As someone born in Bolton. The main issues stem from the fact Bolton's town centre is larger by area than Cardiffs yets population is half and metro area is 1/5th. You have Manchester, Middlebrook and the Trafford Centre which is huge competition. The next issue is that the town centre has very few people living in and around it, whereas 100 years ago 10,000s of people lived in it, now its a few hundred, because most houses were demolished. Since 2010 bus frequency has dropped meaning less people use the town (Trams were got rid of in 1949 before then it had a huge extensive tram network as well). And as with most place we were punished for the bankers in London and the US for the 2008 recession, therefore people have less money, less support and there is less investment in the area. The question of is it beyond repair, the answer is no. It needs a decent amount of redevelopment (which is actually underway Crompton Place for example is to have 250 million pound development), in fill projects on brown field sites would increase the useage of the high street and more grants for local businesses would help. In general for all high streets to stem the decline of the high street Business rate Scrapping / reform would do that in an instant that would reduce costs on average by about 15%, which would open new businesses and releave pressure on most businesses and make them much more competitive with online businesses. An example of how more people within walking distance is very useful is the market as you said it's full of people and full of businesses, well that's because it's right on the edge of town next to one of the most densely populated part of the town, whereas the end of Bradshawgate where it was just boardup and shuttered shops has hardly anyone living within walking distance.

@MamaRebelle

8 ай бұрын

Great answer

@Alex-cw3rz

8 ай бұрын

@@MamaRebelle thanks

@Alex-cw3rz

8 ай бұрын

​@sadiequinlan thank you

@MarkCW

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the explanation. So basically Bolton needs to convert some of the shopping areas into housing to increase the supply of customers.

@Alex-cw3rz

8 ай бұрын

@@MarkCW maybe for some, however there is a lot of unused brownfield land in and around the centre that I think would be good for development rather than shops and for many shops converting unused upstairs space into flats rather than converting the shop itself is another option, as most of the upstairs in the centre is unused.

I think Dibnah once said something like 'Britain, built by men in overalls, and ruined by men in suits.' and I can't say I disagree.

@democracyforall

8 ай бұрын

When there is a demand it works but Tony blair killed the chicken to take out all the eggs so that is why- THE EU...In previouse years a few came in and so there was a constant wish to come to such places and work the doors were not wide open and also the people in EU stayed in their homes and they had their culture and it was brilliant to visit and see. This worked both way, the important of British cities were not going to be down as tens of thousands wanted to come to anywhere but the door was open enough not to kill the chicken and take out all the eggs, However, mass murdere Tony blair who pockedted 470 million pounds and put them all in his son acount to hid it did not understand or care about such things like the New labour will ruin it even ten time worse than this...They all came in and they all earned it and they all went back and got what they wanted and they all are not going to come back such places anymore because the chicken is dead. So where do you find such a demand in the mind of the people to have a steady flow of people that will alwasy keep your city alight?? In london yes, but others no. because all those who wanted to come and do business from almost everwhere or most europe they came saw it all and got what they wanted and are not coming again but in their countries they have almost the same culture as UK and has the money so it is good by the chicken is dead. The politician did not know this neither do they understand it even now. Then there was another adversity from those who were nourishing the cities , they in their country of Europe has habbit of no kids and the English people in the modren time has the same habbit and when they came here they almost emptied to their own land so bad that Lithuania is on border or extention-their population is back to 1930s and latvia is empty 80 percent. Thus it killed everything. The old good culture that progressed bit by bit in europe and worldwide and at the same time it nourished the cities of UK as they were looking forward to come work and do business but they got it all as Blair opened the door and left and also no kids both ways emptied the land of Europe so bad that there are boarded or empties towns in lithuania , if you saw it you would think the rapture has happened ha ha ha ha. I went there twice before the EU and what I saw was no short of paradise, it was so beautiful, they used to sit like kids all around in every town and that is what life is [People] and in one town where I bought four properties there were six banks, 5 big shopping centers and many discos and all kinds of stuff , the town of around 10,000 people was so alive it looked like a little paradise. The kids running in the streets playing the adult outside the bank busy all days the shopping centres it was a scene from another word, then suddenly Tonly Blair killed the chicken and when I went there again just one year later there was no body in the town, it gave me a heart attack, I thought I am having a bad dream but lo and behold it was true it was like rapture that Jesus took his Church to paradise. What happend to sweet kids in every street those shouts of little heavenly beings? Only dogs roam the streets now, all banks closed, all discos and entertainment gone and after 18 years of Misery the lithuanian Governemnt is now building swimming pool and everything they can for the few to stay, but it will never be the same as it was because the population is only 1500 now from ten thousands in that town and their culture is long gone it is just now westren culture, cold , unfriendly, depressed and lonely, this was the visioin of EU Tony blair who setted fire to Europe but will never know it...

@philipfrancis7303

8 ай бұрын

That quote should have been on his plaque., below his statue.

@specularverzide9972

8 ай бұрын

Hey, cool it with the Antisemitism!

@Blessingsuponyou

8 ай бұрын

​@specularverzide9972 what you on about,?

@Blessingsuponyou

8 ай бұрын

​​@specularverzide9972 Who is being anti arab jew chaldean Amharic Assyrian madean 😅

As someone who was born and raised in Bolton, I can say the biggest problem with this town is that there is no reliable industry for it to sustain itself. After the mills closed their doors, the town more or less had nothing to rely on any more. The council is currently trying to make this town now a haven for university students, but at its heart, Bolton isn't that type of town. At her heart, she is a working man's town and in my view, she needs a working man's industry to help get itself back on its feet again.

@spacemanclips

6 ай бұрын

Utter bullshit. Exhibit one - Bury, same history, a whole 5 miles away. They rejected a massive intake of asylum seekers. They bulldozed the crappy parts of the town centre and redeveloped. They embraced the closeness to Manchester, with good transport links. Alternatively, maybe your plan for reintroducing steam engine factories will revive Bolton.

@crayontom9687

6 ай бұрын

There are no working man’s industries any more. The closest you’ll get now is an Amazon warehouse. It’s what the people of the UK voted for though remember

@Withnail1969

5 ай бұрын

That's what they've done with Newcastle on Tyne with some success, it's become quite the university town now

@nk-ve2dr

5 ай бұрын

@@crayontom9687 now they're no working people there, it's a full Islamic takeover.

@mikethespike7579

5 ай бұрын

Bolton has a well developed academic tradition. I should know, I studied in Bolton. But that is far from enough to sustain a town like Bolton.

