From the Evening News, July 23, 1992 - THE battle to force housebuilders Barratt off the Birtenshaw Farm fields will go to Europe.

Nearly five months after dejected campaigners were told their case would not be heard by Britain's legal supremos in the house of Lords, jubilation returned today with the news that the long-running fight will go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Now campaigners are working out ways to raise around £40,000 needed for legal costs and travel.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 23, 1977

SALFORD Council is to ask Parliament to re-introduce corporal punishment for certain crimes. By 40 votes to 13 the Council has adopted a proposal calling for corporal punishment for crimes of violence, rape, crimes against children and excessive criminal damage.

BOLTON'S firemen have voted for all-out strike action for their first time in their history, unless they get a substantial pay rise.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 23, 1952

THE need for more hotel accommodation has long been felt in Bolton, and it was to solve this problem that the Corporation proposed to seek authority from Parliament to build a municipal hotel. On a promise being given by Magee, Marshall and Co., Ltd., to extend the accommodation at the Pack Horse Hotel, this was dropped from the Bill which eventually became the Bolton Corporation Act, 1949. That promise has now been redeemed; next Wednesday will see the opening of the new restaurant, and on August 4th, 33 new bedrooms will be available for guests.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

July 23, 1902

HALL-i'th-Wood, the munificent gift to the town of Mr W.H. Lever, is to be opened to the public by the generous donor this afternoon. In April last it was temporarily opened for a few weeks, and then closed for the purpose of preparing the home of Samuel Crompton as a permanent memorial of Bolton's greatest industrial benefactor.

After today, it will be visited by those who revere the memory of one of the greatest inventors the country has ever produced, one who made the daily toil of the cotton workers lighter, and whose invention added to their material well being.

The exhibits have been gathered together in order to make Hall-i'th-Wood a fitting home for the objects which will ever remind Boltonians of perhaps her greatest son.