Wigan Album

Great photo. Bet if your great grandfather didn't have a tash he would look a lot younger. I would say he isn't much older that 40.

Given his life span. He had seen some massive changes in his life time.

What a fascinating photo! He is using a stock knife to rough out the sole. Hanging up behind him to the left is a 'gripper' for cutting a groove around the sole so that the upper fits flush, to the right of that is a 'hollower' for hollowing out the inside of the sole so that the foot fits comfortably. Dozens of irons hang on the rack.

Nev, Sounds like you used to be a Clogger? Appreciate the information, thanks.

Henry7, in thw 1970's there was a short - lived clog revival. It went hand in hand with many other art and crafts, and of course the folk music! So I got involved in a small way (my next door neighbour was an ex-clogmaker by the name of Malley, who gave me lots of advice). I made clogs for Frank Tickle in the Wiend for a while, he also supplied the materials for me. Most Saturday mon=rnings were spent in his shop, searching for, and buying materials.
I still make them occasionally, mainly the small kids' ones. A recent pair went to Crete, one to America, and one to Japan!

That really is a fascinating image, I remember when I was a child following my great uncle down into the cellar at Melling's shoe shop in Newtown and seeing all the same knives the hooked bench and the clog irons and rubber soles hung behind. I was far too young to think of cameras, but I still have a visual image of all of that.

Hi Deborah my name is Jim Gaskell and I am writing an article on James Dean a survivor of the Royal Charter who I think was your great grandfathers father. I have done a great deal of research on James but would love to speak to a surviving member of the family. Please conntact me on the above email

Hi Deborah. I'd like to use this photograph in an exhibition at Museum of Wigan Life on Library Street about Clog Fighting. Please could you contact me on thehonanna[at]aol.com, to give your permission if this is ok, thanks so much.

My grandparents on my dad's side of the family lived at 1 eatock street Plattbridge bridge the first house and most certainly would have known your Great grandfather my own dad was two years of age in April 1948 the year your Great grandfather passed away my dad lived with his parents and two older sisters and younger brother at the time and after my grandmother who owed 1 eatock street sold it to my uncle "dad's younger brother" round about the late 1972/1974? when he married his own wife they have both since passed away in the last five years the house was sold to a private owner.
My uncle used to have one of the allotments for years until his sad passing at the end of the street were i visited many times as a kid with my own two brothers and parents and cousins happy days over forty years ago!.