I came across this channel on Saturday and kept thinking 'this is exactly what the internet and KZread is for'. An interesting, positive, grass roots documentary with a researched narrative delivered in an enthusiastic and engaging communication style. I got so drawn into these short films that I binge-watched all of them. And then felt I had learned loads of stuff I didn't know - the origins of public houses and the Roman roads of Britain, the origins of markets and the architecture of all these former powerhouses of the industrial revolution. It is astounding to think of the growth in these towns from the late 18th century until their (sadly) post-war decline Totally agree with all your points as well, particularly the new shopping centre having just one shop of any interest in the model railway shop and the feeling that markets are great, I love them anyway, particularly when they sell items that you want to buy and / or are useful. Amazing stuff, brilliant work, I have loved watching all of them.

This guy deserves his own sky or BBC show, with his facts, statistics and historic based narration i think more people should watch him, i also like that fantastic yorkshire accent. Respect.

@jmshrrsn

8 ай бұрын

Nah. Let’s keep him for ourselves!

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

He's a trooper. Should stay independent though. If he went into mainstream media, he would have to dance to somebody else's drum.

@srpacific

8 ай бұрын

The networks would ruin it. Help the man out by joining his patreon and cancel your tv license 😂

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

@@srpacific How do you join patreon? Just asking? I just watch the beeb, now and again. I don't think its all bad. Just another screwed up institution. Every workplace is the same.

@jeffcher10

8 ай бұрын

The BBC would have him say it was built on the slave trade or some other such nonsense...1🤔🙄

The former Market Hall - the one you went to first - was sold by the council and redeveloped into a bland shopping centre. There was a *massive* petition against it which the council completely ignored! Also worth pointing out is that the cordoned off area where there is construction work going on, until recently was the site of some 300-year-old shops and a pub, deemed by the council to be "of no historical significance". They are being replaced by a block of flats!

@misscoutts6193

8 ай бұрын

Back handers.

@petersharples7747

8 ай бұрын

There was a massive petition against wrecking the Market Hall, but our masters ignored us.

@iitzfizz

7 ай бұрын

I remember when it used to be full of little stalls.

@Tresoroeffnung

7 ай бұрын

​@@misscoutts6193without doubt..

@OhNotThat

7 ай бұрын

@@doublewhopper67 what?

I was born in the 80s and grew up in Bolton. Im happy i got to experience the town before its decline. Great place to shop, lots to do. No need to go to Manchester, Middlebrook or Trafford Centre. Nightlife was suitable too, a few pints in Varsity, Man & Scythe, Gypsys Tent and then onto Hawthorns. I hope someone rescues it. I thought maybe with the redevelopment of the Crompton place, we'd have a sniff but the council is incredibly inept that they forgot to submit the application form before a deadline. Absolute imbeciles. I met my mates last weekend for a few drinks and tbh im seeing positive signs. The vaults in the market hall are decent, the town centre was relatively busy as well. The place needs a kick up the arse before its all gone.

One day all City’s in the UK will be like this 😢

@chipbuttytime3396

8 ай бұрын

full of snackbars

@matthewlaunchbury265

7 ай бұрын

and bookies@@chipbuttytime3396

@DFandV

7 ай бұрын

Most are like this

@xcf5587

7 ай бұрын

Tbf controversially, in a lot of places this is probably kind of necessary. Places like this have too many shops for the size of the area. They were built in the heyday of retail when too many people spent money they didn’t have in 100s of shops. Now people generally have less to spend and what they do spend is online. There are places where the high streets are booming but they are generally smaller niche areas with boutiques or huge shopping centres with everything all in one place. Sad as it is it’s just how society has progressed. Councils and gov in general should be more in control of these areas trying to slowly ‘slim’ down these huge shopping areas and knocking down p/turning unnecessary parts of them into small scale housing developments.

@chipbuttytime3396

7 ай бұрын

Lots of valid points, just two more to consider, how much is now spent on street drugs and fobts/on line gambling, money that never sees the light of day in normal retailers@@xcf5587

I remember being 8 years old and being amazed by the water fountains in Bolton and my parents taking me to see the free aquarium and mummies in the late 70s. Sad to see times have changed and how modern culture doesn’t care anymore.

@zoeoshea3098

8 ай бұрын

I thought Bolton looked great (I'm a southerner)

@hesterbeard

8 ай бұрын

The museum is still there. I think the aquarium is as well

@juliana8113

8 ай бұрын

The aquarium and mummy are still there my kids love em

@TheVanillatech

7 ай бұрын

CULTURE doesn't care one way or the other, culture is something that happens in a society / community and is largely based on art movements, trends etc. What doesn't CARE, is the Establishment. The bankers, the ruling elite, their pet councillors and local government. If there is no money to be made, then they don't invest. Ordinary people, aka culture setters, do NOT dictate where their tax money goes, or what part of the community is rennovated / invested in. Their tax money goes directly into the treasury and is usually handed out to the MP's chums who have 10-15 businesses, each one there largely to just bid on said public money contracts. Hence the plethora of sudden experts in "mask making" or "screen making" that appeared when Covid happened. If you want your community to be fixed up, then either do it yourselves OR stop paying your local tax en masse and tell them, when they come calling, that you'll start paying again once the life has returned to the town. They cannot arrest and imprison all 100,000 of you. Trust me.

@guerillagardener2237

7 ай бұрын

I remember those water fountains too..

I like how Weatherspoons knows more about the local history than the museum!

@wanderingturnip

8 ай бұрын

Init 😂😂😂

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

Lol. You can learn a lot bobbing around.

@PeacockRhino

8 ай бұрын

Tim Martin has done more to save historic buildings than almost anyone else in Britain to be fair.

@niallwood

8 ай бұрын

@@PeacockRhino That is one thing I do love about the Wetherspoons brand, how many historic buildings they've saved, ultimately from rack and ruin.

@paulleach3612

8 ай бұрын

@@PeacockRhino Yeah, doesn't prevent him from also being a jingoistic cockwomble though. True, his brand ties into established local pride, but only insofar as marketing goes we can suspect. He's a canny businessman first and foremost.

The Bolton museum is brilliant and does have history on mills, Fred Dibnah and more. They have Bolton history, Egyptian history, art gallery on top floor and a museum shop. There is an aquarium on the basement floor too.

I used to make those pillars, when I was a stonemason. They were the hardest thing to cast. I hated being asked to make them, much prefer to be making sills or keystones or bullseyes or even peak caps. Those pillars had around 40% failure rate. It would take two days to make the base and the first half of the pillar. You would know by 4pm on the second day if your 14 hours hard graft had paid off, or not. I could make a full pillar in a week, didn't get paid any extra money just "You're doing great, keep it up!" by the chargehand. Point is, it took a shit load of energy and effort compared to making anything else. Luckily, the orders for pillars were few and far between, by the 2000's when I was making them. Just the odd millionaire wanting to make the front of his house look like the Whitehouse. But every now and then, I did have make a replacement set for some listed building, had to match the exact dye and mix, best we could, to the originals. At least then it felt like it meant something...

