Wigan Album

I bid on the card but didn't get it. I've stopped paying silly money for Wigan postcards. Especially when you can get a copy of the image I managed to get a copy of the card off the listing, but it isn't as good a deffinition at this How did you do it?
I went into, Tools. Page Info. Media. Select Image. Save As.

Ron, I'm not much good at this computer stuff but my grandson showed me how to use Prt Scr SysRq - its a bit long winded to descibe on here! Perhaps its reminded you what to do, but if not, email me and I'll try to describe it.
When do you think that photo is from?
Cathy

Fabulous picture!

My first job was on this street back in the seventies.........just on the left in the photo a modern day clothes shop, unable to remember the name. I know I was only there about two months then it was time to move on. Amazing what a tin of paint can do when it does not go on the wall.....well they made it a little hard when I gave my notice. Oh the joys...................

Is that not called vandalism Martin?

Hi Cathy I would think the photo would have been taken late 1940's or early 1950's. I have emailed the guy, who was selling the card, to see if he would send me a large scan of the image. If he dosent at least I've got a copy although not the best quality.. As the saying goes "Half a Ming Vase Is better Than None"<g>

Dave the paint simply fell off the ladder I was on at the time.........plus half way down the stairs.....could not have planned it better myself. Simply an accident ......and the then manageres was happy she hated the old carpet.

There used to be a barbers somewhere on the left of the photo where I was made to go as achild . can't remember the name for the life of me but they later moved to Union Bridge.

Just on the left edge of the picture there used to be a fishing tackle shop and farther down the hill on the same side was the Army & Navy store. Am I right in thinking there was an entrance on the left to the Wigan Examiner office?

Brilliant photo, the fishing tackle shop was Joe Ashcrofts I still have a couple of my dads old split cane rods that were made there.

Was the fishing tacle shop Ashcrofts.I used to go there for pink maggots.

Ron if you want to save images to your computer just right click on the image and save picture as ....

Hi Sandra, yep I know, but sometimes the web page won't allow you to do that. So you have to follow the route I posted earlier.

oh what a superb picture.ive been brought up in the now 'supermarket' culture and love all these photos and stories of all the old shops, pubs and arcades..so sad whats happened to wigan in the name of so called progress

I remember being in one of those doorways on the left, kissing a girl when a police woman shone her torch on us and said how old are you two? Fifteen I said, well come on then move along its time you were in bed......I thought was very suggestive to a couple of fifteen year olds...

My better half has been trying to remember the shops and he thinks - Maxims on the corner, the shop that later became Fraden Radio,then the Army & Navy Stores, hairdressers named Gee who used to arrive on an Ariel Four Square, a raincoat shop (Stone???), Ashcrofts Fishing Tackle and then Halliday or Halliwell Electrical.

Stone-Dri.

Not in any particular order, but the shops I recall:
Ashcrofts-Fishing tackle. Mrs Jolley, Electrical bits & pieces. Ribble Cabinet Co. Army & Navy Stores & Ring o'Bells, Munros ale house.
Very much later, BBC Radio Wigan..Mike Hatch

One other shop I forgot to remember, the tobacco shop, where during the war, I used to queue up for ten Woodbines for my Ma, only sold if you bought ten Pasha (Oval Turkish rubbish cigs) as well

My Dad used to say they smelled like a dustbin on fire!

It's a shame we can't all meet up in the Boro Chippy and talk about old times....

Now that's what you called a PROPER Chippy. Sometimes used to go there for my dinner when I was at the T.L.S. As a change from the SAVOY chippy on the Market Square.
Kids today don't know what proper chips taste like<g>

if the photographer had just turned to the lft a bit he would have pictured Slow Joes the best cafe in Wigan Pudding chips peas tea bread and butter for Two and Four. thats about eleven new pence.. and also just up from slow joes was an electrical shop run by an old lady that new everything about ohms watts and volts she used to fascinate me

Not forgetting the famous 'GREEN CURTAIN'

You stumped me with that one Ron.... was the Green Curtain a pub?

The Green Curtain was a type of 'club' If you can call someones front living room a club. Because that was how big it was. It was frequented regularly by the McParland Brothers, Billy and Joe. Wigan's own Kray twins. I only went in a few times. It wasn't a young lads scene. No doubt Art can tell a few tales<g>

Ron, were the McParland brothers professional Rugby League players? or am I mixing them up with someone else? They were good players especially Joe, they were the size of the proverbial outhouse if I've got the right ones.

'Twas the McFarlane brothers - Billy and Joe, as you say.
I remember all the shops mentioned - Ashcroft's and Slow Joe's especially.
I thnk the tobacco shop mentioned was kept by a Mrs Blackledge.

I always get my McP's and McF's mixed up<g>

Its great that these old photos turn up & you folk in Wigan start to remember what was what & where. Does anyone remember a chemists shop that was near the Makinson Arcade, the owner was an amateur artist & sometimes put his pictures in the shop window ? My brother remembers it from the 1940's, said they were good paintings.

Hello again, Helen. I do remember a chemists there from the 60s, then I think it moved down Standishgate just by Crompton Street. Was it Hepworth's? Yes, it's so good to reminisce with friends (whether we know each other or not) on this brilliant site with regard to places in Wigan. Long may it continue. I THINK the chemist premises near Makinson Arcade had a clock above the door.

I think it was HUNTERS chemist.

Think you're right, Ron. I stand corrected, and am happy to be put right. That is what the site is all about, "friendly arguments", because each has his or her own memories, but the memory plays tricks as time passes.

In the 1940's I lived with my family, 'parents and brothers' at no 11 Millgate . Ribble Cabinet was no's 13 and 15. No 9 was Les and Phylis Rhodes,the Barbers shop.Their father was Dyson Rhodes a photographer, then at no 7 was Mrs Hough's grocery shop. Maxim's was down on the corner of Standishgate. Dickie Lees bakery was on Standishgate, the bakehouse was ajoining our backyard.