25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 18, 1973

LONG dresses at one time appeared only at hunt balls and formal occasions when you wore glittering accessories and the hair was swept up in a sophisticated style. Today, long hemlines are as much as part of a working girl's wardrobe as trousers and short skirts. This year has seen a bonanza for the longer look. Pretty, plain, or floral sprigged long pinafores are being rapidly snapped up which floor-length skirts are also selling well. Long is lovely, and it suits all age groups. It's feminine, flattering, and when the weather is good very practical for office wear or just going shopping in.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 19, 1948

INQUIRIES at Bolton Employment Exchange reveal that the labour needs of the local cotton industry are still very pressing. 'Anybody coming forward will almost certainly be able to go to the mill of his or her choice', we were told. Men are particularly required for assistants spinning vacancies, and women are needed for ring spinning and weaving. A recent survey shows that the current demand in the spinning, doubling and weaving sections is for well over 2000 workers, and it is estimated that a further 2000 will be required in the next six months.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 19, 1873

ON Saturday afternoon a serious fire broke out on a farm at Ainsworth, belonging to Mr James Boardman, of Ainsworth Hall. Mr Superintendent Aspinall received information of the fire at six o'clock, and with the brigade and the Nelson fire engine he at once proceeded to the spot, arriving there about 35 minutes past. It was then found that four stacks of straw and two lots of hay were destroyed, and an adjoining barn containing hay and corn was, with the contents, destroyed. Mr Aspinall directed the brigade to continue their endeavours to saving a couple of cottages adjacent, but they were considerably damaged, some of the furniture in one of them being partially destroyed. The damage is estimated at from £500 to £600, £400 of which is covered by insurance in the Manchester Fire Office. The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.