During the night of the 21st September 1916,
Zeppelin L21 came across just below Rawtenstall -
east to west, dropping a mixture of incendiary and
explosive bombs as it went.   It then turned south
just before reaching Helmshore and passed over
Lumb and down into the modern day Greater
Manchester area.  Following the line of the
Helmshore Road it passed over Holcome, where more
bombs were dropped.   It was now timed at 00.25
hrs on the 26th.

It then turned south-west towards the east of
Bolton where it passed over Halliwell where there
were a number of large cotton mills.   It then
proceded to make a complete anti-clockwise circle
of Bolton town centre.   L21 then dropped five
explosive bombs in quick succession and these
landed on Kirk Street, killing 13 people and
injuring another nine.  Nos. 58 - 66 were
completely destoyed.

Bolton University now occupies the site of Kirk
Street.