25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 4, 1973

A TOUCH of a button this afternoon brought a piece of Bolton's industrial history to life and officially opened the town's £98,000 central pedestrian precinct. The finger on the button was that of the last Mayor of Bolton, Ald Henry Devenish. As he declared the precinct open from a dais at the junction of Oxford Street and Victoria Square, the 25-ton mill engine moved into life in its armoured glass case.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 4, 1948

AS it was the first royal visit, Turton people may be expected to talk about the informal tour which the Queen made on Tuesday evening for many days to come. Counc. Knowles, chairman of Turton Council, who, with Mr Alban Baldwin, the clerk, escorted Her Majesty through the Tower, was particularly pleased with the honour and proud of the fact that she signed the visitors' book. Counc. Knowles told members at yesterday's meeting of the visit, and hinted that it might not be the last time royalty would stay in the district.

With the Queen's signature added to the visitors' book, the Council felt that this book should not be used again; and a suggestion was made that the signature should be displayed complete with photographs of the occasion.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, June 3, 1873

DURING Monday, a stand was erected on Nelson-square, directly opposite the Crompton monument, for the accommodation of the Yeomanry Band on the day of the Royal Visit. The stand, which we understand was put up by the firm known as The Executors of Mr Joseph Marsden, Bridge-street, under the direction of the borough surveyor, was about ten feet high at the front, and eighteen feet broad. During the even the attraction of many persons was directed to this stand, and a large crowd collected who expressed their indignation in no measured terms at the fact of the monument of Crompton - the only monument which the town possesses - being hid from the view of the Royal Party, and the great number of strangers who will visit the town on Thursday.

Many of the spectators said they would be quite willing to lend a hand pulling down the obnoxious stand, and many surmises were indulged in as to who had ordered it to be put up. This morning the stand had been taken down, and another one is being put up, which, we are informed, will only be six feet high in the front and five yards square. We believe it is intended that the stand shall be placed on one side of the statue, so as not to hide from view the statue of the man whose name alone is sufficient to make Bolton famous.

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