Today, several of these historic mills survive with many of them being Grade II or Grade II* listed. Bolton is preserving its industrial heritage through careful restoration, adaptive reuse, and engineering conservation.

 Swan Mills

Swan Mills, located on Higher Swan Lane, was once the largest spinning mill complex in the world. The mills were originally designed by Stott and Sons, and built in 1903, 1906, and 1914. All three mills are Grade II* listed buildings, a designation reserved for structures of more than special interest.

Today, two of the mills are home to various businesses.

Although the mills were built separately, they form a single block and were built to a common style. No.1 mill (to the west) was built in 1903, with No.2 mill added in 1906.

The clock tower still remains today as a permanent reminder of a time when cotton was king in Bolton

Eagley Mills

Built in the 1780s along Eagley Brook, Eagley Mills was originally a water-powered textile mill.

When the mills shut their doors for the final time in 1972, around 600 people lost their jobs as global textile production shifted overseas.

The three historic mill buildings, Bridge Mill, Brook Mill, and Valley Mill, have been preserved and were converted into apartments in 2007.

This restoration project has allowed an entirely new generation of Bolton residents to live within the town’s industrial past while keeping its architectural heritage alive.

Bolton Steam Museum open day.Volunteer, Alan Ratcliffe with the Westminster Engine at Bolton Steam Museum open day.

British Steam Museum

Bolton’s heritage preservation goes beyond buildings. The Bolton Steam Museum has saved and restored 30 stationary steam engines from the Industrial Revolution, creating the largest collection of stationary textile mill steam engines in the UK.

The Northern Mill Engine Society was created in 1966 by volunteers to save the engines from being destroyed after their textile industry collapsed. Their work keeps Bolton’s engineering history literally running into the 21st century.

 These projects are a testimony to how Bolton is protecting the physical and cultural legacy of its textile past. A combination of restoration, regeneration, and hands-on engineering preservation is ensuring that mills remain part of the town’s future as well as its history.

Losing her job was a blow for 60-year-old Caroline Madden two years ago but she felt confident in picking up another role within weeks.

A couple of years on, after applying for about 20 jobs a month on average, she had totted up 500 rejections.

Having never had problems getting employment before – even during economic downturns – Caroline suspected she had become a victim of ageism. But rather than feel sorry for herself, the divorced mother from Hull decided she had to face this perceived bias against employing older workers.

And following guidance from experts she landed herself a personal assistant job for a local entrepreneur starting this month.

We share her experience and offer top expert tips to help land that job whatever your age…

Beating the AI job bots

After a major restructure at the engineering firm where she worked as a PA, Caroline lost her previous job in September 2024.

She fears an increased reliance on AI filtering of application forms might have something to do with problems landing that next job.

Caroline says: ‘Although it is tricky to pin the blame on age there have been too many instances when an initial application was rejected despite showing the right qualifications, ability and experience. Age should be seen as a benefit with proven experience an asset. We don’t all just want to retire.’

She adds: ‘I eventually adapted my CV and applications by not putting down my date of birth and changed my qualifications from O-level to GCSE – because these older exams revealed I was at least in my mid-50s.

‘I am sure this CV change helped me get a job.’

GCSEs replaced O-levels and CSE qualifications in 1986, with students starting to take GCSE exams from 1988.

Under the Equality Act 2010 gender, disability, sexual orientation and ethnicity should not be discriminated against when applying for a job – and neither should age.

Caroline says: ‘One time when I got through the initial application stage, I was interviewed by AI. It was a realistic image of a woman asking questions – but the lips were not quite in sync with the words coming out. I still failed the test.’

Technology is also increasingly being used for interviews conducted over video links, which older people who are more used to one-to-one conversations might struggle with. Preparation is key and you need to master this skill. Download the software on to your laptop or smartphone and practise until you feel comfortable with the technology.

Caroline says: ‘These video calls seem particularly popular for public sector roles, where civil servants often work from home.’

Turn experience to your advantage

Caroline, who has two grown-up daughters aged 24 and 27, left school aged 16 to clean and wash dishes in a nightclub owned by her parents.

She later served behind the bar and by her early twenties was running a pub with a friend in York.

By her mid-twenties she wanted a more settled life – and found a job working as a PA for a local firm. In her late 30s, with a young family, she decided to retrain and took a course at the University of Hull to provide pastoral care and career advice at a nearby school.

She also found time to write a lifestyle column for the Hull Daily Mail. Caroline says: ‘The irony of being a career adviser is not lost on me. I know how to write a CV.’

Due to cancer Caroline decided to leave her school job in 2018. After that, having been successfully treated, she returned to PA roles.

