Every town has a house that’s the talk of the community.
You know the type of house we’re referring to and you could very well be thinking of it right at this moment in time – we’re talking about a house that catches the eye, for whatever reason that may be.
Perhaps it appears oddly placed? Maybe it’s slightly out of the ordinary, or a bit eccentric? It could be that it simply doesn’t mirror the other ‘two up, two down’ terraces that line the vast majority of streets surrounding? It may have a garden so jaw-dropping that you have no choice but to stop and marvel at it? Maybe it’s one of those houses that goes ‘all out’ for Christmas time – your town’s very own version of a house that could’ve been featured in the 2006 festive flick Deck The Halls? You get the picture.
It’s a house that stands out from the rest.
There’s plenty of well-known local examples of houses that fit this description. By now, there’s not a person either side of the Pennines who hasn’t heard the story of Scott Hall Farm, more commonly and aptly known as ‘Motorway Farm’, or the house that’s sandwiched slap bang in the middle of the M62, and last month, we also discovered that the iconic cottage right next to Dukes 92, overlooking the canal and sitting in the shadows of Beetham Tower, was advertised to rent on AirBnB, which gave us a glimpse inside a property that had long been a talking point for Mancunians over the years. But, have you heard about the house in Bolton though?
ADVERTISEMENT
Found near the traffic lights of a busy crossroads close to the town centre, this little corner house is a pretty big deal in the Greater Manchester borough, but not everyone outside of Bolton is aware of its existence to quite the same extent.
So, what is it that makes this house so well-known to Boltonians then?
ADVERTISEMENT
Yes, the central location and the close proximity to traffic means plenty of eyes are on it daily, but that’s not why. It’s also not solely the fact that it goes ‘all out’ at Christmas time by completely covering the front of the house with an array of multi-coloured festive lights and a number of eclectic decorations each year either, although that’s certainly part of it.
It’s that the show isn’t exclusive to December – if you’re looking for a source of entertainment, you’ll find it at this Bolton semi all year round.
Google Maps
There’s been an ever-changing selection of quirky decorative features to the front garden of this property over the years that have made it near impossible not to stare at whilst driving past. We’re talking a traditional red telephone box, a (what we presume isn’t an in-use) postbox, a Police lamp post, toy trains, classic car parts, a blow-up Santa scaling the roof, and much, much more – even the elephant sculptures, which were removed from Bolton town centre a few years back, were rumoured to have made an appearance there too at one point.
ADVERTISEMENT
Every time there’s a new addition to the garden, it’s sure to get people talking.
As it often does, this house became the talk of the town on local community Facebook group I Belong to Bolton over the weekend, after a picture showing the property in all its glory was posted by an ex-resident querying the story behind the ‘show’. The post amassed hundreds of interactions and comments from other residents, some equally sharing in the intrigue, others offering their two cents into the sights they’ve seen in the garden over the years and plenty praising the property owners for continuously helping to put smiles on the faces of those passing by.
One complimentary group member commented: “I love looking at this house. Always brings a smile to my face.”
Another added: “It does put a smile on my face whenever I drive past and always curious to see what new things they have.”
“As a newbie to Bolton, this house definitely caught my eye. Original, unique and quirky. Wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?” said another.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Driving past this house always put a smile on mine and my kids faces. This person makes an effort to amuse people which he does. Credit to him. Well done.” another comment read.
We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. It’s clear to see that this house is so well-loved by many and it certainly has good reason to be.
Yet another reason why “Greater Manchester’s greatness is keeping it great”.
Trending
Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
Sir Patrick Stewart’s farewell performance will be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is being released in UK cinemas on 18 December 2026
Featured Image – Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
Trending
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
The Manc -
6th July 2020 
