Picture posted by Peter Lodge.

After the widening of Bradshawgate c1908 but before the LIDO 1936

On the right the building occupying the LIDO site is Etchell's (more later).

At no 103 is the Bolton Creamery then  Meeson's.

On the left we just see Moyle's then across Great Moor Street the Balmoral Hotel. Behind the lamppost is the conical roof, witch's hat, of the Prudential Building.

Picture posted on Facebook by Denis McCann. On the extreme right we see the building with the dog's head carving and the plasterwork - not quite clear admittedly but you will recognise the shape of the downspout. Further on is the half timbered double gable of the Etchell's Dye Works. This is where the LIDO cinema would be built.

 

Next door is not the creamery but next to the left again we have Meeson's. Then intriguing hoardings and notices which we will see more clearly on the next picture.

The three storey building at the front of the tram was, or later became,  Morris's tobacconists. Partly obscured by the tram (D Doffcocker) is Silverwell Street and the old Post Office Building.

The tram is advertising Bovril.

On the extreme left is Moyle's then the Balmoral. We see the Prudential Building with its hat on and the rebuilt Packhorse. The tall structure to the left of the tram is just a set of chimneys.

One of David Whenlock's postcards

The fancy hoarding proclaims that it is 99 Bradshawgate, the premises of Carter, Miles and Company, paint, colour ans varnish manufacturers with other branches in Manchester, Liverpool and Leicester.

To the left we are advised to use only Perfection soap and there must be a gift or rebate scheme because you are enjoined also to save the wrappers.

Left again, Lawson's pies, I think, but they also sell Cadbury's chocolate.

With the tram gantry crossing the gable we have the three storey building which will be Morris's tobacconists.

Taking just a few steps back, so to the right of the above picture, we return to Etchell's Dye Works at 105 and 107 Bradshawgate.

We have the demolition of Etchell's prior to the building of the LIDO.  The Bolton Creamery is still there to the left and to the right, Paul ??? motor car sales is revealed by the downspout to be the building with the dog's head gutter which still stands proudly in 2021.

1936

The construction of the Lido. Arnold Kay’s garage, behind, had been the Ideal Cinema. That building burned down in 1980 and was demolished.

The Lido opened in March 1937. During its life, mostly as a cinema it had short periods of having live shows. It closed in January 1998.

Love the Health and Safety aspect of this picture! Spot the guy near top left and another climbing the lattice crane tower. The notice says, "British Steel - Banister Walton - Manchester & London".

We have traffic lights attached to the tram pole and signs indicating A666 both ways with Blackburn and somewhere to the left and somewhere and Manchester to the right.

The Lido in its hey-day, get your sweets and cigs before you go in. The shop to the right is the one with the dogs' heads and the plasterwork. At this time it is Stones TV, radio and electircal.

The view as you approach from Great Moor Street. The Lido is now Cannon, Screen 1 is showing Down and Out in Beverley Hills (released 1986). The shop at the left corner probably says Retail, Wholesale. At one stage it sold wigs but it is not clear whether that is so at this time. On the right is The Dance Factory which preceded Laser Quest.

The loss of the central windows has turned this building into an ugly concrete block.

John Willie’s occupies the building on the right of Great Moor Street.

Looking across the front of the LIDO probably late 1930s.

A Postcard posted on Facebook by David Whenlock. 

The shop to the right of the Lido is Horrock's bike shop.

Note the goose neck lamps which seem to be recent additions to traditional gas standards

The shop on the corner of Great Moor Street is Richard Moyles

The Prudential Building has lost its hat.

Looking back along Bradshawgate past the LIDO to the King's Hall and beyond.

September 2009 (C)WDC

The LIDO was replaced by the Picturehouse apartments, imaginative, modern, potentially attractive, but in the end as the woodwork faded and open and closed window gave a random haphazard appearance, together with washing drying over the balconies (not in this picture, those are advertising banners at the top) it has taken over the appearance of the next town centre slums.

We also see "The Cube", student accommodation. On 15th November 2019 it was destroyed by fire in an incident reminiscent of Grenfell Tower. Thankfully, though, no lives were lost.

