Hi Pete, I knew a James and Florence Hulme who lived in Bromley Cross, and who owned some cottages on Darwen Road quite close to the Volunteer. Unfortunately both of them died some years ago, though their son still lives in the area. James and Florence were methodists, and attended Birtenshaw Methodist, Bromley Cross. Both are buried at Walmsley Chapel, Egerton. As for the Volunteer, this has been bought by an Asian gentleman with the idea of turning it into an Indian restaurant. The sign has been removed, and as Anne says, the windows boarded up. I think it a great shame that the pub should lose its distinctive name after well over 150 years. Valerie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pete Hulme" <phulme@glasshouse.com> To: <ENG-LAN-BOLTON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 12:20 PM Subject: [ENG-LAN-BOLTON] Introduction > My name is Pete Hulme and I was born and brought up in Bolton, though I > now live near Portsmouth in Hampshire. I've been researching my genealogy > since my mother died three years ago, though my efforts have been a bit > patchy. My main interests are in HULME (obviously), FIELDING (my mother), > WHITLOW (my father's mother) and WHITTAKER (my mother's mother) though > I've been actively chasing Middleton and Stackhouse from my mother's side > and Atkinson from my father's > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.6/337 - Release Date: 11/05/2006