Iconic buildings of Bolton in the frame at new exhibition

From well-known pubs, much-loved shops, beautiful churches, busy workplaces and historic buildings, Bolton's Iconic Buildings is a snap shot of the town's history and streets.

The 49 drawings all feature buildings which can be found in Bolton now and ones of which are set to disappear.

Artist Dave Burnham, from Harwood, hopes his work will get people talking about their town and its changing face.

He said: "It's about change really, about the impact of the changing urban landscape on local people, on how we feel about ourselves and our sense of identity.

"Next year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the work on Bolton Town Hall, the 90th anniversary of the building of the last mill in Bolton, Holden Mill on Blackburn Road and the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Octagon Theatre.

"And since I started the drawings Beales has decided to close and Prestons of Bolton and the Hen and Chickens on Deansgate.

"My style is in the first three or four minutes of drawing not to look at what I'm drawing, that way you get a really quirky style to it.

"I have really enjoyed drawing them but there's something quite melancholy about the way Bolton town centre is is going.

"They once employed 50,000 people and it will all be gone soon."

An interest in history sparked the 65-year-old retired social care manager to find out more about Bolton's industrial background.

Then in January he decided to draw some of the town's buildings, starting with St peter's Church in Silverwell Street.

He has gone on to draw buildings including House Without a Name in Lea Gate, Swan Mill, the former Palais de Danse, the Town Hall, Arthur Morris’s tobacconist and Booth’s music store.

As part of events organised by Bolton's Live From Worktown arts organisation, 16 framed original and 33 A5 versions of the drawings are on show at Waterstones in Deansgate until November 25th.

A calendar of 13 of the drawings is also on sale at the store.