THIS week we take a look back at how The Haulgh has changed over the years.

The area’s pronunciation still regularly catches out non-Boltonians or people unfamiliar with the area.

A recent visitor to Bolton, David Hasselhoff was thrilled to learn he shared his nickname with an area of the town when it was pointed out by a Bolton News reporter.

The region, covering the eastern fringe of the town centre, has changed a lot over the years – not least when St Peter’s Way was constructed.

One of the area’s most famous buildings is Fred Dibnah’s former house, now a heritage centre in honour of Bolton’s famous steeplejack.

Prior to Fred’s residence, the house was well known to locals as ‘Two Cats’ because of the felines featured in the Bradford coat of arms on its exterior. The house was once the gatehouse to Bradford Park.

Thought to be Bolton’s oldest house, Haulgh Hall was under threat of demolition before restoration work restored it to its former glory in 1980.

Another well known residence of The Haulgh, now sadly lost, was The Hollins, in Radcliffe Road.

The house, built in 1650, was once the home of the Fletcher family, of Ladyshore Colliery. It was demolished in 1962 after a fire.