Historically, Great Bolton formed part of the Hundred of Salford, a judicial division of southeast Lancashire.

[6] [7] Under provisions of the Poor Relief Act 1662, townships replaced civil parishes as the main units of local administration in Lancashire.

The land was level apart from a clough or steep-banked valley occupied by the river Croal.

The south western part of the township was occupied by moorland that gave the parish its early name.

[3] A cross roads about 200 yards (180 m) from the Parish Church, St Peters, was the place where a market was held in the Middle Ages.