WHEN Norman Shard was growing up, Bolton was a very different place than it is now.

Norman has vivid memories and stories to tell of the Astley Bridge area which was once a thriving community of its own.

And, despite being so close to Bolton town centre, the area had everything you could possibly need within walking distance.

With its temperance bars, cinemas, corner shops and sporting facilities, Astley Bridge was a mini town.

These were the days when most families did not own a car and to go into Bolton town centre would be a special event. But there was no need to travel any distance as there were so many shops on their doorstep.

From furniture shops, to clothing and sweet shops, to butcher’s - a trip out would ensure that everything could be bought in one fairly compact journey.

Norman said everyone knew their neighbours and everyone looked out for each other.

Children went to school around the corner from where they lived. They often stayed at the same school until they left at the age of 14, as it was in those days.

Astley Bridge had its own football club and Boys’ Brigade.

Norman’s memories will be shared by many of you who grew up in the same era, especially those of you who called Astley Bridge home.

Like many Bolton people, Norman had a childhood filled with gentle pastimes and the memories of living in Astley Bridge have remained with him through his life.

Norman, now aged 81, lived with his parents Doris and Fred Shard at number 538 Blackburn Road — Shard’s Temperance Bar.

He attended St Paul’s School in Newnham Street for his infant, junior and senior eduction and took part in the traditional sermons walking day from school.

“The senior section is now an Indian restaurant,” he says.

He recalls names other readers may well recognise too, including Mr Carter who was the headmaster and teachers Miss Longworth and Miss Witton.

He says: “The Parochial Hall, at the top of Newnham Street, used to hold amateur musicals and also the Christmas bazaar.

“Behind was a bowling green and tennis courts and members of this included Ian Liversedge whose father played the organ at the Odeon pictures’ interval.”

Other members included June Battersby, whose father owned Battersby’s Furniture Shop.

“There was also a blacksmith’s shop where Norman would go to watch the blacksmith make horseshoes and shoe the horses.

In the block where Norman and his family lived was a grocery shop, Riley shoe repairs. Mr and Mrs Riley were both unable to speak but their daughter, Doreen, who went to Canon Slade, was able to interpret for them, explains Norman.

There was also a dress shop and a temperance bar.

Nuttall’s toffee shop and Brindle’s dentist were also in the block, as was a cake shop, Riley’s butcher’s, Mercer’s paper shop and a pharmacy.

There were two large cotton mills in Astley Bridge – Ashworth’s in Holland Street, which is where a large DIY and a tile shop now sits, and Hesketh’s which was knocked down to make way for Asda.

“At the junction of Moss Bank Way, Blackburn Road and Belmont Road was a bank, a public house, a shop that made and repaired clogs and Astley Bridge Conservative Club.

“Going up Belmont Road was the Co-op store.”

Astley Bridge boasted a cinema, The Belle, which had programme changes three times a week and matinees on Saturday mornings when Norman would watch what were called ‘the serials’.

They included Flash Gordon, starring Larry ‘Buster’ Crabbe, and The Lone Ranger and Tonto. “I used to go three times a week for free as we advertised the films in our shop.” 

See next week for more of Norman's Astley Bridge memories