District from 1894 to 1898 when it became part of Turton Urban District and in 1974 became part of Blackburn District in Lancashire. Geography The township, on ground rising to the north of Bolton, had an area of 3920 acres divided into two portions. Upper Sharples on the slopes of Winter Hill and Whimberry Hill contained the districts of Hordern, Belmont, and the hamlet of Bromiley and a reservoir built by Bolton Waterworks formed the boundary between Sharples and Longworth. Lower Sharples was separated from the upper portion by a detached portion of Little Bolton. Astley Bridge is in Lower Sharples. The old road over the West Pennine Moors from Bolton to Preston via Astley Bridge and Withnell, now the A675 passed through the township for five miles. Much of the land is high moorland. Education The main secondary school serving the area is Sharples School, located on Hill Cot Road. Religion St Peter's church in Belmont was built in 1850. References Areas of Bolton History of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton West Pennine Moors Geography of Blackburn with Darwen