Four years ago, she was a production team assistant at music events, hosting Liam Gallagher at Knebworth Park.

Caroline says: ‘It was particularly frustrating when “the computer said no” by seeming to put my age above the skills picked up from years of experience.

‘I started to focus on achievements rather than work dates and used the same buzz words as the job adverts, such as mentored, collaborated and resolved.’

Recruitment experts believe it is all about how you turn a lifetime of experience into terms that will attract potential employers – ideally with specific examples, as provided by Caroline helping to run a Knebworth concert.

Hannah Cornish, recruitment expert for job finding website CV-Library, says: ‘For older workers concerns about ageism can present a major hurdle. But they can turn this into a positive as experience matters – it is just a question of how you are going to sell this to land a job.’

She adds: ‘It is vital to stay confident and focused on what you offer – so practising your approach is important. Rather than listing years of experience on a CV, focus on achievements, with details of measurable results and transferrable skills.’

A CV should provide a single-page summary of skills and career achievements in a visually appealing way.

Ask for feedback from rejections to help fine tune a CV that should be tailored to individual job demands.

Caroline said she started to focus on achievements rather than work dates in her CV

Get your foot in the door

Personal and business life coach Dr Sally Ann Law believes you should explore tricks to get your foot in the door that bypasses the AI application form barrier.

She says: ‘Get yourself in front of an actual person rather than just filling in application forms. Contact organisations and arrange to meet representatives in person. 

‘There are often trade events and local talks to attend where you can introduce yourself. Visit the library and enquire about events coming up. It all helps build a personal rapport.’

Cornish believes it is also worth trawling through contacts books and speaking to former work colleagues. Word-of-mouth vacancies can help set you apart from others with a personal recommendation.

Law understands dealing with rejection is challenging but is a key part of the process. She says: ‘Your task is to use all the tools available to get that job. Ask yourself – is there anything else I can do? Rejection is just part of the job – just ask a Hollywood actor. They can expect rejection for most roles.’

But actors can also offer inspiration. Law says interview role-playing gives you the edge and helps to prepare for unexpected scenarios.

Focus on the jobs market

Explore where there might be shortages in the workforce where you could find that demand outstrips supply for jobs.

The Government has an Annual Skills Report available through its website gov.uk – which also includes details on training for chosen professions.

Right now there are shortages of bricklayers in the building profession, NHS social care helpers and cyber security-skilled scientists.

Sally Ann Law says personal contact is always better than simply relying on application forms

Law says: ‘Avoid a scattergun approach and focus on the job you want and skills that prove your suitability. The problem with application rejections is you do not get a chance to represent yourself – show the human side that the AI formulas struggle to understand. Try not to allow this to knock your confidence.’

Law adds: ‘Try to impress with your transferable skills. For example, if going for a job as a PA you can beef up your abilities as a people person by linking them with practical experiences – such as how you have proved successful at handling extreme situations, ambiguous challenges and defused potential problems by using your quick-thinking skills.’

Cornish says: ‘Consider taking refresher courses. Details of these can be found from careers advisers at your local job centre. Employers are increasingly focusing on a skills-based approach to hiring.

‘Taking a course shows initiative and that you are keen to adapt to an evolving workplace.

‘Putting such small additions to a CV also show you are not out-of-date but comfortable with new technology, tools and modern ways of working.’

Keep active and alert

Caroline admits maintaining a positive mindset can be a challenge when job hunting.

She says: ‘There are a few strict rules I followed. Get up early and never watch television during the day. I go to my local gym up to three times a day paying a special membership rate.

‘Having a close network of friends living nearby has been vital. I visit them for a change of scenery and positive conversation.’

During a recent visit to Belfast, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Bill, currently at committee consideration stage, would return to Parliament this autumn.

The Government should consider requiring the consent of the Attorney General to prosecute future offences related to the Northern Ireland Troubles, a Westminster joint committee has recommended.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) said improvements must to be made to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Committee chairman Lord David Alton said the legislation has to secure the confidence of those it impacts and said the importance of getting it right “cannot be understated”.

Labour introduced the Bill to replace the previous government’s controversial Legacy Act, elements of which were deemed in court judgments to be incompatible with human rights commitments.

Labour’s Bill, agreed as part of a joint framework with the Irish Government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers.

As part of its legislative process, MPs have already backed a remedial order which removed the measures in the previous Act providing conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes in exchange for co-operation with a truth recovery body, as well as scrapping a bar on future legacy compensation cases.

During a recent visit to Belfast, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Bill, currently at committee consideration stage, would return to Parliament this autumn.

