THEY were the giants upon which Bolton’s prominence was first built.

The town’s mills were the powerhouse behind so much of the prosperity of the borough; goods and materials bearing the ‘made in Bolton’ stamp were shipped all over the world.

In their heyday, they employed thousands; several generations from one family would work together; they were at the heart of the community.

With an ever-changing world as far as industry is concerned, the glory days of the mills are long gone.

Even when the majority of these photographs were taken in the 1980s, it was often to record a final closure or a new use being found for one of these leviathans.

Their chimneys once dominated the skyline and their large, looming presence cast a shadow over the terraced streets that surrounded them.

Now many of them have gone altogether while others have been converted into apartments or divided up to house various businesses or provide storage.

But for many Looking Back readers, these photographs will bring back memories of comradeship, hard work and hopefully good times.

We love to hear your stories about these or any other mills in Bolton over the years. Email john.anson@nqnw.co.uk