From the Evening News, September 4, 1976

25 YEARS AGO

HOUSING estates are to be built soon in Bolton with roads as narrow as ten feet in places. The plan is to improve the estates by giving less space to roads and more to landscaping. The small access roads will be designed so that they are not straight and are of different widths along their length.

JITTERBUGGING was all the rage when Ethel Hanson and Violet Ramsay started work at Bolton's Palais. Now 30 years on they have seen off rock 'n' roll, the twist and the shake, and they are still going strong. Ethel and Violet started work as cleaners at the Palais within weeks of each other. Ethel is still a part-time cleaner, but Violet transferred to the box office 10 years ago. They have both been presented with gold watches for long service.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 5, 1951

TODAY'S overcast skies did not deter local people from attending the popular Harwood Sheepdog Trials and Show which has become, for them, the last open-air fling of the year.

The steady downpour of rain which started shortly after lunch, however, must have prevented many Boltonians from setting out to spend the last afternoon of their holiday at Harwood.

This was the third time in four years that there has been a wet afternoon for the show.

ANOTHER 1,000,000 retirement pensioners will be drawing bigger pensions from October 1.

They are men who are between 65 and 70 years of age, and women between 60 and 65 on October 1, 1951.

Their pensions will be increased by 4s to 30s a week, and for married women with pensions, based on the contributions paid by their husbands, by 4s to 20s a week.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News,

September 5, 1876

THE 4th of September has again come around, and with it Turton fair, apparently as popular as ever. Thousands were conveyed by special train from Bolton and Blackburn, and the multitude flocking thither in the afternoon was so great that so many as 23 persons were known to be packed in a compartment calculated to hold ten.

But the inconvenience and crushing was counted as nothing so that the goal could be reached. Arriving at Turton, the scene was an animated one. Thousands thronged the fairground and approaches.

The principal thoroughfare from Cheetham Arms to the Church was a sight to be remembered.

One side was taken up with nut and gingerbread stalls, along with stands which offered more substantial refreshment.

An abundance of ham sandwiches could be obtained - though they did not obtain such a dignified title. Black puddings, peas, tripe, hot potatoes had also their patrons, and all were partaken of in the open-air that to an appetiteless man must have been tantalising.

Evidently it was thought that the fair-goers must eat if they did nothing else, for every house in the street was converted into a refreshment house for the time being.

"Potato pie and tea" - they were jointly offered so said the placards in the windows - could be "had within".

The public-house and beerhouses were packed to the utmost limit, and two large open refreshment booths on the fairground were crowded with thirsty and hungry customers.