The JCHR report scrutinises whether the Troubles Bill is compatible with the UK’s domestic and international human rights framework, and examines its wider implications.

The committee expresses “deep concern” about the use of the remedial order which was laid before Parliament as “a stop gap” between the old and new legislation.

The committee said the Government’s justification for using the order because the matter was urgent “has not been reflected in its speed in advancing the remedial order”.

The report has also recommended improving the independency of the proposed new Legacy Commission and the decision-making process around the disclosure of sensitive information.

It said the definition of “close family member” should be widened to ensure that other family members are not excluded.

The report has also asked the Government for more information to justify decision making on issues including the two different approaches for revived inquests and the use of information submitted to the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval.

The Government has pledged to provide “effective protections” for military veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in its new legislation.

The committee said it “acknowledges the sincerely held concerns of veterans today that legal processes involved in inquests, civil claims and criminal prosecutions are having a negative impact on the lives of individuals”.

It added: “Where, in rare circumstances, there are allegations of profound, even lethal wrongdoing, they must be properly investigated.

“The Bill’s approach must ensure that those investigations are carried out in a manner which is fair to all those involved.

“The Government should consider adding provisions to the Bill to require the consent of the Attorney General to prosecute any future Troubles-related offences.

“This could add an extra layer of accountability for prosecution decisions in this sensitive area.”

The committee also raises concerns about the failure of Westminster and the Northern Ireland Executive to agree on who should be funding legacy matters.

It said: “ The Troubles Bill will not be able to succeed without adequate financial support being given to all organisations affected by it.

“Dialogue should continue to resolve the impasse on funding.”

Lord Alton said: “This Bill is an improvement on what came before it, but our report has found areas where it must be improved further.

“This isn’t just about making sure the right legal and procedural frameworks are in place.

“It is about making sure it is in the best position to secure the confidence of those it impacts from the start and over the long-term.

“The importance of getting this Bill right cannot be understated.”

Lord Alton said “flaws” in the previous Legacy Act “contributed to a decade of lost progress”.

He said: “Time is running out for those still dealing with the legacy of the Troubles to find out what happened and hold people accountable.

“We cannot have further delay.”

The joint committee said it will conduct further work on the Bill when further amendments are made in the continuing legislative process.

A UK Government spokesperson said the Bill is needed to “get answers for the families who lost their loved ones during the Troubles, including the relatives of veterans who were killed”.

The spokesperson added: “To that end, the Government welcomes the scrutiny of the JCHR, and its recognition that the Bill is a significant improvement on the failed Legacy Act.

“We will create a framework that commands greater public confidence, including bringing forward a significant package of amendments following extensive engagement with veterans.”

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Arsenal put Chelsea striker Joao Pedro on their longlist of possible transfer targets over the summer but decided against making an official move.

Mikel Arteta was open to signing a new striker after Viktor Gyokeres’ mixed first season at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were ready to sanction a huge bid for Julian Alvarez but the Atletico Madrid striker was reluctant to return to the Premier League and had his heart set on a move to Barcelona.

Arsenal of course had the chance to make a move for another striker and bosses at the north London club expressed interest in Chelsea’s Pedro.

The Brazil international enjoyed a promising first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, and has netted two goals in four games so far this season.

Pedro was less influential in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday as the Gunners climbed back to the top of the table and ended the Blues’ perfect start to the new season.

A number of pundits still view Pedro as one of the best strikers in the Premier League and the 24-year-old has many ‘admirers’ at Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal.

But Arsenal decided not to move for Pedro as there were ‘concerns’ over how the Brazilian would fit into Arteta’s system at Arsenal, according to BBC Sport.

Pedro, who was heavily linked with Barcelona earlier in the summer, views Arsenal defender Gabriel as the ‘toughest’ opponent he has come up against in the Premier League.

‘The toughest defender to play against this season? Top three: Willian Pacho and Jonathan Tah, but Gabriel Magalhaes was the toughest in my opinion,’ the attacker told TNT Sports Brasil back in May.

‘I was surprised by his speed, but I gave him a hard time, too! He’s been inspired this season.’

Meanwhile, Michael Owen believes Manchester United should have launched a move for Pedro years ago as he has always been a ‘huge fan’ of the Chelsea star.

Asked to name Arsenal’s biggest rival for the Premier League title this season, Owen told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: ‘Chelsea.

‘This could be way off the mark but they’ve got no Europe at all and you see how important that has been over the years. It was brilliant for Manchester United last year.

‘This manager [Xabi Alonso] did something similar with an unfancied team in Germany [Bayer Leverkusen], he’s going to change a lot, they’ve bought well.

