OVER the years the Turton Local History Society has produced numerous excellent booklets about the area. Now they are working on a project about the Volunteer Brewery of John Hamer at Bromley Cross.

"We are seeking help to identify all the names of the North Bolton pubs owned/supplied by the John Hamer Brewery at the time of its sale to Duttons of Blackburn in 1951," writes local historian Jim Francis, of Old Neds Farm, Bradshaw, Bolton, BL2 4LR.

"Unfortunately Whitbreads, who later bought Duttons, are unable to help us".

Mr Francis enclosed a list of some of the properties owned by Hamers in 1951, but, he adds, "we feel there are others - perhaps your readers can help?"

The list is:

Bolton town centre - Academy, Crook Street (originally the Painters' Arms); Blue Boar, Deansgate; Brown Cow, 153 Bradshawgate; Queen's Hotel, 155 Bradshawgate; Town Hall Tavern, 46-48 Victoria Square (closed 1925); Victoria, 17 Hotel Street.

Outside town centre: Bradford Arms, 28 Foundry Street; Crawford Arms, 19 Bolton Street; Dog & Snipe, 181 Folds Road; Farmers' Arms, 251 Derby Street; Lord Raglan, 384 Halliwell Road; Old Original British Queen, 107 Blackburn Road; Uncle Tom's Cabin, 270-272 Lever Street; Union Arms, 56-58 Eskrick Street; Weavers' Arms, 8 Brunel Street; Cross Keys, Cross Street (closed 1935).

Outside Bolton: Hamer's Arms, Summerseat; De Rothwell Arms, Cox Green; Volunteer, Bromley Cross (with bowling green and brewery); Bridge Inn, Westhoughton; Colliers, Montserrat; Farmers' Arms, Darcy Lever; Sportsman, Bromley Cross; Yew Tree, Walton-le-Dale, Preston; Carters' Arms, Astley Bridge.

If you know of any other pubs owned by the firm, please let Mr Francis know.

However, the society is also seeking old photographs of the Volunteer, its bowling green and its brewery, which were at the side and rear of the pub. "The bowling green and brewery were lost in the 1951 work to form the existing car park," writes Mr Francis.

In an advertisement for the Volunteer Inn in the 1881 Bolton Directory, it says the pub is in "Toppings, Turton". Mr Francis explains that this described the area around the Volunteer, its name being derived from the nearby Toppings Farm. The name Bromley Cross seems to have been generally adopted from the early 1900s after Bromley Cross station. It is likely that the station was named after the 'Bromiley Cross' marked on the 1850 Ordnance map as being at the junction of Rigby Lane and Turton Road, and the nearest named location when the station was built in 1845/9."

Hopefully, some readers will be able to help the society.