Not many, if any, of you will recall the shop, Henry Etchells, at 105 and 107 Bradshawgate, Bolton.

I say that because although it appeared in the 1911 Bolton Directory, by the 1927 edition it had disappeared, and there was no sign of a Henry Etchells living in Bolton.

The front of the shop says "Dye Works", but it was, in fact, much more than that. An advertisement announced: "Dry Cleaning a Speciality. All work done on the premises. Ladies' Coats, Ulsters, &c., Cleaned or Dyed from 2s to 5s (in decimalisation that is 10p to 25p). Dresses Cleaned or dyed from 4s, Costumes Cleaned or Dyed from 5s. Children's Dresses Cleaned or Dyed from 1s to 3s 6d. Gloves Cleaned 3d to 4d per pair. Gloves dyed 6d per pair.

Feathers Cleaned, Dyed and Curled. Gentlemen's clothes Cleaned, Dyed and Tailor Pressed. Suits Cleaned from 4s 6d, Trousers from 1s, Vests from 1s, Suits Dyed from 5s 6d." And they also did Curtains, Table Covers, Carpets &c. . . . how on earth did the good people of Bolton manage to keep well-dressed after such a shop closed!