The whole country is getting like this. What's happening to the UK is so sad. I grew up in the early 70s when things were bad but this combined with the Tory's destination of the infrastructure and public services. I remember Fred God bless him.

@johndavison7691

7 ай бұрын

Decimation

@etienne8110

5 ай бұрын

It s not just the uk. Free trade did this to all developped countries. Be it japan, usa, France, italy etc... You can t be competitiv with countries where there are no social protections,few infrastructures and no environnemental protections... So either we all accept to live like Indians or africans, or we start questionning free trade.

Its 40 years since I left Bolton to live in the Midlands. I left due to my parents splitting up and following mum with her new partner here. The architecture in Bolton town center is amazing but I also miss the outskirts. I remember the chimneys very well, and Moss bank park, Barrow village, Rivington and the hills that are just on the outside of Bolton. My dad used to have a pint with Fred Dibnah every now and then. But the most thing I miss is the people, so friendly. Bolton is my real home not here in the Midlands. Take care. Steve.

@siemprestruggle9272

8 ай бұрын

don't forget the great sense of humour :)

@amandawoodland3779

8 ай бұрын

I agree, lived in Bolton for fifteen years from Cambridge left and now in Berkshire big mistake northerners are so friendly especially boltoniens. I lived very close to Fred surprised he didn't visit his house as its less than half a mile from town centre.

@taylormade2826

8 ай бұрын

People who move away always romanticise the places they came from. There is a reason you moved away

@siemprestruggle9272

8 ай бұрын

@@taylormade2826 not sure you can put romantic and Bolton in the same sentence.

@mikeknowles5848

8 ай бұрын

Moss Bank Park! That was my local park; I lived off Moss Bank Way. I left aged five, but there are such vivid memories.

Even a pound shop was closed in that high street.

@GoldSniper-ox7rk

Ай бұрын

If you go into a £ shop these days you have to ask the price.

I'm British-born but have lived in Australia since 1985. I used to live in Leeds and I came across these videos by accident. Places I've been - Scarborough, Bolton etc - it's so sad to see. Just watched video on Blackpool, where there are a staggering number of empty/derelict houses, hotels, boarding houses etc whilst there are homeless people. I love these videos - no prior agenda, just reporting what you see. Good on yer.

@HA05GER

7 ай бұрын

Thankfully Scarborough is still thriving.

@mydogeatspuke

7 ай бұрын

​@@HA05GERplaces on the coast will always thrive, as long as everything else is so miserable. It's a break from reality to sit by the sea.

@HA05GER

7 ай бұрын

@@mydogeatspuke I totally agree and compared to down here in Suffolk people are far more friendlier than around here. Stuff also tend to be a bit more reasonably priced aswell.

@mydogeatspuke

7 ай бұрын

@@HA05GER Yorkshire people are overall a bit more friendly than Southerners, but only because Southerners are reet miserable barstuards lol. Prices are definitely lower the more north you go, but so are wages.

@HA05GER

7 ай бұрын

@@mydogeatspuke yup right miserable down here. Lovely bloke that runs the rides next to the Whitby pier and used to give me and.my sister rides for free as we went so often and become friends with my dad and stepmum. Even let my dad stay in there air BnB for virtually nothing don't get peoplemlike that round here.

That pub , "The Alma Inn"... The Alma is over 170 years old and has some varied and interesting history behind it. In 1907, landlady Mrs Sanderson noticed the pub canary had gone missing, police were summoned and it was found to have been given as a ‘gift’ to watch maker Herbert Hunt, by pub regular William Holden. Holden was arrested and sentenced to one month’s hard labour, with the canary being returned to its rightful perch.

@gleeart

8 ай бұрын

He did bird for the bird

@jamlemon

7 ай бұрын

Played a gig there years ago!

@hesmanification

7 ай бұрын

Stu Allen August 2019 rip 🙏

@chrisdaniels3929

6 ай бұрын

It's a shame when pubs get renamed. The Alma, or the Sevastopol etc., are kind of a memory to the soldiers of the Crimean War. Good on the owner of Prince Billy's. (He should invite the new Prince Of Wales for a drink to his health!)

Though it's a sad period for Britain, this was an excellent presentation! 👌

@elsa9026

8 ай бұрын

yup, great reset is coming, research klaus schwab, the man is guilty of it all as are our politicians, im not lieing

@Cerberus0088

8 ай бұрын

Greater Manchester is the fastest growing metro area in the country, the uk is the better had the best recovery from covid in the g7 meanwhile dealing with brexit and got it done, the pound sterling is steady we have the cheapest price of fuel petrol and diesel in developed europe currently, we did not have a recession Germany is, we have the lowest debt to gdp ratio in the g7 after germany I can keep on trowing fact, the uk is has been and hopefully always be a powerhouse

@Cerberus0088

8 ай бұрын

at 15:10 he actually explains fool

@Diana.Darling

8 ай бұрын

@@Cerberus0088 Only naive halfwits voted for Brexit, believing all the nonsense they were fed, blindly following like sheep to the slaughter 🐑🐑🐑🐑

@crayontom9687

6 ай бұрын

@@Cerberus0088lol, Tory propaganda. Nowhere is safe from their lies

Fred dibnah is a absolute legend lm 47 and love watching him still know same when l was a kid. Brilliant video and appreciate you giving him a shout on your video pal watching this in Carlisle Cumbria ❤❤❤

Bolton feels like another country, driving through it feels like you've just teleported somewhere else

@nk-ve2dr

6 ай бұрын

yeah teleported straight to syria

@king_of_gaming6754

6 ай бұрын

@@nk-ve2drI drowned in my chips with this one 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@ep1929

5 ай бұрын

​@@king_of_gaming6754I was same 😅😅😅

Fred used to come in the club just down the road from his house showing off his miners lamps he so happily obtained that day , I will always remember his stories , his huge smile (not very often) and the man who was content holding up an old miners lamp like a prized posession he' never let go of and like he'd been given his favourite toy for Christmas.

@matthewtaylor7355

8 ай бұрын

Dibnah was a paedo

Your channel is the best by far! You have such respect for all the places you visit and for locals. Shocking how fast our industries, towns and cities have changed. Its like we are going backwards in some ways.

