FOR this week’s Looking Back picture gallery special we focus on the north of through borough, in Bradshaw.

This semi-rural area has changed less than some of the more built-up parts of Bolton.

While these pictures reveal some notable differences, there are many signs of continuity.

One of the area’s popular pubs, The Crofters, is pictured here as the Crofters Arms. The venue wouldn’t have existed today if brewery, Tetley Walker, had its way in 1974 – when the pub was under threat of demolition for redevelopment. Thankfully, the council hastily put a protection order on the building.

Another area that’s changed very little is The Rigbys, where the cricket pitch, cottages and brook coalesce into one of Bolton’s quintessentially English scenes.

One of the more remarkable stories revealed by these photographs dates from surprisingly recently.

A picture of a group of houses in Tottington Road, taken in 1994, is accompanied by a caption referencing their recent connection to the sewer system.

Until then, residents hadn’t had flushing toilets and every Wednesday were expected to tie up a bag of waste from their toilets which was taken away by the bin men along with the other rubbish.