Bolling Family Descendants Revisit Their Ancestral Home
October 12, 2026Descendants of the historic Bolling family from the US reconnect with their Bradford heritage
This summer, Bolling Hall in Bradford welcomed around 30 members of the Bolling Family Association, who travelled from across the United States to visit their ancestral home. The visit was part of the Association’s 2026 Heritage Tour to England and marked their first organised trip to the Hall in over 17 years.
Exploring centuries of family history
The Bolling family has a long-standing connection to Bolling Hall, dating back to the medieval period and lasting until the early 18th century. During their visit in August, the group explored the historic Hall and attended a special talk by Dr Lauren Padgett, Curator for Bradford District Museums and Galleries. Dr Padgett shared insights into the family’s history and its transatlantic links.
One notable figure discussed was Robert Bolling, born in London in 1646 and a descendant of the family associated with Bolling Hall. At the age of 14, Robert travelled to Virginia, where he became a merchant and landowner. He married Jane Rolfe, the granddaughter of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, establishing a prominent branch of the Bolling family in America.
A meaningful connection to Bradford
For Dr Padgett, the opportunity to share the history of Bolling Hall with the family was particularly special. Having grown up locally, she described the Hall as her “local museum” and expressed pride in preserving and sharing its stories.
Mara Evans, Vice President of the Bolling Family Association, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and preservation efforts, saying: “Thank you for inviting us back into our ancestral home. It means a great deal to the family to be able to come back and connect with this part of our history.”
Further historic connections in Bradford
In addition to Bolling Hall, the group visited Bradford Cathedral, which holds further historic links to the family through the former Bolling Chapel and family memorials. The visit highlighted the deep roots the Bolling family has in the Bradford area and the ongoing importance of these sites in connecting people to their heritage.
Supporting preservation efforts
As a gesture of appreciation, the Bolling Family Association made a donation to Bolling Hall to support the museum’s work in preserving the building and sharing its history with visitors.
The visit served as a powerful reminder that the history contained within Bolling Hall extends far beyond Bradford, continuing to connect descendants with their family stories centuries later.
To learn more about the Bolling family’s visit and the fascinating history of Bolling Hall, readers are encouraged to visit the original article on the Bradford Museums website.
