WE know, here at Looking Back, that we can always rely on our readers to solve mysteries for us.

So when we published the photograph of Astley Bridge recently — showing a couple of prominent mill chimneys — and asked where we would have to go to recreate this shot our readers were quick as a shot to tell us.

But we did get some differing suggestions.

Thomas Halliday, aged 71, lives in Halliwell but regularly walks this route to Asda at Astley Bridge.

He believes the image could have been taken in the mid 1970s judging by the height of the trees now in the area.

"Looking at the trees and shrubs I would say this photograph was taken in the 70s.

"I think the mill on the left is Prospect Mill in Draycott Street and the one on the right is possibly Richard Harwood in Darley Street," he says.

Denis Rabbitt believes the mill on the left to be Heskeths North End mill and the mill on the right one that was demolished by Bolton legend Fred Dibnah which, although originally belonging to possibly a cotton mill, became associated with Tygill who made mattresses, he explains.

Jean Rostron has a particularly keen interest in this area and believes the mill chimneys belonged to either Cobden Mill or Canning Street in one instance and Put U Up in the other.

She was also keen to point out an area of Astley Bridge that some of our older readers may be familiar with but may be new to others.

When researching her family tree Jean discovered her great grandparents were living in

a small area off Blackburn Road and Waters Meeting Road called Heywoods Hollow.

Today trees mark the spot.

"I discovered my great grandparents lived there, Samuel and Mary Hardman, with their children.

"As the family grew and married, after the death of Samuel, Mary seems to have lived with different daughters and spouses at all the properties there. The number of the house seems to change on the census. On one census there were nine people living in one house.

"My grandmother , Lily Rostron, nee Jones was born there, my mother Lily was born on top of the hill near there — Irma St, followed by life in Grasmere Street, where I was raised," she explains.

Stephen Harrison, who lives in Halliwell had two options for the photograph with one being Sweetloves Reservoir and the other being Shepherd Cross Street or what was known, locally, as the "frying Pan2 or the "rovel".

Bill Graham was another reader keen to help out.

He also identified the two mills and explains that the lodge still exists but is now a fishing lake.

"I think it could have been the lodge for Roocroft's who made the famous little sweets called Tics but I can't be sure," he says.

To recreate this scene you would have to go down Blackburn Road, then into Waverley Road, explains Bill.

Pat Tomlinson grew up in this area, she tells us, so is very familiar with the scene.

The view is of the area called The Mop which has featured in many recent stories.

The wall, explains Pat, is the wall to the back of the cemetery.

"I grew up in Sutcliffe Street so this area is very familiar to me," she says.

Pat, now aged 73, would visit All Souls Church every Saturday evening for a dance with her sister where they also enjoyed a pie and peas' supper.

John Harrison, who lives in Little Lever says: "Looking at your picture and comparing it with a 1908 Bolton North OS map, I think the mill to the left of the church is North End Mill No 1 with its chimney in Canning Street.

"The chimney on the right, I think, belongs to Halliwell Mill in Weymouth Street off Halliwell Road.

"The picture, I believe was taken from the old Tippinges Road (now Waters Meeting Road) looking in a southerly direction over the mill reservoir of North End Mill No 2 (now infilled and long gone) and now has McDonald's and other new buildings on it.

"I hope this helps, but I could be on the wrong track."

Scott Bird, who now lives in Farnworth, has his own thoughts on this area.

He says: I think the photo was taken from Astley Lane which leads of Waverley Road in Astley Bridge.

"I’ve not been there since I was a young lad up to mischief almost 60 years ago, but I was brought up in Astley Bridge and remember there used to be a couple of lodges off Astley Lane."

He says the photograph was taken looking over Astley Brook, (which used to be an open tip) looking towards All Souls Church.

"The houses over Astley Brook will be those on Eckersley Road and Crumpsall St. I used to fancy a pretty girl that worked at Astley Bridge library that lived in Eckersley Road, (but don’t tell my wife)," he adds.

He says he cannot remember the names of the mills that belonged to the chimneys in the photo.

"I think one must have been the mill off Blackburn Road in Draycott Street and the other was probably near Newton Street, off Halliwell Road.

"It is difficult to put a date on the photo. There is not much smoke coming from the chimneys of the mills or the houses so I would guess maybe 1960s or late 1950s," he says.

What we found particularly interesting from these conversations was how the discussion about the mills led to other reminiscences which may well strike a chord with other readers.

The first would be talk of Roocrofts Tic's. How many of our readers remember these in the little tins?

Then what about Put U Up? It appears this was a mill where furniture was manufactured so would this be guest beds? Here we are just guessing but we seem to recall some guest beds being referred to as put you ups in the dim and distant past.

Do any of our readers recognise the area Jean refers to as Heywoods Hollow.

Once again we are sure Looking Back readers will be able to delve into their long memories and come up with answers for these questions.