WHAT'S in a name? Well in this case, £1,000 for a school.

A town centre Victorian property has been brought into the 21st century to serve modern day requirements and is in need of a new moniker.

So commercial property lettings company To Let Bolton has launched the Name That Bolton Building competition for the refurbished and restored property in Marsden Road – and the winner will be able to choose a school in Bolton to receive £1,000.

The prominent town centre building was once home to The Bolton Motor Company in the 1920s, as well as ESB Motorcycles for over 40 years. It was formerly named The Jubilee Building.

It was part of Whowells (Salt Pie) Mill, established in the 1830s and the 18th century North Bridge Mill, both former cotton mills which were demolished in the 1950s.

In 1895, Ritherdon & Co set up an electroplating and enamelling building for the Edwardian bicycle boom, in what was then the mill’s Salt Pie Yard, turning to manufacturing electrical enclosures which first began for the Navy during World War II.

A chemistry and magic enthusiast, founder Percy Ritherdon set up a workshop at the mill with some of the workers, making incredible tricks and props.

This attracted the attention of “the marvellous Chinese conjurer” Chung Ling Soo, a celebrated magician from the USA, who visited Bolton and collaborated with Ritherdon.

Many original features, such as some of the old cotton mill pulleys, fireplaces and roof trusses have been preserved during the £300,000-plus refurbishment.

It has 10 contemporary office suites across two spacious wooden floors.

There are also two ground-floor units of retail space, as well as a basement workshop with individual access.

Individuals, schools, businesses and organisations from Bolton are invited to create a unique name for the refurbished building to reflect the property’s rich history.

To Let Bolton CEO Stephen Allison said the restoration celebrates the town’s heritage as well as its future.

He said: "I was born, bred and still live in Bolton.

"I remember visiting the old motor bike showroom with my dad and the Name That Bolton Building competition is a fun way for To Let Bolton to give a nod to the site’s history as well as give back to the town. The project itself is also a positive sign of the commercial upswing being experienced in the region as a whole which is great news for retaining businesses in the town and for the business owners of tomorrow."

Entries should be emailed to To Let Bolton at admin@toletbolton.co.uk by midnight May 6 with ‘Name That Bolton Building’ in the subject box and the name of the nominated school and a contact name and number. The prize will be presented to the winner during the building’s opening ceremony this year, with the new building name signage unveiled too.