@wanderingturnip

8 ай бұрын

Nice one for this 😀😀

@Johnketes54

8 ай бұрын

Got ourselves to blame? We embrace online shopping, Stuff you haven't seen except a glossy photograph in a magazine, Haven't physically touched on handled it and rely on some ignorant jerk who worships money, Clueless about the quality of the stock, Happily send you rubbish and often won't give you your money back, In a shop i handle the product, No handling no purchase

@emy923

7 ай бұрын

@@Johnketes54 completed agree John. I am doing all my Christmas shopping from local small independent shops up here in Cumbria. No big corp's in my house! I tried Amazon when I was pregnant and it was COVID time. The quality is shocking and yes bugger all refund. Never again! I'd risk the COVID next time .

@patrickboyle3065

7 ай бұрын

Not in some ways, in every way. Its like Rome falling, 456AD 😢

i used to love shopping in Bolton but thanks to the council messing up the roads and failing to keep it looking nice, i slowly stopped going, which is a shame, as it really does have some fantastic history.

I was a student in Bolton at what is now Bolton Uni...and, I lived for a year in the town centre frequenting many of the pubs and clubs...I was there on three separate occasions as my studies progressed, and The memories came flooding back Deane Rd, Chadwick Street and Eagle Campuses all taking their place in my memory-vision... Bradshawgate where I lived teemed with life, and Crompton Place Shopping Arcade literally just 50 yards away from my bedsit above a shop. And the people... Real Lancashire Salt of the Earth folk, No nonsense folk, who told it like it is but have warmth in their hearts and English blood in their veins. Loved it. Many thanks for your video, I too was impressed by its industrial heritage and its passed glory...But what stands out is that those with money, bavk in the 1700s to 1900s didn't just use it to buy super yachts, Fancy Car Collections and Mansions with blue roofs ..They invested back into the towns and cities that made them their money...They CARED about the well being of its people funding hospitals, colleges, schools, libraries and even Museums... Todays super elite have no sense of place and no obligation to ANY nation or people save their own... SELFISH beyond belief.

It’s sad to see Britain so broken I grew up in Halifax and it was bustling with loads of work when I go home now it always makes me sad to see it BUT the renovation of Piece Hall has been a positive for the town… keep up the good work I enjoy your videos

@llanieliowe794

8 ай бұрын

Halifax has been getting better not worse the town centre is actually really nice

@suekey8072

8 ай бұрын

@@llanieliowe794 that makes me happy I haven’t been home for over 2 years and it was very sad then

@albin2232

8 ай бұрын

It's not the whole of Britain. Visit Scotland.

@ShadowCastPro

8 ай бұрын

@@albin2232 You mean Edinburgh? Because the rest of Scotland is literally the same

@albin2232

8 ай бұрын

@@ShadowCastPro The same as what? You forgot to specify a reference object. English is hard, and logic even harder.

My Dad knew Fred a truly wonderful man with such normality of a simple hard working common life that the new World he just battled with & sadly those around him & close never truly looked out for him, just a quid to be earnt off when was a house hold name in away, Thank you Fred for all you have shown us like a Brunel an ENGINEER.

@matthewtaylor7355

8 ай бұрын

He was a paedo

From a town that bred Fred Dibnah it’s shocking to see the hearts of these towns being ripped out..Out of town malls or modern shopping centres are a joke, soulless and every town in England are becoming the same ..Just look at the various shops brands , destroying the town centres and huge swaths of farmland for concrete jungles..It’s like pubs like Weatherspoons cheap beer and plastic food , exact portions and staff that couldn’t add up 17 and 24 without the till doing it for them…

I live in Ellesmere Port and I find it interesting comparing markets across towns. Chester recently had a market revamp and it no longer contains affordable everyday shopping, similar to the second market you went to in Bolton or the one here in Ellesmere Port. With plans to revamp the EP market, I worry that the regular everyday folk will be priced out in favour of flashy selling points for the council. Love your videos man, keep showing what online shopping and council mismanagement have done to our high streets!

My Great Grandad was an industrial chimney builder in Bolton who worked on building Barrow Bridge chimney. It has a special place in our hearts. Ironic that he died not from a fall from one of the chimneys but from the CoOp building that used to be near the town centre.

Grew up around Atherton and Leigh (worthy of a video on its town centre decline). Bolton used to be a fantastic day out with so much shopping to do around it's town centre, it felt like a real bustling metropolis. The Trafford Centre killed it off coupled with de-industrialisation, Middlebrook just hammered a nail in its coffin. It's heartbreaking to see what these towns in the north have become....

@matthewtaylor7355

8 ай бұрын

Fantastic a slight over statement... Worse than ever wud b more accurate

@TonyEuston

8 ай бұрын

@@matthewtaylor7355 he said "used to be" and so it was up to the 80's

@pyeriotsquad

7 ай бұрын

​@@matthewtaylor7355Why did you write 'wud' ffs 😂?

@paddyeejit1954

7 ай бұрын

@@pyeriotsquadcuz e’s a twat 😂

@jamlemon

7 ай бұрын

Also grew up in Leigh and saw Bolton in the 90s pre Trafford Centre and Middlebrook and even online shopping too. Such a shame.

I was born in Little Lever but moved away 40 years ago. It’s tragic to see that amazing town in such a state. This is a great video, it highlights the issues but it’s respectful to the town, it’s people and it’s history. Great job.

Just loved the sound of your excitement at seeing the huge chimney at barrow bridge.

The most hideously miscalculated "improvement" to a town I've seen has to be Hemel Hempstead - a massive new retail centre added when the writing was already well and truly on the wall when it comes to the decline of the high street. I saw the new development a few years ago and it was like a ghost town - but obviously a new one without the deteriorating buildings. It felt really odd to be in something built for a customer base that had long since gone. Excellent and interesting video as ever.

@daydays12

7 ай бұрын

The 'town' managers have no understanding or imagination do they? I can think of thousands of towns where the same stupidity occurs. If these people would only think: people people people .... and amenities and things which attract people.... you know people even like trees... the lovely park with big old trees very near the city centre where I live is always bustling with people... there's a tram stop ( free on weekends , cheap otherwise) just outside... two stops further on you are at the 'centre' where there are plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars, as well as food shops, clothes shops local shops, and the rest , cinemas, theatre, night clubs schools and green spaces, with big old trees. People young and old families with children and singletons all live in the centre and they use the shops of course. They shop locally. People first. The city has invested invested in imaginative "attractions" which attract large numbers of people to the town... and the excellent low cost tram and bus system helps. It was an old industrial town but tourists come now.

The biggest damage to town centers, is online shopping. That's not going to change, infact its gonna get worse. I live in a medium size town in Ireland and the town center is reduced to vape shops, bookies, charity shops, eurosavers, and a few coffee shops. Even most of the pubs are closed down 😢

@healthiswealth6797

8 ай бұрын

Mps looking after big business and not re-investing in towns and infrastructure. Sucked dry

@chucky2316

8 ай бұрын

Greetings from England I remember the days when the pub in Ireland was the hub of the town or village.people gathered the shop was in the back of the pub. Many happy memories of being a kid in the pub making friends drinking strong shandy and eating tayto crisps. The smell of turf burning. Happy memories in kilmihil co Clare. I'm 42 now but would love to go back

@TheHillingdon2

8 ай бұрын

I think it was out of town shopping centres as well.

