25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 18, 1971

BOLTON Corporation must pay the local development company of Metrolands Investments Ltd. £552,500 for the controversial Bark Street redevelopment area, announced the Lands Tribunal in London. Metrolands had previously bought the site in the hope of developing it for shopping and other commercial uses, but the Corporation insisted on limiting any shopping development there. Metrolands claimed that this restriction made the site incapable of reasonable beneficial use, and served a notice requiring the council to buy the site. A Corporation offer of £175,000 had been rejected by Metrolands.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 18, 1946

A DARCY Lever housewife called upon her grocer this week for her usual supply of rations. After being served, she asked the shopman for some of the "soap flakes" that he had included in her supplies the previous week. A look of astonishment crossed his face. "Those weren't soap flakes," he smiled. "It was flaked suet."

Maybe there's some excuse for such a mistake, but it would be interesting to know what happened to that wash.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 18, 1871

YESTERDAY evening, the new organ, which has been built at a cost of £1,000 for St. Paul's Church, Astley Bridge, and which has been presented by T. Thwaites, Esq., a member of the congregation, was opened in the presence of a crowded attendance, among whom was the Marquis de Rothwell, T.L. Rushton, Esq., and members of the principal families residing in the neighbourhood and district. The bellows are blown by one of Holt and Joy's patent hydraulic engines. Previous to the commencement of the service, tea was provided for members of the choir and others in the schoolroom.

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