The Meanderthals: BOLTON

MIKE'S MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

Bolton Wanderers :- Danny, Paddy, John W, Mike, Anthony.

Out of the last Five walks, Four have been on damp, drizzly days on wet fields or muddy, puddled paths. Whilst we are all well equipped with good waterproofs, walking with hoods up and heads down , hardly able to speak to each other, is not the kind of social day out we are aiming for.

So, on Mike's advice, we decided to have a complete change and here we are waiting outside the Royal Preston Hospital for the service bus to Bolton.

Like excited schoolboys we clambered up the stairs to claim the seats at the very front of the bus.

The bus weaved it's way towards Bolton with frequent stops to pick up or drop off passengers.

Being on the upper deck and at the front allowed us to see many parts of our region we have never had the occasion to visit.

Finally after TWO HOURS the bus arrived in Bolton.

A short walk down a cobbled road and through the building in the photo took us to the main square and the famous town hall.

In spite of the evidence of the photographs the centre of Bolton was quite busy.

Lunchtime ? The post noon timing would seem to suggest that it was.

Wetherspoons is always a quick and easy option and a friendly local showed us how to get to the nearest one. "Follow me" he said.

We soon found it. In a surprisingly pretty little urban garden square.

Here's a pretty sight,

The garden NOT John (definitely not John).

Feeding time at the zoo is always a big attraction. Not sure about feeding time at Wetherspoons but here it is anyway.

Here's Mike going for a coffee refill.

As we walked back towards the Town Hall we apparently passed through an arts area. And here's a bit of it......... hmmm well ?

And a bit more. Part of a wall built of books ?

And so back to the Town Hall square where Mike would lead us on a small guided tour.

First stop one of several statues of local bigwigs. A past mayor.

Sorry sir but I have forgotten who you were.

Rather better known to our generation was this local celebrity....

Fred Dibnah !

Was he an eccentric , a brave man , a wise man or just a complete "Nutter" ? Over to you.

Next. Just across the road was the original "Bank of Bolton" now an empty shell up for sale.

As in many Northern cities the old buildings sat quite comfortably with the new (and not quite so new)

Walking down Deansgate we came across this old pub.

One was named after a lady the other a man. Wonder who they were ?

Could this be the man after whom the pub was named ?

Then on the other side of the street was this small shop,

"What's a Peruke ?" we all asked . It's a Periwig . A highly stylised wig worn almost like a hat.

We continued down Deansgate heading to the Bolton Parish Church. St Peter's Bolton-le-Moors. BOLTON Originally BOTHL-TUN.

Mike checking the info on the next part of his well organised mini tour.

Looking upwards to the buildings we nearly missed this philosophical message on the pavement.

As we reached the church we realised that there was a funeral service about to begin so we would not be able to explore as we had wished .

The deacon (I think) told us that we could certainly enter the church as long as we avoided the funeral party.

Paddy left us to walk around the church. Where's he gone ?

We waited for him at the church gates.

Our next visit was to the museum and mainly the aquarium.

As we walked towards it we passed this clock atop of which was a golden ball which like that at Greenwich used to rise up the column to fall back again at a set time, It was presently out of order.

The AQUARIUM........