BOLTON

 NOTHING GOOD IN BOLTON  2.5 Miles 

Only three of us gathered at the Hospital bus shelter to catch the 10 O'Clock bus to Bolton. 

Danny and Mike with John taking the photograph.

It was a two hour journey on the service bus which weaved it's way towards the city stopping frequently to pick up and drop off passengers.

Like the little boys we had been, oh so many years ago, we had excitedly clambered up the stairs to claim the front seats with best views.

On reaching the City we were unsure where we were but the town hall, our starting point for our trail, could be seen not far away. After a two hour bus ride, however, a coffee was essential..... Thanks Mike.

As other people take charge of the camera from time to time . Danny suggested that he take a photo so as to see how the different camera I had brought today operated and as it is an unusual photo in in that I look vaguely human.  It's inclusion, I insist, is not vanity........obviously !

Leaving the cafe and heading towards the fabulous town hall ,  Mike struck up a conversation with a lady. When he told her we were looking for some nice things we had journeyed to see. She promptly said........

"There are no nice things in Bolton. And I live here."  SHE WAS WRONG !

So onwards to the Town Hall. Before we got there, however, we "met" this character.

FRED DIBNAH....... and he was certainly a character.

Eventually we arrived in the Town Hall square and as it was after 12 noon we decided to sit here and have our "butties".

Lunch over we set off to follow the town's "Historical Industrial Trail" passing once more our friend Mr Dibnah and the glass encaged steam engine which would have been a delight to him.

 Whilst some of the historic sites we viewed were hardly heart stoppingly exciting the buildings which housed them were in themselves worth seeing.

Here the site of the "Bank of Bolton" Mike (blue rucksack) and Danny can be seen passing it to continue down Deansgate.

At this point Mike and Danny demonstrated the art of Covid Distancing

As on a flagstone on the pavement between them was this message.

On our last visit to Bolton Paddy suddenly disappeared only to emerge a few minutes later from this pub. "I needed the toilet" he explained.

Oops !  Turn around. We've missed Arkwright's Barber shop.  Now a guitar shop with a blue plaque high on the wall. Not exactly impressive. No wonder we missed it.

The building just beyond, with the Greenwich style falling ball, was much more impressive. No indication of what it was though.

There were more " written flagstones" as we proceeded along Deansgate, which merged with Churchgate, towards the Parish church.

This one credited to the popular Dave Spikey a comedian and comedy actor

In front us now was the Parish Church alleged to have the tallest church tower in Lancashire. (Before Greater Manchester and Merseyside ate into the county)

That's better. Got the tall tower in shot this time.

Was this fellow trying to get IN  or OUT of the church ?

In the churchyard was the tomb of Samuel Crompton inventor of the mule. He died in poverty and it was only years later that this large construction was erected over his resting place.

We next sought out the home of William Hesketh Leaver (Lord Leverhulme). But he proved as slippery as his famous soap. There was no sign of him at the address given.

Instead there was a plaque to Sarah Reddish. I'm sure Sarah Reddish was justly celebrated here but where's his Lordship. Also honoured were volunteers who went to join the fight against fascist dictator Franco. Amongst their number was writer Laurie Lee who as well as other books (Cider with Rosie ?) wrote about his Spanish Civil War adventures in the book "As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning"  I enjoyed it when I read it.

The only other address of interest in the street was a chinese restaurant. marked by these golden Lions.

Following the trail we next arrived at Nelson Square where Samuel Crompton was better celebrated. There he is on a rather rather magnificent plinth.

Also in the square was a Wetherspoons. Obviously more revered by the citizens of Bolton than our previous viewings as in contrast to the almost empty street there was hardly a vacant seat in large, packed hostelry.

Just in case Anthony was jealous of this visit I must hastily point out that we entered merely to use the toilets which perversely were up a steep and long flight of stairs. After several pints of an evening I suspect they would offer quite a challenge for some of the clientel

So........ Back to the Town Hall square and along to the "Bolton Interchange" (Bus station) Where we nabbed the upstairs front seats again for the Journey home after a thoroughly enjoyable Urban meander.

Si thi soon

THE END

JW