@kirishima638

8 ай бұрын

Not true. If you speak to shop owners they will list rents, business rates, electricity bills, supply chain issues, parking and fuel costs discouraging shoppers, the lockdowns, and their kids not wanting to carry on the business. Online shopping has been around for 20 years now and definitely has an impact. But it’s not been the critical factor of the last few years.

@daydays12

7 ай бұрын

You are right. Town centres need to have people living in them. I live in a city centre, as do many other people here, and the local residents help local business to thrive. A lot of young people ( students) live in the centre too, as well as families..The public transport ((tram and bus) is excellent and cheap and even free on weekends which brings lots of people into the centre where there are plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars, as well as shops, cinemas, theatre, night clubs schools and green spaces, with big old trees. I noticed in the vid... not many restaurants or cafés or anything interesting to attract visitors nor any signs of public transport.nor any big trees and grass..and really not many signs of life. You may have guessed... I am British ( Scottish ancestors) , but I don't live in the UK or Ireland. Guess where I do live!

So glad you found a chimney and one Fred had climbed.Really enjoyed your video spent a lot of time years ago in Bolton you brought back memories for me , thanks.

❤❤❤❤ I was staying in Bolton about 40 years ago and at that time it was a very beautiful and busy town. Its really sad to see the state of decline of the whole UK. Nowadays UK is run by a group of jokers, comedians and foreigners whose main interest is not in enhancing the people's living standard but spending billions of dollars in Ukraine and sending warships to patrol the South China Sea. All these billions of dollars should have been spent locally on the homeless and helping the local small traders. Even BBC standards has declined drastically and is now 😅 jokingly known as Bombay Broadcasting Corporation ! 😂😂😂😂

Fred Dibnah was a legend, they don’t make them like him anymore, when I worked in the town centre you used to see him passing through occasionally on his steamroller. Sadly missed. 😢

I don't know who you talked to in the Bolton Museum but they have an entire room on the industrial history of Bolton, it's quite good qnd the Egyptian part is amazing too.

@wanderingturnip

8 ай бұрын

Oh what really? That’s well annoying. I should have ignored him 😂

@Alex-cw3rz

8 ай бұрын

​​@@wanderingturnip what might also be annoying is they also have an exhibition on the town Hall as it's celebrating it's 150th anniversary.

@chazpercival9501

8 ай бұрын

​@wanderingturnip I've lived here 5 years now, never knew we had that old market and food market haha I'll be making a visit soon then!

@smitz7847

8 ай бұрын

Y

@fandangobrandango7864

8 ай бұрын

My great grandad was in the SAS in WW2, and he was in the African campaign. He stole an Egyptian artifact and gave it to the Bolton museum later in life. It's still there. Only a small statue

Great video fella, good to see someone shining a light the way so many areas that are dying. Keep at it! I check out some of your older videos

I lived in the centre of Bolton in my childhood in a pub called the Boar's Head on Churchgate which stood where Hogarth's is now (10:37 in the video). Seeing the decline is depressing to say the least. So many great buildings with so much potential waiting to be realised. Thank god the pastie shop is still there (yes I have some in my freezer even though I now live in the midlands) so something from my childhood memories remains. Excellent video.

I grew up in Bolton in the 50's, what they have done to the Market Hall is sheer vandalism, thankfully I moved away in the early 70's nothing there to draw me back, good luck to those hanging in there.

@spacemanclips

6 ай бұрын

If only they still had the crappy stalls selling knock off clothing and mobile phone covers, the town would be the greatest in the Western world. Proper Bolton thinking that.

@davidworsley7969

6 ай бұрын

I don't understand, please explain@@spacemanclips

@chrisdaniels3929

6 ай бұрын

I'm not sure when the market hall was built but I seem to remember my gran saying they filled in a valley so the river runs underneath it.

Even though I have never considered an industrial chimney a thing of beauty the last chimney was stunning and your enthusiasm has made me want to research what it was used for (not something I ever learnt about in school). The state of the UK high streets are depressing and just today The Guardian had a shocking article on organised shoplifting in the UK which is leading to more shop closures. Another of your commentators mentioned bank closures and I notice closures every time I visit Sheffield.

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

Chimley's are great. Built with sweat and graft. They are a testament to our ancesters, who were just trying to make a living and descendents should take note.

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

Shoplifting as always been a trade in its self, for decades in my town. More went out of door in Woolies, than was bought at the tills in the 80s. Meanwhile the stock they didn't sell, such as baby clothes, was shredded and thrown in a skip. Madness all round.🙄

Great video, loved this! I was born in Bolton and not been back into the town centre for a long time, but all my extended family still live around Bolton (in Westhoughton). I knew that Trafford and the Middlebrook park around the football ground had an effect on the town centre, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear you say there's some hope for the town :) Also, I think the bloke working in the Museum might need to consider a new line of work!

That's such a shame you didn't explore the museum. I've lived here all my life and have been going for years, they actually have quite a lot about Bolton's history and they have an amazing Egypt exhibition on, as well as an aquarium. You would have found a lot that would have interested you, what a shame.

I never really comment but just want to say I really appreciate your videos mate. I'm from Penshaw in north east but I live in Canada nowadays, and they're a great way of reconnecting with my homeland. Love all you do for representing forgotten parts of England, our histories are too rich to get wiped away.

@pimpozza

8 ай бұрын

Great comment.. 👍

I find the history of the industrial revolution fascinating. Sir Richard Arkwright, the first great industrialist, moved to Bolton in 1750 when just a teenager. He opened a barbershop in Churchgate where he also invented a waterproof dye for the wigs he produced. Arkwright made enough money from this venture to fund his prototype cotton spinning machinery (which later lead to Crompton's invention of the 'spinning mule' you mentioned).. intriguing history! Great vlog, David.. really enjoyed it.. 👏🙋🏻‍♀️

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

The North of England spawned the industrial revolution, the conditions were right for spinning cotton, picked by slaves. Manchestum, or something like that, was adopted by Germans as "middle class". Basically , invention , venture capitalists. But on the bright side, a workforce who complied , but ultimately fought back.

@misscoutts6193

8 ай бұрын

Arkwright, who ended up in Cromford, was hated by his workers.

@DamnDealDone

8 ай бұрын

@@SuzanneO707 Funny because Bradford, one of the biggest successes of the industrial revolution used home grown wool. The only slaves involved were English children in work houses.

