Wigan Album

Excellent name for that 'local' bakery, wonderful for its 'certain' loaf.

Best Sunday cap, collar and tie, waistcoat, horse and cart immaculately turned out, no litter anywhere and donkey stoned doorsteps. All those people who like to talk about “The Grimy North” should see this picture.
We may have been poor but no lord in his castle could have been more houseproud than a northern woman in her humble terraced house.

These are the photos that make this site. I seem to remember the name 'Excelsior' bread in the fifties....

Didn't there used to be a bakery called either Excelsior or Excel on Market Street in Hindley in the sixties? I travelled from Ince to my school in Hindley daily and can recall the wonderful aroma of baking bread when I got off the bus in Hindley.

There used to be an 'Excel' bakery just off the bottom of Market Street in Hindley,where the car park is now,next to the nursery.I can remember walking home from school,taking a short cut behind First Avenue in the 1960's and the smell of baking was delicious. Just wondering if there is a connection.

Andrew do you know the place in Ince the bakery was?.

Just seen there is an entry listed for 'Excelsior' bakery on the Ince Directory of 1925 on this website,at St.Clement's Street,(off Warrington Road)Lower Ince/ Spring View.

If my memory serves me right. In the early fifties, I seem to recollect a bakery on the corner Manley Street, and Warrington Road, Lower Ince. It then became, to the best of my knowledge, a milk distribution centre.

What a fantastic photo and what a great testament to the honourable people of Ince in Makerfield. This photo shows how proud and diligent are the folk of Ince. The houses, “mere” terraced dwellings, but look at the detail, even the road and pavement beautifully clean and if I may say so aesthetically pleasing. Finally If they gave prizes for presentation, such as the great Windsor Horse Show, this gentleman would win easily, impeccable. Superb photo, thanks for posting.

Excelsior bakery listed on Ince Directory,1925 located at St.Clement's Street,off Warrington Road,Lower Ince.

Albert I think the bakery you refer to was Harveys bakery and they moved to Cale Lane from there.Hansons dairy,later Express dairies took the building over.

I just love old photos like this one..and yes doesn't it look lovely and clean..
a time when people had pride..thank you Andrew.

Maureen there was a photo of Great George Street in the 1950s on facebook today. I tried to email it to you but it didn't work. I'm not good with technology! xx

Yes Irene,I did reply to you,as I said,the photo was blurred ..it came through on Cliffs mobile not to my email,I'll ask our Lee if he can help to reply to one of the comments for me..I grew up with one of their Dads..thank you again.xx

It looks as though 'Excelsior' had said much - no talk of quibble, nor of burnt loaves. And may I add that Alfred must also have had the guts to steady his horse, when according to this picture, it was a coiled spring raring to go.

Thanks to all who have taken an interest in this photo! Following up on other comments and checking out on Google Streetmap, it could easily be imagined the photo was taken outside Nos 2 and 4 Saint Clement's Street, given the distinctive brick-work and door and window lintels. Also note the sun was behind the left shoulder of the cameraman.

Stepping back a generation, it is evident from the 1901 census that Alfred Evans' father, John Evans, had the Grocer's shop on the corner of St Clement's Street and Warrington Road. This site has now been redeveloped as a Chinese Take-away. John Evans lived, with his family, next-door at No448 Warrington Road. By 1939, Alfred Evans was married and living with his own family at No15 Hey Street, almost next-door to where we think the bakery was.