From the Evening News, September 11, 1976

25 YEARS AGO

FORMER landmarks of the Jumbles Valley have been brought to the surface by the drought. Familiar sights of five years ago, like the Turton Bottoms footbridge and the derelict Horrobin Mills, were covered by the 500 million gallons of water in the Jumbles Reservoir. Now visitors to the Jumbles can once again amble across the old footbridge and stroll up the cobbled road that led to the mill. These nostalgic encounters at the Jumbles are yet another indication of the dire state of our water supply.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 11, 1951

THE Rev. R.E. Higginson, vicar of St Peter's, Halliwell, in his presidential address at the Southport Evangelical Conference at Southport today, made an appeal for a realistic approach by the Church to the problem of divorce and remarriage. They were faced today, he said, with a new class of society whom they might call divorcees. These people were fairly numerous, as the divorce spiral was reaching the amazing total of 50,000 cases a year.

"We must seek through God's spirit to reclaim these outcasts of society," argued Mr Higginson. "If we have no remedy to offer this class of society, we have no gospel to preach."

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 11, 1876

THE usual monthly meeting of the Astley Bridge Local Board was held on Wednesday afternoon. A plan for a privy proposed to be built by Mr Wm. Longworth, in Belmont-road, was rejected. It was resolved that legal proceedings against Mr John Thornley, requiring him to provide sufficient privy accommodation for his tenants at Lamb-brow, and also that notice be served on Messrs Yates and Morris requiring them to repair the ashpit at No 4, School-street.

The monthly report of the Medical Officer was submitted as follows: "The deaths (13) during the month of August have been at the rate of 28.31 per 1,000 per annum. With the exception of three deaths from scarlet fever there has been no prevalence of any disease. I believe the general conditions of the district to be satisfactory."