Wigan Album

Hey John, What a great set of photos showing the Greenhouses and Fish pond. Any decent council would have refurbished them.Instead of letting them fall down due to neglect. Maybe the people on benefits who are being made to work, could be given the job?

Good idea, Ron. Why is it that the general public see sense like that but those in authority, who could put it into practise, can't see the wood for the trees? Thanks for the brilliant photos, John.

Great photos, brings back lots of happy memories,i also agree with the above comments.

But who pays for the materials....it's not as easy as that is it....sadly.

Not much sence in asking the people on benefits to look after it when it's been demolished almost forty years ago, but I take your point...then again you have to have gardening skills, it's a big ask.

Obviousley there would have to be some supervision by someone who knows what they are doing. But tidying and cleaning the area could be done by anyone with no experience of gardening etc. I know the greenhouses are long gone, but in todays money, and taking into consideration what they are spending on Mesnes Park it wouldn't cost all that much to build a couple of greenhouses??? Then they could sell off the excess plants they grow to pay, in some way for their upkeep. Gardening Centres these days seem to make it pay. Just an idea<g>

That's a great Idea Ron, I think it will work.

I agree Colin, but they'd rather spend on daft statues like that awful head near what used to be the childrens library.

Yes Irene, aren't those statues pointless in and around Wigan. But not only as Haigh Hall lost it's greenhouses so did Walmsley park on Manchester road, on our own door step.
Ince park greenhouses although smaller were situated next to the golf and bowling green hut. They along with the tennis court just seem to disappear forever...very sad.

Do you know, Colin, I can't bring the greenhouses in Ince Park to mind at all! I remember the tennis court and the swings, and the smelly old toilets which were demolished before they built the little modern toilrt-block just outside the main gate, (also long gone now), and I even remember the stand-tap where we used to get a drink of water in our cupped hands, but the greenhouses are lost in the mists of time,I'm afraid!

Colin. The little greenhouses was next to the park attendances office, he was the man who locked up the park gates at night after he rang the bell. I remember the greenhouses and the tractor shed when it was Ince council. The water tap was next to the lake and always remember the lovely flower beds...who could not forget the stinky toilets.

what about the greenhouses that were at ahfield at standish, that was where we grew all the plants for Wigan bedding schemes, sadly now a housing development.