@misscoutts6193

8 ай бұрын

@@DamnDealDone well Arkwright got knighted.

@pimpozza

8 ай бұрын

Whilst there's much controversy surrounding Arkwright, it's somewhat unjust to state that his workers "hated" him. Many resented the arrival of machines, which took away manual labour. Many refused to think of it as "progress", but more of an invasion of the manual workforce which took away their jobs! Of course, it was the rich who owned the factories and mills.. The workers often had an extremely tough life under strict control with no slacking tolerated.. In Arkwright's Cromford mill, both adults and children worked grueling long shifts which was normal for the era.. BUT, unlike many, Arkwright actually built houses for his workforce.. those houses still stand today.. Knowing Cromford very well, I find the history (albeit controversial) truly fascinating. Life was never easy back then for workers, but Arkwright pratically created the village of Cromford, providing employees with shops, pubs, chapels and a school.. there's no denying he played a massive role in the industrial revolution..

Great video. I used to chat to Fred on my way home from school at Barrow Bridge chimney, he did a lot of work on it. I also used to work in the Prince Bill in the early 2000s but it was called Crompton's Mule at the time. Also a lot of the boarded up shops are closed because they are being demolished but unfortunately will be mostly replaced by apartments. There are quite a few little gems in and around Bolton if you ever choose to retun.

So glad I came across your channel. I was born and raised in Bolton. Buy I emigrated to canada back in 1978. Watching this video had brought so many memories back to me. It has been several years since I visited home. I am so surprised that many of the shops have closed down. But it is the same in Canada. I look forward to watching more of your content. The blackpool vid brought back memories of when I was a little child riding the donkeys. Thanks. For filming.

The chimney with the advertising on was the Richard Threlfall chimney. He built a huge factory back in the day and powered it with electricity. When it was completed he wasn't happy and said it didn't look like a factory without a chimney so he built one, that one. It was completely ornamental. 😮.

@leethrelfalllt

6 ай бұрын

What was his name?

@markwolstenholme3354

6 ай бұрын

@@leethrelfalllt Richard Threlfall. The clue is in my comment 🤣. The company Richard Threlfall Group is still operating in Bolton after about 175 years although not at this site. It's now in Lostock, Bolton.

Bolton is quite impressive. Beautiful architecture and has great renewal potential.

@lezzliea

8 ай бұрын

'great renewal potential', you mean the great 'levelling up' lie?

@matthewlaunchbury265

7 ай бұрын

He has a point, It's boarded up not vandalised as much if investment was pushed into the area I'm sure it could probably have a glow up.@@lezzliea

@traceyculyer5811

7 ай бұрын

The great levelling up lie, or build back better was only intended for the migrants. @@lezzliea

@DJ-XTRM

2 ай бұрын

Even the historical buildings are battered... it does actually need levelling.

Cheers mate. Grew up in Bolton in the 70's & 80's. Not been back for decades cos it just breaks my heart. Your positivity about the place cheered me up no end. Let's hope you're right!

I’m originally from Bolton but now live in Australia, thanks for the video it brought back some great memories but also sadness at the state of it. Love how you narrate with history of the places you visit. How annoying that the person in the library said there was nothing on Fred Dibnah, I think they just couldn’t be bothered to take a look! Anyhoo, we are loving your videos and story telling.

Was just thinking that low cost housing needed to be built in the town centre to bring back foot traffic to that area. Love this. I had to go check out Fred. Looks more like mini malls, not markets in the new build. Love that old markets you found. Thanks for letting us know about Fred. His videos are so interesting.

@Automedon2

2 ай бұрын

Low cost housing in the center of town ruined the town. They potential big customers all moved away, and low income can't sustain a business.

Hey pal. At 8:14, the building used to be accommodation for those attending Bolton University called 'The Cube'. In November 2019, a fire broke out within the building, with the cause determined to be a cigarette that had been discarded on the balcony. The fire progressed very quickly, and highlighted serious underlying design flaws. Luckily, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue reacted quickly, and thankfully, there was no loss of life. The initial building has been in a state of decay since, however, another accommodation block has since taken on the name 'The Cube'. As for future plans for the building, I am no too sure. There are articles online about the incident should it be of interest.

@thomasconnolly963

8 ай бұрын

That was a mental day tbh, I was working at Britania Hotel and they started like rehousing the residentd their in buses was scary hearing about this as it happened

@jamlemon

7 ай бұрын

I remember hearing about that. I was on honeymoon in the Caribbean but because I studied at Bolton and worked at Middlebrook I have a lot of Bolton based friends.

Aww love Bolton, remember catching the bus to Bolton with my grandparents to go shopping in the markets. Great video!!!

Well done and thank you. To see a proper Market was wonderful.

Dibnah rebuilt his mum’s chimney on the terraces house to make it more efficient. I think the house is now listed! If you want chimneys, check out a classic picture of the Weavers’ Triangle in Burnley!

@hartleyhare8808

7 ай бұрын

Yep... The house is in a row of terraced houses, just past where Burnden park was... You can see the chimney from manny Road .

Bolton must have been really spectacular 100 years ago, still looks good. Love the accent.

Love your videos! You should come to northwich, we have a completely empty brand new shopping centre that’s been empty since it opened. Loads of massive shops with nothing in them, and we have our fair share of boarded up shops too.

Another amazing video . I am watching from the West Coast of the USA but was born in Liverpool. I am fascinated by industrial history and applaud your insightful analysis and presentation

My Dad knew Fred. He persuaded my dad to climb the chimney of the Tootals cotton mill. When my dad got half way up he chickened out (don’t blame him) because he saw the overhang near the top. Fred just scaled it like a monkey. I miss dad and have a lot of respect for Fred. A lot of people called him stuck up when he got famous, but that was only because they all wanted to scrounge something off him for free. My grandad was convinced we were descendants of the 7th Earl of Derby but could never prove it.

@wanderingturnip

8 ай бұрын

Aha no way that’s ace. Even half way up is impressive to me 😂😂

@koritsi56

4 ай бұрын

@@wanderingturnipThe first ‘market’ was the Market Place shopping centre - not a market. The second inside shopping centre was the Crompton Place shopping centre and its emptying because its in bad structural shape so they are demolishing it and rebuilding. Thankfully you found the real market. Lots of filming happens in Bolton - Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley and lately Fool Me Once.

You heard of Yeovil? That is a dying high street.

@bigcheese2001

8 ай бұрын

The yeovil refresh is a massive joke, is it really going to do anything? The bottom half of town is so sad, much like other places. 😢

Please come to wigan, it’s a similar situation to Bolton with lots of boarded up shops ESPECIALLY in the arcades but also some great architecture and a few chimneys (one being near the roller rink from what I can remember)

Great video. Many thanks. Loved the real market.

