life boxes
2 boxes are available. Both boxes have the following items in common:
- Iron
- Donkey stones
- Hair care tool
- Hot water bottle
- Photographs
- Coins
- Posser
- Glasses
- Goffering irons
Additional items for each box:
Box 1
- Fruit press
- Grooming product packaging
- Tape measure
- Vaseline packaging
Box 2
- Whisk
- Butter pats
- Coal tongs
- Food related packaging
Wildlife and birds
The following specimens can be booked out individually (£2.00) or 6 items for the normal rate:
- Badger
- Bittern
- Black Headed Gull
- Blackbird (female)
- Blackbird (male)
- Cockerel
- Duckling
- Dunlin
- Fan tailed pigeon
- Feral Pigeon
- Fieldfare
- Grey Squirrel
- Hare
- Hedgehog
- Jackdaw
- Jay
- Kestrel
- Mallard Duck
- Mink
- Moorhen
- Mouse
- Oystercatcher
- Pheasant
- Pied Wagtail
- Polecat
- Raven
- Red Grouse
- Redwing
- Shoveller Duck
- Song Thrush
- Sparrow
- Sparrowhawk
- Starling
- Short-eared Owl
- Wheatear
- Tawny Owl (Young)