IN THE Bolton Evening News of March 12, Angela Kelly referred to "Bolton Wakes".
This was a misnomer, as the Bolton Holidays were never referred to as "Wakes". It was used in some other Lancashire towns, but never in Bolton, where the name was always "Bolton Holidays".
Until the second part of the 18th century, Bolton was a small town with its population nestling around the Parish Church dedicated to St Peter, whose Saint's Day is June 29.
By this, the period of Bolton Holidays was fixed until the system of local holidays was abandoned.
A play (later made into a film) was called "Hindle Wakes". That may have popularised the word, but it was never applied to "Bolton Holidays".
Harold Owen
Armadale Road
Bolton
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