May 2015 (C)WDC

The new and the old(ish).  Some streets in Bolton up to the sixties had a charm because of the variety of different ages and styles of buildings which somehow gelled. This, however, is simply a mess.

The Picturehouse apartments, The Cube student accommodation, late 19th C building, 1930s art-deco building that had been UCP and miraculously survives almost unnoticed, low key low level modern building, late 19th C building which had been Morris' tobacconists, modern building, Silverwell Street, old GPO mid 19th C.

Bradshawgate from Great Moor Street looking towards Churchgate.

The Balmoral is on the left of the picture with the huge lamp.

After 1904 as Packhorse has been rebuilt. The Prudential Building has its "witch’s hat".

I wonder if anyone ever described this row as a mess or a hotchpotch. But somehow it holds together stylistically with brick, chimneys, gables and windows in a quasi-Georgian style. The differences add interest rather that clashing.

Bradshawgate looking towards Churchgate.

After 1904 as Packhorse has been rebuilt.

The Prudential Building has its "witch’s hat".

The buildings on the left are of a much more coherent style with just two very similar designs between the Balmoral and the Prudential Building.

Looking along Bradshawgate from outside the LIDO pre 1971. In the block we have just looked at  We see Bulloughs radio and "vision", Smith's Cleaning and dyeing,

Looking back the other way, c1994

Bradshawgate, looking past Nelson Square and the Pack Horse. Prudential building's "hat" has been removed. Post trams. Probably mid-late 1950s.

Morris' tobacconist now has its sign painted on the gable end.

1964 or a little after

Hilton's carpets, UCP cafe and tripe shop, Barlow, E. Cream (looks like wall paper), Morris's tobacconists with the alley way but its advert on the gable painted out, James Walsh (Rolex), one shop, the Red Cross Hotel, Nathan Bury (taylor), Silverwell Street, the old GPO.

Picture posted on Facebook by Angela Thompson.

Above: The art-deco UCP building

UCP + United Cattle Products which essentially means tripe and cow heel.

September 2016 (C)WDC

The art-deco building which was the Voses/UCP tripe shop and cafe is still there but most people never even notice it, overwhelmed by the Cube (student accommodation) and the Picture House (apartments on the site of the LIDO).

The Cube was destroyed by fire in 2019.

On the extreme left we see the "entry" adjacent to Morris's tobacconist which leads to the back of Silverwell House.

Bradshawgate and its well-loved tobacconists shop. Also James Walsh jewellers, Red Cross Hotel, Silverwell Street and the old GPO, at this time occupied by Ordnance Survey. The "entry" where the Capstan sign is goes to the back of Silverwell House.

Bradshawgate

Circus elephants in procession. Posted by Gene Watts who dated it 1964 – but it might be 1962.

We will see the elephants again on Deansgate.

(C) 2016 Google

You can see through the entry into a small courtyard behind Silverwell House.

C) W D Collier 20 Sept 2016

A look through that entry to see the rear of Silverwell House, passed by and unseen by most people.

Silverwell House featured later.

(C)WDC September 2020

The building on the corner of Silverwell Street which has had a bit of colour added. It has been dubbed the outdoor Connect Four

Across the road, the corner of Bradshawgate and Nelson Square, the Prudential Building c1975 renamed Nelson House March 2020 (C)WDC

 The conical tower has been removed from the corner some years prior to 1975

Built of local terra-cotta 1889 by Alfred Waterhouse for Prudential Assurance Company. Brick and terracotta with slate roof; Grade II listed 26/4/1974.

Also Scholes and Scholes to the right. The whole of that side of Nelson Square was rebuilt between the two pictures.

Postcard from David Whenlock.

Looking back along Bradshawgate from Nelson Square.

We note Nathan Bury, Tailor on the corner of Silverwell Street, then a pub – it is possible to read “ales” though it is not clearly the Red Cross at this time.

It is probable that the Lido, built 1937, has not yet been built though this is not clear. The most obvious landmark on the left is the King’s Hall so this is after 1907. The Prudential building has its witch’s hat on.

On the next page we look at Nelson Square and Silverwell Street before contnuing our travel along Bradshawgate.