YOU may remember that reader Nicola Selby's husband found an old beer bottle while working in the garden.

Since this item appeared in Looking Back I have had several calls about the manufacturer - W Bolton and Sons, Blackburn Road.

One came from Angela Ramsden of Bromley Cross, whose aunt, Hilda Clegg, is the granddaughter of the founder, William Bolton.

Mrs Ramsden sent me the accompanying invoice which shows that the company was established in 1889.

It describes itself as "high-class mineral water manufacturers" and "hop bitter brewers" with lemon squash a speciality.

Mrs Ramsden believes the business was based at 134 Blackburn Road - not far from Relph's Funeral Service.

She said: "The business was destroyed by a serious fire some time between 1906 and 1910, and William Bolton died shortly afterwards.

"After the fire, William's wife Marie set-up an ice-cream parlour and soft drinks Temperance Bar in Standishgate, Wigan.

"Their eldest son George set up his own herbalist shop in Scholes, Wigan."

Mrs Ramsden adds: "I have been told by my auntie that at weekends their drinks were taken by horse and cart up to Rivington, selling them to the public in this very popular leisure area."

I have also had a call from Pat Holland, of Lostock, who tells me that she is William Bolton's great granddaughter.

She tells me the Boltons were temperance people and that the reference to "hop bitter brewers" would not have applied to alcohol.

The Boltons also had temperance premises in Churchgate - near the Capitol Cinema.