WHAT an incredible scene greeted town centre visitors on April 26, 1904 when a car mounted the steps of Bolton Town Hall.

Mr George Edward Cain of Bromwich Street in Bolton was determined to show people that anything a horse could do a car could do just as well.

It was in the days when cars were something of a novelty so no doubt this feat raised a few eyebrows and created a great deal of interest.

Mr Cain had apparently been in an argument about horses and cars so decided to drive up the town hall steps in his air-cooled tiller-steered 10hp Lanchester to prove his point.

Unfortunately for him when he reversed down again the law was waiting and he was fined for endangering public property.

It seems Mr Cain did make his point but gained a large fine into the bargain.

The town hall steps are instantly recognisable as are the lions that stand on either side.

At this time the fine building was adorned with shrubs and plant which clearly had to be negotiated by Mr Cain who was watched by several members of staff from Bolton Town Hall.

A rather splendid fountain can be seen in the foreground of the picture.

At this point in time cars and other vehicles — and that would include horse and carts — were able to move freely in Bolton town centre including being able to drive in front of the main doors of Bolton Town Hall.

Cars like Mr Cain’s would have been few and far between but there would have been many horses trotting through the town centre at this time.

Had someone like Mr Cain tried this trick today no modern car could possibly have successfully negotiated the steep steps.

The other photograph we have here shows another entrance to Bolton Town Hall which is opposite where Beales used to be.

This entrance is most commonly used by people today visiting the town hall for social events or for meetings.

This picture was taken in the 1950s and there are very little obvious differences when comparing this picture with the same scene today.

The most obvious difference is that the street furniture which in the older photograph includes large stands in the middle of the road presumably to direct traffic.

The street lighting is quite clearly very different to the modern style lighting we enjoy today.

Bolton Town Hall is an impressive building which people who are born and live in Bolton are rightly proud of.

It has changed very little in the more than 100 years since the first picture was taken and thankfully retains its charm and appeal despite its construction being finished in 1873.

Although an historical building it fits well within a town centre with mixed attractions including contemporary and more traditional buildings.

It sits well in front of Le Mans Crescent which was built later than the town hall.