ANOTHER symbol of Bolton’s heritage, story and character bites the dust as the historic Beehive Mills are demolished to make way for houses.

Known, as the "dark Satanic mills", they were the engine of he original Northern Powerhouse.

Although some mills have been erased from the landscape, others have enjoyed a new lease of life.

Here we look back at those which remain and what has replaced those which have been bulldozed.

Holden Mill, a Grade II listed building in Blackburn Road, has been held up by Historic England as an example of how historic buildings can be preserved. The mill built in 1926 has been converted to 275 apartments named The Cottonworks.

Holden Mill, also known as Astley Bridge Mill, is a former cotton mill. Cotton spinning at the mill came to an end in 1965, after which time it was occupied by Littlewoods Mail Order as a warehouse.

PJ Livesey, which specialises in refurbishing fine period buildings has also contributed to the preservation of historic mills in the borough.

They first transformed Bolton’s old cotton mill, Eagley Mill into apartments. Following its success, the company then spent six years converting Holden Mills.

Musgrave's Atlas Mills was a complex of eight mills mainly used as textile mills. Musgraves also made their own engines. Most of the site has been redeveloped as a supermarket ­— Morrisons in Chorley Old Road ­— and flats.

A survey found 90 per cent of those who took part believe mills are an important part of the nation’s heritage, story and character.

And 85 per cent said they do not want to see them demolished or replaced, in the poll for Historic England, which has called for the recognition the potential historic mills can offer for conversion instead of demolition.