Wigan Album

A very evocative image for me. From early on in life this building featured strongly as I made my way either into town or up Darlington Road East to my grandmother's house in Clarington Grove.

I worked in the rat infested dump for 2 years,glad to see the back of it.

A friend of mine had a picture framing business in the building about 20 years ago

past this building every morning at seven for years going to work then back again i lived on Darlington st.

A very nostalgic photo for me. My Great Grandparents, John- Shaw and Jane Hart(nee Clough)lived in what would have been the last house/shop after the bridge, on what became the Pepper Mill.(roughly where the door is on this photo). Apparently you could get into the house through the sweet shop at the front.(no doubt liberating a few toffees on the way!). All their family were born and brought up there. They were my Grandmother Margaret, Ellen,Jeff, Richard, Jim and Sydney. My Great Grandfather was a Brass Finisher in the Foundry behind what became the Pepper Mill. The Pub,(The Foundry, otherwise known as the Smoothing Iron because of its triangular shape) was on the corner of Warrington Lane and Darlington Street, at the far end of the Mill, and was at one time run by Ellens two sons, George and Eric Dawber at various times in the 1960's I believe. Now its the site of Aldi/Lidl.

Just on those crossroads in early 1977, as a Police probationer, we practiced our first ever point duty, under the supervision of Police sergeant Joyce Mellor, who was our training officer at Harogate St, Police Divisional Headquarters. . There was about 4 or 5 of of us,after turning the lights off we all took it in turns, we waited at the corner of the building.It was a terrifying experience at the time but we soon got used to it.
That is my memory of the building.

We used to sit on chairs outside this building for the Whit Walks - they lasted that long. You used to be able to look in the basement, I never realised the building sloped like it does, with it going so far back.

The Billings family used to live on the opposite corner to the Foundary, they emigrated to Australia around 1964, anyone remember them?

Hah! I remember when our school coach used to drive past there on the way back from the swimming baths, and I was convinced that this was the place "Pebble Mill at One" came from. Easy mistake to make.

From the road, first shop Fred Hampson forman hose couplings

Second shop Harold Morgan's lube shop.
Third shop Tommy Gore's Gullicks stuff.
Fourth shop Norman ?, Sheet metalwork.
Foundry was at the back.
Stores and office's R/H end of building.
celler was storage and heat treatment.

My first job here engineering when I left School in 1991 til it was flattened, was a wreck of a building. Would have probably fallen down on its own if it hadn't been demolished! I did love the old place though, just not the Job!

I left school at the age of 15 and started an apprenticeship at Pepper Mill Brass Foundry as a trainee lathe operator, I did 1 year at Horwich Technical College learning all sorts of engineering skills and then day release at Wign Technology until I came out of my apprenticeship with a full tech certificate in mechanical engineering. We manufacted lots of non ferrous parts for the mining industry along with lubrication equipment for steam locomotives and also electrical part for Water Heyes in Wigan. When the time came for me to qualify I was promoted to the office where I helped with the manufacturer of the Loxley lubrication equipment and other parts for steam locomotives. I helped with quotes for the Foundry and the Sheet metal shop which was in the lower floor, the Foundry pub (smoothing iron pub) was frequently visited, those where the days

Dave C, it's 12 years since your posted your message but my cousin Joyce was married to George Dawber and was Landlady at The Foundry. They moved on to The Bowling Green, Wigan Lane and finally to the British Legion in Upper Dicconson Street, I think that was around 1973.

was there 1963 -1966