IF you are heading into Bolton town centre from either Chorley New Road or Chorley Old Road then you will spot a large public house on the right hand side.

The Crofters Arms was situated at at the junction of St Georges Road, Chorley New Road, Chorley Old Road and Chorley Street.

It was initially given a licence at the turn of the 19th century.

But in those days it was named the Whitsters Arms.

A Whitster was another name for a crofter.

Until around 1907 the pub was a much smaller building. Bolton Library has a photograph of the pub dating back to that time.

It had been owned by the Manchester Brewery Company since at least the 1870s and then was bought by Bolton Council.

Later it was sold to the local brewery called Magee Marshall and Company.

Although only a small building at this time the pub was then rebuilt in around 1906 and 1907.

Magees paid the council £500 and gave up the licence on the New Bridge Inn which was in Churchbank in the town centre.

Now named The Crofters it remained in the hands of Magee Marshall until it was taken over by Greenall Whitley in the 1950s.

Many of the old and much admired features remained at this time including the carved bar.

Later in its life the pub was known as Magees after those former owners.

It closed and then was re-opened as Gallaghers Oyster Bar.

By March, 2000 it was the Oystercatcher Brasserie and then became the Conquistador tapas restaurant.

It was then very popular as an Indian restaurant named Moghuls Palace.

In 2009 the pub was taken over by Jane McDonald and Frank Smith who were at that time licensees of the very popular Howcroft pub — not far from their latest acquisition and a pub that had always retained its traditional stance — and the Roundhouse which was situated in nearby Halliwell.

They had to evict squatters who had taken up residence in the building.

They then spent around £30,000 refurbishing the historic building that had seen so many events over its life.

The pub then became known as Smudge’s which was, apparently, Mr Smith’s nickname.

Sadly, Frank Smith died in September 2010 and the pub closed shortly afterwards.

Today it is a shadow of its former self — a sad reminder of its heyday.

There are plants growing out of the chimney stacks and it remains desolate and unloved when once it was a vibrant and bustling place.