WHEN Audrey Rostron decided to tell the story of her life in Bolton little did she know what a chord it would strike with other Looking Back enthusiasts.

Her tales of life in early Bolton have, quite clearly, been recognised as similar to those enjoyed or (for some who had difficulties) endured by other Bolton families who grew up in very similar circumstances to Audrey and her family members.

How lucky she is to have such a fabulous memory and the wonderful stories that have been passed down from generation to generation of a time many people have forgotten or knew very little about.

Audrey has told of her early years in Bolton — as a child — and in this week's instalment we move on to the cover life for her parents and the hardships and difficulties they faced in their working lives.

"A photograph from the early 1880s shows my father's mother with her brother, sister and parents.

"The story of Jessie's father, Joseph Phillips, is fascinating," says Audrey.

This story began in Shropshire in the early part of the 19th century where his mother was working as a maid with the Armitage family.

She became pregnant with Joseph, apparently by one of the family's sons. "Unusually for that time she was allowed to keep the child but with the intention that he should himself go into service when he left school," says Audrey.

But Joseph was clearly a very determined young man and had other ideas. When he was old enough he ran away ending up in Oldham and he became a machinery fitter for Platt's.

"He spent some years abroad, particularly in India, setting up machinery for the burgeoning cotton industry there."

Joseph Phillips was one of the many members of the family to have been involved in the cotton industry.

"I have often thought about the fact that he — and many others — were instrumental in taking the art of cotton manufacturing overseas to the detriment of the cotton trade in the UK.

"As well as the skills necessary for production, we exported new and used machinery which could be run at a much lower cost by using it for longer hours and paying the labour force less," recalls Audrey.

This was, says Audrey, the beginning of the end of Lancashire's predominance in the field of cotton.

By the 1950s her father and other workers at William Heaton's mill took a cut in their salaries. "I think it was 10 per cent and it was a move to try to save their jobs. But factories closed and — with their tall chimneys — they were, eventually, demolished," she explains.

Audrey's father retired in 1966 having walked up and down Lostock Junction Lane for 44 years she says.

"His walk took him past large houses from which large dogs would wander out to investigate passers-by and as Father was apprehensive about any dog bigger than a spaniel he always carried dog biscuits in one pocket and a shillelagh in the other."

Audrey's mother was born on Christmas Day in 1903 and was educated at Lord's Commercial College in Manchester Road.

She would, explains Audrey, still write in her familiar shorthand in her seventies.

Her father, Isaac Scholes, sadly developed tuberculosis and in an attempt to cure him the family moved to Scant Row cottages in Higher Chorley Old Road.

Here, in this location, conditions were, apparently primitive but the air was much cleaner and thought to be better for the Isaac.

He also spent some time in Wilkinson’s Sanitorium which was situated high above the town in Sharples.

Here patients slept outside in huts which could be rotated to catch any sun that was available.

The patients were outside, in all weathers, and Audrey’s mother recalled having to brush snow off the bedclothes sometimes. He died when Audrey’s mother was just 17-years-old.

Audrey’s mother spent some years working in the offices at both The Hippodrome and the Theatre Royal.

“We used to go in family groups and would watch Auntie Alice’s chin to see whether or not she approved of the comedian.

“Any material which she considered to be ‘near the knuckle’ would bring an extra layer of chin as she lowered her head disapprovingly,” she says.

Audrey hopes her continued tale of a Lancashire family’s life in the first half of the 20th century will, again, bring back memories for our readers or give a little insight to those not old enough to have heard the stories or witnessed them for themselves.

Life was hard for families in Bolton during the first half of the 20th century but it seems family was important and perhaps we could learn something from the way families always stuck together and helped each other out.

Do you have any stories to tell of family life in Bolton as we would love to hear them.

Please get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk