Churchgate - Now… and Then…

including Haulgh memories

 

Churchgate, Bolton, has been featured several times in Bolton News, particularly in the run-up to last Christmas, and since. The news items included dissatisfaction amongst local, loyal traders, mainly lack of business and interest in that part of town, and a shortage of sufficient lighting - in what can become a rather gloomy area especially during bleak, dark Winter months. In fact, considering the standing that Churchgate has in the history of our town, Bolton - and, indeed, could have in the future - it is, surely, worthy of recognition, respect and patronage. Yes, Churchgate did undergo refurbishment to a major degree in recent times, we might argue, and it houses a variety of establishments. It is also the main thoroughfare for pedestrians who wish to visit our Parish Church from the town centre. The pedestrian crossings on Bank Street and Bradshawgate have been much improved, allowing easier access to Churchgate.

 

This part of Bolton became so familiar to me as I grew up. For the first ten years of my life, during the 1940s, I lived with my family on Bradford Street, directly opposite Bridgeman Park, also known as “the little park”. Although there were good local shops in the Haulgh, my mother and I walked into town when the need arose. We used two routes - one was over the Bradford Street bridge - Edbros to the left, and the Miners’ Hall to the right - continuing up Bridgeman Place, finally arriving at Bradshawgate. On the way, we called into the sweet-shop, the traditional kind, where a bell tinkled as you entered. A distinctive, sugary smell greeted us - sweets still resided in jars, then, not packets!

 

The second way, my mother and I walked in the opposite direction - up Bradford Street, and round the corner onto Dorset Street, under the railway bridge, past Church Wharf (no subway in existence then!). We climbed Church Bank, which led us on past the Parish Church and onto Churchgate. I feel quite certain that it was a bus route in those days, unlike now. Looking back, you might agree that the Church Wharf area, in particular, was really unusual and rather quaint, with its assortment of buildings, stores, shops and houses - long since gone. As mother and I progressed up Church Bank, we passed a Saw Doctor’s premises, a clog works and even a Saddlers!

 

Of course, Churchgate itself was the home to two theatres - The Grand and The Theatre Royal. There was also a cinema, built in typical Art Deco style - The Capitol. Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe and Booth’s Music still remain, and who could forget the wonderful Sabini’s Ice Cream Parlour? Smoky Joe’s has just sprung to mind, a coffee bar adjacent to Ye Olde Man and Scythe. It is steeped in history! This is about as far as my personal memories go about Churchgate. If anyone else would care to fill in any gaps or add their own remembrances, that would be great!

 

I sincerely hope and pray for the future of Churchgate, and that at least, some Christmas lights will appear when the time comes.

 

Freda Rothwell