Wigan Album

What great buildings, lovely to see the cobbled street. Thanks for posting a wonderful photo from the past.

Good little car the Vauxhall Viva... "the car facing the camera".

I remember the buildings along here were quite grand and you can tell from the photo they were, they must have been massive inside.

I think you could take some sort of voucher there and a guy would call every week to collect the payments.

The building is at the bottom of Upper Dicconson St.

They were called Provident Cheques, Broady, and you could spend them at selected shops, but I don't think Louis Fisher provided them. I can't just recall the name of the place where my Mam got them from, but I'm sure Reg Sutton's Men's Outfitters was one shop that provided this service. I recall my much-older brother being measured for a suit at home and the man calling round every Saturday for the payments.

The buildings look nothing like that now. What a shame..

Gary, can't agree with you about the Viva being a good little car, I had one and its engine gave me nowt but trouble, maybe I got a Friday car. Broady, a chap called at our house every Saturday morning, if you bought things you paid on the Never-Never, he gave you a voucher to buy goods just like you say, Bill Graham was his name I recall, suits, shoes, shirts and socks were all available on a monthly payment. Being early 1950s just after the war nobody had any money so this was the only way out for some.

Broady, I have commented on here this morning but having problems with computer and not sure if comment was sent, so I apologise if my answer appears twice! The cheques you mention were called Provident Cheques and you could spend them at selected shops, and a man came round for the weekly payments every Saturday. I don't think Louis Fisher provided the cheques, and can't remember the name of the place where my Mam got them. I think Reg Sutton's Men's Outfitters supplied them as I recall my brother being measured for a suit at home and paying weekly. Apologies once more if my answer appears twice....computer driving me mad this morning!

Murrays Tailors just around the corner in Upper Dicconson St also accepted Provident cheques.

A cousin of mine bought some black shoes with one of those cheques- I went with her but can't remember the building she went to. My mother used to go to Wigan Agencies in Harrogate St where payments were paid weekly. It must have been a 'life saver" for some families- ( my dad never knew)!

Just had a look on Google maps, street view and these buildings are still there, minus the chimneys. Bar Legion is just to the left of where the Ford Anglia is parked

My Mam also used to deal with them ,if I'm correct a Mr Ruddick or his Son would call for the payments.

Frank Orrell - surely this is Upper Dicconson St, and not Dicconson Terrace as you say in the photo title?

That's a matter of opinion jjp, mine was great no problems.

Th three cars in this photograph are a Ford Anglia, and a Mk3 Ford Zephyr or Zodiac (in between was the Mk1 Cortina and Corsair). The dark car is a Vauxhall Viva HA with Lancashire registration KTC703C. This was the first Viva with boxy styling before the HB appeared with different styling from 1966-70, and then the HC from 1970-79 that included Firenza and Magnum models. While the Viva HA car was only made for three years 1963-66, the van was made for 19 years- 1964-83.

Hello Roy, You may be right about the Louis Fisher building being in Upper Dicconson Street. The file entry book at the Wigan Observer had the location as Dicconson Terrace. I should have gone to check the location before posting.

Prior to the move to Dicconson Terrace (Upper Dicconson Street)Louis Fisher was based in King Street.
My late wife Barbara was an apprentice milliner there. A coat hanger, acquired at that time, carries the tag 'Louis Fisher Exclusive Tailors & Dressmakers'.

Nobody as mentioned the ford anglia left of the picture,once used by police.

I think the Anglia was used by the Police just before they switched to the new Mk1 Ford Escort

Garry my first car was a pale blue HA viva.beltin little car. It gave me little trouble except for a new clutch.

Ah Louis Fisher , I worked at peter pells and used to go there at least twice a week to take suit alterations for our customers just down the street on the opposite side was a shop named Academy.

What beautiful buildings being left to rot. Would love to see them done up (saved)

Yes the Ford Anglia was used by the police, they were known as the Panda car.

A clutch is alway down to the driver how long they last.

Gunn’s was the name of one of the shops back in the 50s and early 60s

Eric..thank you,.Ive been trying to remember that name.

Gunns were still there well into the 1970s. I remember doing a job there in 1976 or 1977.