Another fantastic video David! It's truly commendable how you highlighted the positive aspects of Bolton and paid tribute to the legendary Fred Dibner. Looking forward (eagerly) to your next vlog 🙂

We live about 10 mins drive from the centre and guilty of driving out to the Trafford or nearby Middlebrook to shop. I was in the town centre last month though for the food and drinks festival and it was great to see the town full of people again from all walks of life, so there is definitely potential to revive this town to its former glory. I’d say there are around 5 other mills with chimneys that you missed out on but they are scattered around, so each one would be quite a drive. The barrow bridge chimney is some structure, it just has the power to stop you in your tracks doesn’t it. Some man our Fred!

Go to Bradford! Boarded-up, empty high-street and a very big chimney too. There's a lot of "luxury" flats being perpetually built, and of course being close to Leeds is always put across as a selling point.

I used to live in Bolton some decades ago. It was a lovely little town, plenty of shops, an indoor Market which sold everything & an outdoor one three times a week. Bury seems to do OK now because people still visit the outdoor market from far & wide.

The Food and Drink Festival is great when that's on in the summer, I believe it's the largest in Europe with over half a million people going. I think the town centres just too big for it's own good. Making it a bizarre contrast as you walk through it.

Just walking past one of the oldest pubs in Britain like it's nothing. Love it!

you missed a neat little place back in the town centre if you took a left just past the townhall while walking toward the bus station theres st andrews court which is trashed now but used to be a neat spot with a collector item/ memorabilia shop but atleast the nice architecture is still there. another thing, at the chimney near moss bank park you went to there's a hatch round the front which im pretty sure is blocked off but ive climbed in a fair few times with friends as kids about 10 years ago it was pretty fun, the bats werent though.

That first shop the desserts place was one of the oldest shops i remember it was "Whittikers" for many years. You mention the architectures you should know that street at 2:38 is where they filmed the London scenes for Peaky Blinders. The pub at 13:10 is one of the last ROCK pubs left in the town, great night and atmosphere. Great Video Thank you

Bolton born and bred. Seeing Gypsy's tent brought back memories. Whenever I've taken people that are not from the town to see around it they have the same reaction as you. Especially around Le Mans Crescent. There is something unique and some potential there. Maybe start with converting the shops to good affordable housing for the young professionals. Now that we live in a remote working environment it's the opportunity to generate a local community full of vibrant restaurants, bars and places to hang out. Play to the strengths of the architecture and history rather than plonk another River Island, Next or Primark. Thanks for the video.

@misscoutts6193

8 ай бұрын

Has it occurred to you people don't stay young forever.

@mrbeast85

7 ай бұрын

@@misscoutts6193 true, but one of the issues that places like Bolton have is the flight of young people from the town to live and work elsewhere, particularly graduates.

If you are interested in Chimneys in the town next to bolton called Darwen they have India mills and the chimney there is very grand and it's over 300 foot tall and there is a video of Fred Dibnah doing repairs on it.

@wanderingturnip

8 ай бұрын

Oh yeah I’ve read about that and seen pictures. I’ll have to come see it 👍👍

@alexwalsh366

8 ай бұрын

Yeah come on WT we have india mill , Darwen tower and loads of old buildings , you'd love it ere !! 👍

@SuzanneO707

8 ай бұрын

I love chimleys. As they say in Manchester👍

Just been down the High St in Poole on the South Coast of England and whatever you think about the South Coast,it’s the same down here,next to no open shops,just not as miserable weather.

A few points. The crompton place shopping centre is being demolished, that’s why the stores have left and there is a separate Fred Dibnah museum located at his old house. Also The Old 3 crowns is a great pub where some of the best dj’s in Bolton work 7 days a week 😅

@Geeves8612

26 күн бұрын

They tried to make it into a museum but the council allowed it to be actioned off and it's a car garage now! All the old stuff is gone

Come to St Helen's town centre, it's like a miniature model village that's been shat on from a great height, full of chavs, misfits and mobility scooters, Bolton lovely by comparison.

I think five major reasons you were told of a Bolton that is much worse than it is, is because 1. Quite a number of the people who say it's all boarded up barely ever or never go into the town and it's based on word of mouth 2. Is the town centre was quite successful all the way up until the 90s, including bus tours to the Marketplace (the one that's no longer a market) therefore although compared to other town centres it is not that bad, to them this is seen as devisation. 3. Is Bury Town centre which is close by and does relatively better therefore they compare Bolton to Bury. 4. Is Politics the council was Labour run and now Tory run and therefore both sides will be hyperbolic about how that has effected the centre. 5. it used to have a lot of quite impressive independent businesses, such as Prestons of Bolton jewellery store and Whitakers Department Store, both had other branches across the country however both went bust after austerity was introduced.

@Alex-cw3rz

8 ай бұрын

@@AndrewParkerGB I think I got confused because the person in charge of the council was a Conservative up until as you say the latest local elections and there are now more Conservative MP's

@mrbeast85

7 ай бұрын

@@AndrewParkerGB It was de faco Tory run until this year, even though there was no overall control. They basically dominated it with the votes from independents and the other parties and were able to form a minority council of sorts.

@mrbeast85

7 ай бұрын

Bolton is going through a tough period, but yes I think many, especially older Boltonians paint a very bleak picture, which doesn't really accord with the reality of the town. The comparisons with Bury really drive me up the wall. Bury is a very different town to Bolton. To begin with Bury is effectively a commuter town for Manchester, so its economic prospects are very much tied to the success of that city. It has lower levels of deprivation and higher average incomes than Bolton, being home to a high number of professionals and (strangely) public sector workers who tend to have more stable employment. So no wonder Bury has not seen the same decline as Bolton, its population has more money to spend in its shops. But people don't see that, so they conclude that it must be because Bury council lays on Bury in Bloom every year or something...

I’ve been watching your KZread posts for a while now and I like and respect what you do I’ve got a massive interest in what’s going on around England And you save me a ton of trouble Good luck and keep posting your stuff Best wishes Mark

@wanderingturnip

7 ай бұрын

Hey mate nice one, I appreciate you watching👍👍

@amandam4148

7 ай бұрын

​@wanderingturnip have you looked into the mudfloods? John Levi's channel is amazing

@Markinlondon

7 ай бұрын

@@wanderingturnip Mate keep doing what you’re doing You definitely have a nice way of getting to the point I’m interested in property renovation although my Mrs Wishes I’d stop So your opinion on different towns and their people and historical sites is one of my main interests So many thanks Best wishes

Narthen youngman, what a breath of fresh air.. just this morning come across you here in NE Thailand. Interesting vid, i went my lads graduation at Bolton uni and had pics by the dibnah statue.. Was lovely to hear the real bolton accent from the first chap u were with.. Gonna watch some more of ya stuff Cheers Big Cee

Another brilliant, balanced video with some great history information - thank you. Used to go to Bolton a lot 20 / 30 years ago and it's sad to see the decline in its vitality.

