THESE lovely pictures show a part of Bolton that could be anywhere in the countryside.

It is, in fact, the rather charming Barrow Bridge which is just at the side of Moss Bank Park and a little haven of tranquility within the busy area in which it sits so beautifully.

At one time the cottages would have been filled with mill workers who went about their daily lives living within this purpose built village.

It was built to house the workers who kept the cotton mill, opened by John and Robert Lord, moving.

At that time, in the early 19th century, the brothers built 13 cottages for their workers.

Then, in 1830, Thomas Bazley and Richard Gardner bought and demolished the mill, replacing it with Dean Mills, twin six-storey steam powered mills situated on the east side of the brook at the entrance to the village.

They created what was known as a model village for their mill workers on the hill top which could be accessed thanks to a flight of stone steps which still remain.

They built rows of cottages, a shop and a school house.

Houses were also built for the managers who worked in the mill and these were just a short distance away overlooking the brook.

Dean Mill was bought by William Callender in 1861.

The company went out of business after his death and the mill was demolished in 1913 although the mill chimney was left insitu.