From n 17

Wakes Weeks were observed for more than a hundred years in Bolton.

Today they are almost a distant memory although some shops and businesses do still take annual holidays at the same time each year in homage to the tradition.

In Bolton the weeks were taken in June when a fortnight was enjoyed and a week was taken in September.

It certainly messed things up a little for school children who would have to return to their lessons when children in other towns were enjoying their long summer holiday.

In the 19th century the mill workers in Bolton believed bathing in the sea had health benefits so that gave them the incentive to head for such popular resorts as Blackpool and Southport.

Once the railways really took off then it became even easier to make the journey.

Thousands of Bolton workers would head for the seaside with day trips increasing to week long visits for all the family.

Savings clubs were organised in the mills to ensure that by the time the holiday arrived the workers could afford to go.

Very often workers would travel with their colleagues and enjoy their break alongside them.

Here at the Bolton News — then the Bolton Evening News — a reporter and photographer would be despatched to the many seaside resorts frequented by local folk to get stories and pictures of the workers enjoying — hopefully — the sunshine.

They would march up and down the beach taking names and addresses and the information would appear in the paper to show the folks back home what a great time they were having on their holidays.

Beaches were packed with holiday makers and if you headed for Blackpool with only your family for company you were definitely likely to discover someone you knew as you plonked yourself on a deckchair on the sand.

Reporters were instructed to walk along the beach shouting “anyone from Bolton here?” and the question would be gleefully met with cries of “here” and “over here” as sunbathers clambered to get their “story” in the same day’s paper.

Today workers are more likely to be heading for Manchester Airport and far flung places than the promenade of Blackpool and holidays tend to be at any time during the six week school break rather than at a specific time.

The demise of the cotton mills and associated industry saw a demise in the popular wakes weeks.

It was no longer cost effective to close businesses at the same time each year giving all workers the same holidays.

We would love to hear your memories of the wakes weeks.

Perhaps you worked in a local cotton mill and went, with your pals, on the holiday fortnight break to Blackpool.

Or did your parents tell you about the tradition?

Get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk and share your stories with other Looking Back readers.