Brilliant video, absolutely fascinating. It's criminal that the vegetation is being able to grow on the Bleach Works chimney, it'll quickly undermine it. But that's probably the local councils intention. Love that you're bringing Fred a new audience, he'd be really chuffed I'm sure. 😊

@tillyflop22

8 ай бұрын

Hi passion was in remembering the history and sharing that with those who wanted to listen.

@CheesyTato

8 ай бұрын

That chimney is privately owned as far as I'm aware. It's in the grounds of a rather splendid house which was once two cottages linked to the old bleachworks.

If you like chimneys and mills you should go to oldham or Chadderton(next to oldham), not far from Bolton too. a lot of them still standing round there but like most places a lot have gone. Probably will find boarded up shops too as a bonus

My family used to run pubs on the Deane Road, the Jolly Waggoner and Gibralter Rock were two of these. Also the Packhorse Hotel on Bradshawgate...all gone now.

Visited England last year from Ireland and I was shocked at how run down everything had become. Apart from London which seems to be kept well for the tourists I can say I'm in no hurry to go back again. Such a shame

@HaiLsKuNkY

8 ай бұрын

It’s really shocking, believe it not but we are being destroyed as a nation deliberately by the government, Ireland is the same but is further behind. But the change will happen to Ireland faster because of the smaller population.. they are doing away with nation’s states so are destroying the old ways. Very scary what is happening

@noire1001

8 ай бұрын

Is Ireland much better?

@mlann2333

8 ай бұрын

@@noire1001 like anywhere it's got its bad parts. Some areas around Dublin and to a lesser extent Limerick and Waterford are regularly on the news, but there is investment and you can see urban areas are being improved. We do have a problem with buildings being left derelict just so they can be sat on by owners waiting to sell at a higher price later. But in general I don't think it's anywhere like how far the UK has gone. I was struck by it unfortunately. People I met while over in Swindon and Bristol were lovely though.

@bid84

8 ай бұрын

@@noire1001I’m from Ireland, I think because our towns are smaller we don’t have such an obvious issue, our biggest Town is probably Kilkenny and it’s fairly thriving, tourism and stag/hen parties sustain many places like these. Online shopping and working from home spells future disasters though for here and the U.K.

@mci6830

8 ай бұрын

​@@bid84Agreed. That and completely removing borders to allow anyone in.

Your excitement of everything is so endearing!

Another great vid! 👍 If ever you're down our way, Cornwall has lotsvof mining history - China Clay Museum in St Austell, lots of tin mines in St Agnes, Botallack, the famous Poldark of course too! South Crofty mine only shut in 1998 (i think they were rumoiribg to br openingbit up again?) Heartlands in Pool, Redruth/Camborne (dont ask!) also has a brilliant mining museum too - lots to investigate!!

Incidentally I discussed with the late landlord at the Man & Scythe who was something of a local historian too- and we both came to the conclusion it was probably the oldest CONTINUOUS pub in England. The Bell and Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham are only evidenced as occasionally open for servicing sandwiches and cider to departing crusaders, whereas the Man and Scythe was open day in day serving customers.

Thanks for the tour David! I watched one of Fred Dibneh’s steeple jacking videos on here by the BBC recently- what a legend. I’ve never been to Bolton but hope to visit one day. Been wondering how this country can simultaneously contain so many empty (often beautifully designed) buildings and continue its awful social housing crisis… I know it’ll cost a lot of money to make them liveable and update surrounding infrastructure… I guess that’s the problem… It feels like all the money lies with people who would never spend on properly helping these communities…

You're getting better with each video, love the drone shots too, well done!

Good video, showing the state of play. Useful follow-up videos could be commercial to residential conversions. Almost certainly Bolton has seen an example or two and share aspects seen globally, the concept started during the covid lockdowns. For example in my town it was virtually impossible to get the City Council to approve a commercial to Residential conversion. January, 2020 suddenly, they are putting out how-to's to streamline the process, even offering links to financial assistance. Its linked to "C40 Smart Cities" concept.

Great Channel and content. Lot of thought and passion for the subject.

I have a business in Gilnow Mill in Bolton, the mill is mostly abandoned now but it is one of the most beautiful mills still standing and has a nice chimney, only 10 minutes out of Bolton town centre. Fred Dibnah used to maintain the chimney and told my dad Gilnow Mill was built in the 1850s and idential to a fort in India. The chimney is still standing but has had a good few feet off the top removed for safety reasons.

Wow what an interesting tour of good old Bolton town, never been there. Thanks for the brief history vlog. Nice one at the end with the angled views of that huge chimney!!

Hi mate, stumbled across this, I'm from Bolton but now live in Preston, got me hooked from start to finish, cheers bud.

I am a Bolton boy. The town is in terminal decline from when I was a child 50 years ago. It was a fabulous shopping centre and a town with real personality and atmosphere. Tragic

11:00 you walked passed the church where Dibner was buried. I worked in the building opposite and we all went out to watch. I have a really soft spot for Bolton, I worked there from 1998/99 to 2005 and loved it. There was nothing you couldn't get in the Town Centre shopping wise and every year, I did all my Xmas shopping there at lunchtimes. We used to go to Rice n Three a few times a week, play darts after work in the Old Man and Scythe each week and go out on the beer around town most Fridays before catching the train back to Manchester. I've got to admit, before I left that job in the mid-2000s, the Town Centre had started to go downhill with more '2 for 1 drinks' bars popping up and Yates even got to a point where they took the carpets up and removed all the seating downstairs. I still like the place and the Town Centre main shopping area has been improved immensely by the Council but it's suffering like most high streets. Great video.

Great video of Bolton today David. It has such a rich industrial history. Suitable for cotton mills because of the local, moist micro climate. My dad’s family were from Adlington near Bolton. I’ve been to Bolton a few times since I was 15 and always was intrigued by so many things about the place. Thanks - Dave from Palmerston North, New Zealand.

You missed the walsh family pie shop "The ye olde pasty shop" over 100 years old and still going, it on Churchgate where you were before, thanks for visiting pal.

@johndoran8629

8 ай бұрын

Over 400 years old - established 1667! I lived a few doors down in a more modern building from 1721, the Boar's Head - the history on Churchgate alone could fill a documentary series.

Very interesting channel. Well done for exploring it. It would be good to mention more reasons driving the vacancies but also some of the good examples. In retail geography research field, we talk about the process of transformation. Understanding drivers of the change is key.