Wigan Album

Mrs Florence Blackledge stood 1st on left back row.
Mary Sherrington sat down 1st on left front row
Enid Blackledge sat down 4th from right

This picture I think is taken in the school hall at Ince Central School

Did they ever put on any plays in the Church Hall/ Sunday School Building in Keble Street, near Keble Street Church? I can recall seeing a play there with my friend when we were about 10,(around 1962). It cost a shilling! I don't think the hall was used just by Keble Street Church, but not sure. I recall going to a fancy dress there once , as a witch. Winnie Britton. from Annie Britton's off-licence on the corner of Ince Grren Lane and Local Board Street made my witch's hat.....she was very artistic and used to do the shop window out beautifully with crepe paper. (Sorry, I'm going off the subject, but Wigan World gets the memories going, doesn't it, and you can't stop!).

John, we used to have morning assembly each day in the school hall , as well as P.E. and games if the weather was bad, and I can't ever recall seeing the stage area done out like a house, with wallpaper etc., for a play.

Irene,
Its the steps up to the stage and the lights in the hall that gives it away. I too went to Ince Central and the varnished wooden steps in front of the stage look familiar to me

The plays were performed in Ince Central School hall.
My friend(Enid in the photo) has confirmed this.

johns right evelyn it is in the junior hall
we used to run new years eve parties there when i was in the BB.
the steps do give it away, its a lot different in there now

some other names on there are Antita bexendale, edna daniels

Thanks everyone for putting me right.....I'm happy to be proved wrong as it is lovely to see the hall again. There used to be two shields on the wall, either side of the stage; I actually recall Mr. Fairchild, who was very artistic, making them. He used to organise a monthly "Party Dance" for us...it was 1/6d admission. My friend and I also used to attend Miss Dunne's "Socials" in St. Williams' Parochial Hall...they were a shilling! Happy, innocent days.

Irene, I cant remember the two shields but I do remember an ornate engraved trowel in an illuminated display alcove set into the wall at the top of the stairs that led to the floor of the hall. I think this trowel was used to lay the foundation stone (wonder if its still there) Can't remember what year the school was opened, but it must now be near to 50 years old.
Didn't the stage also act as a makeshift dining room for the infants ?. I seem to recall at the left hand side of the stage out of view were table and benches stacked up. During the lunch break folding doors were slide across the open face of the stage (to stop the little ones falling off) and the stage along with the adjacent space was laid out as the infants dining room. The juniors was on the other side of the hall at a higher level, and the kitchen (which could be accessed by both dining halls), was at the end near to the roadway that joins the infants and juniors

Irene did you start school at the old Ince Central School on Ince Green Lane or the new one we are discussing?.
JOHN if you are the John I think you are you started in 1960 and I thought that you were one of the 1st or 2nd intakes at the new school.
Between you both maybe we can decide when the school opened

i left Belle green school to got Rose bridge in 1959 and i seem to remember the then ince central school asking for scholars to go down to the new school from belle green to help make the numbers up.
i was one of those asked.
the foundation stone was laid on Saturday September 29th 1956. and the school was officially opened in June 1958.
here is an extract from the order of service for laying of the foundation stone of Ince Parish Church New day and sunday school.
by the Rt. Revd Lord Bishop of Liverpool. Dr. Clifford A Martin DD.
This is the first Day school of the nation not attched to a housing estate, and is historical by that fact.
it would have not been possible but for certain special cicumstances. The old school was in frightful disrepair and insanitary.
Belle green school was very overcrowded. We had this site which we owned, and largs funds gathered from our efforts in the last ten years.
In these circumstances the government felt obliged to allow the building.
BUT WE REQUIRE MUCH MORE MONEY.
The schools will cost £98,000, of which we are responsible for £49,000.
Yet we desire Church teaching for church children in church schools, where the staff is church minded, religiously inclined and nurtured in Christ.
This ceremony is the second milestone on our way. First, the cutting of the turf by the member of parliament: this Laying of the Foundation stone by the Lord Bishop of Liverpool, then the grand opening ceremony, in June 1958.
it then goes on to say.
MAY WE HAVE YOUR PRAYERS AND HELP TO COMPLETE OUR GREAT TASK.

Hello John, I started at the old Ince Central School where Central Flats now stand around 1957, I think, when I was five. I think I was only there for the "babies class" as we called it then, before going across to the new school, but it's all so long ago I'm not sure. I'd say it was around 1959 when the new school opened.I do know we all had to take threepence a week to pay for a brick, and we had little pink folded payment cards which the teacher initialled on receiving our threepences.I only stayed for dinners for a short time, and only recall the dining area at the top of the steps as you left the school hall. I preferred to go home for my dinner, and even went home to Ince for my dinner when I attended Hindley Grammar School!...we used to have an hour and a half then (twenty past twelve until ten to two), finishing for the day at 4 o'clock.

Irene, you used to take 3 pence, I used to take a penny,your Colin would do too I presume with us being the same age.Do you remember the fund raising progress board that was situated on the Ince Green Lane wall of the school.There was an arrow on it which was moved up to point at the amount of money raised at specific times of the year.
We all felt quite excited when we walked to school and found that the arrow had gone higher.Then in assembly either Mr Gerrard or Miss Jones would tell us that we should all be proud of what we had done.
What wonderful memories these photographs are bringing back to me.
PRICELESS !!

Hello, Evelyn; it's nice that our paths keep crossing, and yes, the photos and memories are priceless! No, I don't recall the board with the arrow, but I remember Mr. Gerrard and Miss Jones. When I was seven, I was fortunate to be presented with The Herbert Stoneley Prize, (a book), which was presented to one boy and one girl each year. I still have it and it is signed by Miss Jones.This was at the new school. I will see if I can post a pic of it.

Evelyn, The building fund was a penny a week that the teacher would record in a little folded pink card. I remember it being a penny because the teacher used to say there are 240 children in the school and if everyone (and not everyone did) brought a penny in they would collect £1 per week.

It was definitely threepence a brick when I was there, John, and I am still in touch with Miss Ashurst, (who became Mrs. Johnson), and she recalls it being 3d too.Perhaps you could take a penny, twopence or threepence, depending on your circumstances, or maybe if you had brothers or sisters there the amount changed, as it wouldn't be fair for a large family to pay more than a family with one child.....I don't know how it worked, but I know I took a threepeny bit each week.When I was in the juniors, I used to take the little girl next door to school, and her Mum always had the pink card ready, and I've a feeling it was sixpence then!

A few more names to add to the picture seated on the right hand side is Annie Wilding (later Annie Betley) who was married to Billy Wilding the organist at Belle Green Mission and stood at the side of her is Sybil Thorpe whose husband was Tom and they lived in Kingsway off Ince Green Lane. I think the man with the hat is Stan Gregson

I was in the same class at Ince Central as Mary Sherrington...