Wigan Album

Hello Derk
Sorry i can not find code. aslo you wear SUNNYSIDE COTTAGE IS NEED YOUR HELP.

Hi Barry. The code is on an updated version that I have not scanned!

Hi Derek and Barry-I have recently been reading about the Pemberton Colliery disaster and the bravery shown by the mine manager,John Watkin,who died in the rescue attempt. I remember as a lad walking down a path called Watkin's brow and on the right hand side of the path was on opening to a derelict house which I was led to believe the mine managers house. Can either of you tell me in relation to Foundry Lane now, where would have been Watkins Brow- what part of the housing estate?

Hi Derek
To me WATKIN BROW was down the side of what was THE WHITE HOUSE. Which to me is about half way down FOUNDY LANE Do not no if the white house was coal mangers house.When you went down watkin brow to the bottom and up the hill it took you to ACKERS FARM.P/sHope you are well.Also a book called FOUNDED COAL By DEREK WINSTANLY it is a good readed.

Is this a map of what I read was The King Pit? ...I see there are Queen Pit Cottages down there on the right. Fred Foster's & my Grt Grandfather, John Bradshaw was killed in a mining explosion in 1877, He is buried in St Johns Church yard. He was abt 26yrs, left a wife who never married again & lived into her 80's and 3 young boys John & William, George the youngest, died in childhood. Is that the disaster you were referring to? I have a book.. 'Lancashire Mining Disasters' & there is an account of the King Pit explosion & a list of names of the dead.

Helen, there 4 pits on this site - King, Queen, Prince and Bye.

Hi Helen-the disaster that I was reading about was the KIng Pit explosion of 1877 and listed among those killed was John Bradshaw aged 26,collier from Halfway House-the website is www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/mining7.html

Hello Mr Hickman
I had a member of the KINGS side to my family killed in a BLUNDELLS MINE in 1881 age 16

My great grandad was killed in the 1877 explosion as Helen states, I extracted the report of the explosion from the Wigan Observer at that time and if anyone is interested in this, I have it on a word document. you can have it on email.

I was interested to see Queen Pit Cottages. My grandfather`s family the Hodgetts lived in no2 for many years. My mother was born there in 1922 and so was I in 1946. My grandmother lived there until they were demolished in 1957 so I have lots of memories of playing in the area as a child.

Do you have any photos of the cottages Sandra?

I`m sure I have some photos somewhere. Will try to dig them out

A written history of Highfield Cricket Club, covering the period from its re-formation in 1924 on the current ground, to 1999, was produced by myself on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. I would be pleased to provide free copies of the fifty page brochure, including photographs of individual teams decade by decade, to anyone who is interested in reading more about the club and the people associated with it. If you would like a free copy, please contact me by email on chairman.highfieldcc@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 07721 639970.
I also remain very interested in the cricket club that preceded the one re-established in 1924 and wondered if anyone with knowledge of the history of the area might be able to help fill in the gaps in my knowledge. From records and maps, we know that there was a Highfield Cricket Club playing behind the Railway Inn on Enfield Street, as far back as 1880, indeed there was a fixture between Highfield CC and a team known as “Nil Desperandum” (!) back in the summer of 1880. That particular cricket ground alongside the old Highfield Club had disappeared from local maps by 1908 and I cannot locate any fixtures played beyond 1904, so it is highly likely that there was a “cricketless” period of circa 20 years before the club was re-established on the current ground.
I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has information and even documents and photographs, perhaps passed down from family members, about the Highfield Cricket Club that played in Enfield Street. I would also be pleased to fill in some gaps in the information we have about the early days of the club founded on the current ground, in particular any information relating to its re-formation in 1924 and also the names of the first eleven captains from 1926 through to the early 1930’s. Finally, please do make me aware of any photographs or documents you have concerning the cricket club in general as I am determined to chronicle our rich history, as best we can, for those that follow.

Re Queen Pit Cottages my Grandparents Norman and Bessie Travis lived there. My father Henry Travis (Harry) was born there and his brother Norman and twin sisters Elsie and Christine. Elsie died aged around 18 months. I think their grandma lived with them called Kate or Grandma Holland. I would love to see a photo if anyone has any.

Angela. I was born at 2 Queen Pitt cottages in 1943. My grandparents was Catherine and Henry Travis. Grandma Kate had the cottage and different members of family lived with her over the years. my grandad Harry died in the cottage. I was there when he died. Your grandparents Bessie and Norman Travis lived with our grandma too. I see your auntie Christine in town and we always have a chat. My parents where Florence Travis who married my dad Clifford Draper. My parents both lived at queen Pitt cottages and they got married from there too.

hi, i wonder when smith brook estate in 1970's when my mum and dad move here long ago. any idea where smith brook estate is