‘I’m a huge Joao Pedro fan, I think he’s unbelievable. In fact, Manchester United should have bought him about four years ago when he was at Watford.

‘United had nobody up front for years and I thought, “That Joao Pedro”, I love him.’

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Even throughout the autumn, it can be great to visit the coast for a family walk or to spend some time exploring the area.

Of course, any trip to the seaside must be topped off with enjoying some fish and chips.

If you are visiting the popular seaside town of Filey any time soon, you will want to stop off at the famous Inghams Fish Restaurant.

What is Inghams Fish Restaurant in Filey like?

Inghams Fish Restaurant has been serving traditional fish and chips for over 30 years in Filey.

The restaurant was once visited by the popular content creator, the Yorkshire Man, who described it as “one of the best chippies on the Yorkshire coast”.

The Yorkshire Man was “immediately impressed by the extra crispy golden batter” and added that it was “so much better than your average chippy”.

The restaurant has space for you to sit in and enjoy your meal as well as a takeaway next door that is ideal for taking your food to eat while watching the sea.

At the restaurant, you can choose from a range of fish including classics like haddock and cod to fish cakes and plaice goujons.

You can also grab a range of sides to enjoy alongside your fish such as homemade curry sauce, baked beans, and mushy peas.

Inghams Fish Restaurant also offers sweet options for those who fancy some ice cream or a slice of hot chocolate fudge cake to finish off their meal.

What do reviews think of Inghams Fish Restaurant?

Inghams Fish Restaurant has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 on Tripadvisor with 1,442 people leaving reviews.

One person said: “Best fish and chips hands down!

“The batter is so light and crispy perfectly fried without feeling heavy or greasy!

“The portions are very generous too I would stick to the small haddock and chips if you don’t have a big appetite the regular is HUGE!!! in the best way possible.”

Another person said: “Our fish and chips takeaway was just as good as we hoped it would be.

“Fantastic quality and a good price.

“We can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Have you ever visited Inghams Fish Restaurant in Filey? Let us know in the comments.

It has brought to light a problem with the local authority, on potentially missing some stickers, as well as the company behind the codes undertaking a review.

The codes, which were called “flyposting” by residents, appeared on lampposts around the Blackburn Road and Moss Bank Way area of Bolton.

It is understood some of these QR codes have been removed by Bolton Council.

(Image: Newsquest | Joe Regent)

She claims Bolton Council acted upon the QR codes, but called for more measures to prevent similar incidents happening in the future.

She said: “Some of them have been removed, I believe. But I don’t know that there are new ones or whether they’ve always been there and they didn’t get that far up.

“But I was just a little bit sort of snapped up as they say, they have sort of upped the game and I’ve responded this morning to another officer.

Bolton Council usually clear what has been reported to them through residents or councillors, and so any unreported cases could be overlooked.

(Image: Cllr Toby Hewitt)

The QR codes were brought into light this week, after a 9-year-old scanned one leading to a website named happylabs.so.

In that report, happylabs.so told The Bolton News they were reviewing their promotional methods, and the codes weren’t meant for children to be using.

Cllr Fairclough said she was worried there could be more over the town, and still worried young people could access the site.

(Image: NQ)

The QR codes are displayed on stickers featuring an image strikingly like a fast food-style fries carton, although the design has been altered and does not belong to the chain.

Cllr Fairclough said her main concern was that the stickers could attract the attention of children because of their placement and design.

She added: “I don’t know how many of these stickers there are, there could be thousands.

“This one in particular because I feel it’s enticing young people but also you know I get sick of seeing things tied to lampposts you know, I think it makes the place look completely tatty.

(Image: Cllr Toby Hewitt)

“I just don’t agree with it, if you allow it for one you have to allow it for all.

“I’ve no problem with charities or schools putting something up for 10 days to advertise something that’s going on, but I’ve no time for the others I’m afraid.”

Bolton Council has been contacted for more information.

Euxton, near Chorley, has been subject to a variety of pronunciations over the years, sparking confusion.

Many have pronounced the town’s name as ‘Yukston’ or ‘Youkston’, yet the correct way to say it is ‘Ex-ton’.

In previous years, the recording on Northern trains pronounced Euxton as Euston, like the London station.

The matter gained broader attention when it was revealed in 2023 that the station’s name was among those to be re-recorded by Northern for new on-board announcements.

This decision followed numerous complaints from passengers who highlighted the recurring mispronunciation.

While the village is small it is packed with history and notable buildings – aswell as some lovely pubs.

It is home to the Grade II* listed Euxton Parish Church, with some parts believed to date back to the 14th century.

