Wigan Album
Alexandra Park, Newtown
15 CommentsPhoto: Tim Cooke
Item #: 31024
Presumably late 1800's / early 1900's as again St. Marks church is without it's tower.
Can anyone name some of the streets in the background ?
Interesting pic, looks like a very new & neat park. My Dad would have known it as a boy.
For Helen. Stanley St, Norfolk St, Westminster St, Arundel St, Argyle St, Alker St, Manor St, Woolden St, Mitchell St and Harrowby St.
Saint Marks Church Address: Victoria St, Wigan WN5 9BN
The lake may have been in the area now used for cycle ramp riding -- close to the railway line
Yes Tim, that's the photo I saw, I'm more than sure it was in one of the Past Forward magazines of yesteryear, nice to see it again and on here for posterity.
I will curtail this comment, as I believe I mentioned it before. In 1974 one summer, very early morning. I was the duty sergeant doing a solo mobile patrol, in Rochester. I had the occasion to check a man walking his dog, adjacent to Rochester Borstal. He was the prison chaplain. It transpired that in 1962/63 he had been the curate at St Mark’s Church, Newtown, when I worked the Newtown beat. His name escapes, so long ago.
Thanks Garry, a pretty comprehensive list. I will look them up.
Was there a little cafe in one of those streets in the 70's?
Albert
Would the curate have been a Mr Sanderson?
Never knew it had ever had a lake. Great picture.
Kieth. It was just a fifteen minute natter, and such a long time ago. Our paths never crossed again.
That's amazing. I spent a large chunk of my childhood in Newtown (50s and 60s) but was never aware that the park had once had a lake. Thanks for posting this.
There was greenhouses situated where the pond was
Can anyone confirm having seen the laek with their own two eyes. I have no recollection of Alexandra Park ever looking like this - not just the lake, but the tidy shrub layouts etc.
Are we sure it wasn't a mock-up to illustrate a planners idea of what it could look like?
Sorry - typo tidyup
... anyone confirm having seen the lake with ...
I lived at 129 Victoria Street, right at the top corner of the Park. I spent my childhood in he park both summer and winter when we could slide down the path from the top gate down to the Playground. I remember all of the play equipment and the big red steam Roller that you could climb inside of where the engine used to be. Us kids spent hours there in the summer with bottles of water and butties. The putting green, the tennis courts, the Rose Garden with the memorial in the centre. As we got older we went in the park after the gates were closed by the Parkie, mad Eric was his name. He would chase us in his blue wigan council van all over the park. My mum, Olive Myers was the person that kids from Mitchell St would call for to cross them over Victoria Street, The memories are priceless.