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The photograph above captures a bustling scene from 1947 at the Moor Lane bus station, where dozens of locals are eagerly preparing to board coaches for the annual Bolton Holidays.
This tradition, a remnant of the Wakes Weeks, saw the entire town virtually shut down as businesses, mills, and factories paused operations for a communal seaside retreat.
The origins of the Wakes Weeks can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution. Derived from the Old English “waecan,” meaning “to wake,” these weeks originally referred to late-hour church services that took place at sunset.
Each village held a wake, blending semi-religious celebrations with community festivities like dancing and drinking. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, this tradition morphed into a regular summer holiday for notherners.
Every year, each area selected its holiday week, leading to the closure of local factories, mines, and other industries for at least a week. This break, though unpaid and initially enforced for factory maintenance, evolved into a cherished vacation period. From June to September, towns took turns enjoying their holidays, with Blackpool emerging as the most popular destination.
In Bolton, the cotton industry was integral, making it feasible for mill owners to close for a fortnight, giving workers a collective break.
Other prominent local businesses, like Edbro, Watson Steel, and British Aerospace, also observed the Bolton Holidays.
During this period, Bolton transformed into a ghost town as excited holiday-makers boarded coaches or trains at Trinity Street Station, bound for their seaside escapes.
For families, the Wakes Week holidays offered a much-needed chance to relax. Reporters and photographers from the Bolton Evening News were dispatched to Blackpool, Wales, and other seaside spots to document the locals’ holiday experiences, which were featured in the paper the following day.
Schoolchildren in Bolton enjoyed a unique perk: legally taking time off during what was term time for the rest of the country. Youngsters received two weeks off in June, coinciding with the town’s industrial hiatus as everyone headed to the coast.
Expectations were modest, and a fortnight in Blackpool was as eagerly anticipated as a trip to Spain might be today.
By the 1970s, while many still flocked to Blackpool or similar resorts, a fortunate few began flying to more distant holiday destinations. Package holidays were becoming accessible to those with the means, though the majority stayed closer to home.
The decline in manufacturing and shifts in school holiday schedules have nearly erased this tradition. But there are still some Boltonians who will fondly remember those simpler times.
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