"YOUR article about Horwich Moor on September 25 was brought to my attention, and on reading it thought I could add points of interest, writes Christine M. Aplin, of 45 Siemens Street, Horwich.

"I have been organist at the Chapel since the mid-1970s, and in 1994 spent some time researching its history.

"The present chapel is now 132 years old. We know this from the trowel used to lay its foundation stone on which is inscribed: "Presented by the Trustees of the Primitive Methodist New Chapel, Horwich Moor, to A. Mason, Esq., of Montcliffe, in commemoration of his laying of the corner stone, April 17, 1869."

"We celebrated our 125th anniversary in 1994. It wasn't the present building which was used as the day school, though currently a mums and toddlers club meets on Mondays from 1.30pm until 3pm, and the chapel itself, part of the Bolton Methodist Circuit, has a service every Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm.

"The tiered seating was not done on purpose to make it suitable to concerts - although it came in useful for such events.

"It was built like that because of the local 'water table'. There are numerous springs and wells in the area. Some house owners have them under their stairs or in their gardens.

"Horwich Moor Chapel had to cope with that, and so those who go know there is a deep well just inside the main doorway by the organ under the floorboards.

"We have seen it uncovered twice in the last 25 years or so. It is a beautiful stone-lined well, with a conduit which takes the overflow out under the Sunday school building. The platform was demolished in the 1970s.

"The Sunday school dates back much further than the existing buildings.

"We know that the original was held in the big upper room of the first two houses near the site of the present chapel. These were weavers' cottages, and there was space in the top storey. It was used as a club at one time, but I think, after the Methodists left, this was used as a day school.

"We know that 'Horwich Moor Primitive Methodist Sunday School, established 1834, Superintendents Peter Butterworth and John Farnworth', is true, and also they held the Jubilee of the Sunday School in 1884.

"Whilst I was searching through the history, I realised that there were not two but three public houses in that area - The Masons' Arms, the Plumpton Arms, but what had been overlooked was the Farmers' Arms, which was at No. 21. I knew the deceased owner of 21, Mrs Wilson, and it had the Farmers' Arms on the deeds to her home. She told the tale of being at home one night, when a stranger walked in.

"On asking what he wanted she was told: 'Well, it's a pub, isn't it?' She had to explain and the man left.

"Further details of the history of the chapel may be found in my booklet 'Horwich Moor Methodist Church 1869-1994. 125th Anniversary', available for viewing only in the archive section of Bolton Central Library."