Euxton has links with two influential Lancashire families, the Molyneuxs and the Andertons, who owned much of the surrounding land and shaped the village’s development for centuries.

Euxton Hall, originally built during the reign of Henry VIII and rebuilt in 1739, is another notable building.

This historic mansion of the Andertons of Euxton became Euxton Hall Independent Hospital in 1983.

Apart from its historical landmarks, Euxton also boasts a number of play areas and recreational sites such as Euxton Park and the Primrose Hill play area.

Euxton’s pub scene has seen a lot of change over the years.

Some have been demolished, others converted into private residences, and new ones like The Fieldfare and The Warhorse have been built.

The Travellers Rest, halfway down Dawbers Lane, is still operational today.

Euxton was one of the small communities that initially benefited from the advent of the railways, according to the Euxton Parish Council website.

The first section of the North Union Line northwards from Kenyon Junction on the Liverpool/Manchester Railway opened in 1838, marking the first station in Euxton.

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The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is set for a historic regional election win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt – in a blow for German chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Exit polls have placed the AfD party at 44.5 per cent, up ⁠from 20.8 per cent in 2021. Mr Merz’s CDU fell to 18.5 per cent from 37.1 per cent in 2021, a setback in a state the conservatives have governed since 2002.

If the full results, expected on Monday, show that the AfD has secured a majority, the party could form its first regional government in what would be a seismic moment in post-war German history. However, given that most ‌parties have ⁠ruled out joining ⁠an AfD-led coalition, it will depend on which other parties pass the 5 per cent threshold needed to gain seats in the regional parliament and whether the CDU could form a majority coalition to block the AfD.

The party’s victory in the election for the state government represents a historic shift in German politics after years of cooperation between the other parties to keep the hard right out of power.

The AfD seeks to restrict immigration, quit the Euro and restore ties with Russia as most of Europe rallies around Ukraine. Germany’s own intelligence service has designated the party as ‘extremist right wing’.

Ulrich Siegmund, lead candidate for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, hailed the projections, saying: “We have made history in this country”.

He said that he was open to work with partners following the exit poll results, adding: “We extend a hand to all democratic forces that wish to pursue better policies”. But he also said that topics including migration and domestic security were non-negotiable.

This win is the biggest prize in the party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with an unpopular national government that has yet to persuade voters it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving.

Victory for the AfD is also a symbolic blow to Mr Merz, whose centre-right party has led Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years.

A CDU politician has described his party’s performance as a “historic defeat” and called it a “black day”.

Sepp Muller, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, told German broadcaster ZDF that there can now be “no business as usual”.

The AfD national co-leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, said this week that AfD “wants to implement the law of the land – for example with a view to illegal migration – and ensure that Germany remains worth living in”.

They decried other parties’ records and argued in a statement that an absolute majority for AfD is “almost the only chance to change course”.

Following the poll results on Sunday, Ms Weidel said that the AfD had a clear government mandate and would talk to all parties.

“No matter the outcome of tomorrow’s election, we have already made history,” said its candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, at a final rally on Saturday evening.

“Because what we have started here in Saxony-Anhalt — that is currently sweeping across all of Germany — can no longer be stopped,” he told the crowd in the state capital, Magdeburg.

The AfD plans to push schools and cultural institutions towards more traditional values, curb immigration and overhaul public broadcasting.

Mr Siegmund arrived to cast his vote in his hometown of Tangermünde on a blue Simson moped, greeted by throngs of excited fans, and ruled out coalition talks with other ​parties.

An AfD-led state would launch a crackdown on migration with a task force set up to coordinate quicker deportations.

The children of refugees would be placed in separate classes at school to prevent what the party claims are “stresses” on the other children from being around different cultures.

Meanwhile, children with disabilities would no longer be taught in the same classroom as those without, instead being sent to special schools.

Schools would also be banned from flying rainbow flags, and the government would exhaust “all legal avenues” to limit Islamic expression.

Harvey Barnes (Newcastle): Gets a goal. Good finish into that far corner as well. He’s been excellent and not spoken about a lot. Anthony Elanga and all the others get the headlines, but Barnes has been fantastic.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal): Captain, leader and a massive winner. It’s just one of those moments where you just think, how did they talk about getting rid of Odegaard? It’s scary.

Cody Gakpo (Liverpool): Two goals from midfield. Imagine thinking you’re playing for Spurs and then for Man City, and then somehow you have to stay at Liverpool and compose yourself, and still score.

Cesar Palacios (Fulham) and Vitaly Janelt (Brentford): Both very similar: solid and get the job done. They don’t really get noticed in games unless they score, but if you’re watching and you’ve played the game, you know these two are really important.