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Professor Paul Salveson is a historian and writer and lives in Bolton. He is visiting professor in ‘Worktown Studies’ at the University of Bolton and author of several books on Lancashire history For thousands of Bolton children it was the most exciting time of the year, at least next to Christmas. ‘Bolton Holidays’ – or ‘Wakes Week’ - in the 1950s and 1960s was the fortnight when Bolton emptied, with thousands of families heading for the Lancashire seaside resorts, mostly Blackpool, or further afield. It started on the last Friday of June and lasted for a fortnight, though many people just went away for the first week. It was common for families to return to the same resort, and same boarding house, year in year out. The schools closed for a fortnight followed by a three week return before the summer holidays.
Professor Paul Salveson is a historian and writer and lives in Bolton. He is visiting professor in ‘Worktown Studies’ at the University of Bolton and author of several books on Lancashire history. Boltonians of a certain age will remember fondly the ‘day trip’ to Blackpool, by train. It has a history stretching back to the middle of the 19th century and was known for generations as ‘th’ chep (cheap) trip’. Allen Clarke, in his novels, poetry and dialect sketches wrote lovingly and realistically about it - an important part of life in Bolton and all of the Lancashire cotton towns.
Remembering the chep ride from Bolton to Blackpool theboltonnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theboltonnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
However, in order to progress some railway stations and routes have had to be abandoned. Some local stations were forced to shut for practical and economic reasons. The country was hit hard by the Beeching cuts, when thousands of miles of track and stations were closed in the ‘60s. Some of our readers may still be able to recall stations at Daubhill and Plodder Lane to name a few. Indeed, many of Bolton’s smaller districts also boasted stations. Other routes simply weren t used enough and couldn t handle the competition that the development of trams and cars brought with them.