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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Church Gates

5 Comments

Church Gates Wigan 1860's approx.
Church Gates Wigan 1860's approx.
Photo: Keith
Views: 2,572
Item #: 26108
These two views of the Church Gates alley way, are already on wiganworld. On the map it’s named Church Alley.
I stand to be corrected but I think the photo views are towards the Church and the extremely faint image beyond the roofline is possibly an outline of the church itself, perhaps the south east corner.
If correct then to the right should be the Black Horse pub and I assume the steps are a side entrance.
I gleaned the following from the internet, ”the Black Horse adjoining Church Gates, the Bulls Head to the right and next door to it the White Lion. The White Lion advertised “Family Port and Magassar Oil for footballers’ bruises” . . . . in addition “half-time and final score telegrams for Wigan Football Team.”

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 1st March 2015 at 22:51

Keith; From the slope of the ground in this alley, I would say that you are looking towards the Market Place.

Comment by: Keith on 2nd March 2015 at 09:23

Well spotted Ernest, buildings may change but the lie of the land tends to be the same, this means the Black Horse is to the left, outside the frame of the photo.

Comment by: George on 2nd March 2015 at 14:44

The photo on the right has a boy at the entrance to the Church Gates, who looks as if he could be a newspaper seller.

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 2nd March 2015 at 23:05

Keith; See photo #15205 which is last on page 4 in Album, Places, Market Place. Wigan and read Irene Robert`s comment.

Comment by: Keith on 3rd March 2015 at 20:33

I totally agree Ernest - Library Street was on the opposite side of Market Place - the site once occupied by the Queen's Head (dated from 1700) was cleared in the 1890's to make way for it according to Wigan's Trail History.... "The new road linked Market Place with the central library, Borough Courts and Town Hall, cutting through the site of the Queen’s Head Hotel on Market Place."

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