In June
1898, Sarah Reddish (pictured), a well-known Bolton socialist and feminist, announced that the local branches of the Independent Labour Party (founded by Keir Hardie in 1893) and the Social Democratic Party were fusing.
'Division means weakness' she wrote. 'We want strength for useful work and therefore we hope that other local comrades will join us'.
The new body was called the Bolton Socialist Party and the following year the Socialist Club moved to 13 Lorne Street – a narrow back alley which now runs behind Waterstones Deansgate shop.