Wigan Album
Pemberton
14 CommentsPhoto: Ron Hunt
Item #: 1636
Hi Ron,
I grew up in Norley Hall/Pemberton and cannot place this park. There has been some confusion as to just wherabouts is Pemberton. Can you or anyone enlightnen me as to where this park is please?
I'm sure it's Alexandra Park. The road on the other side of the hedge is Victoria Street and the building at the end of the path is at the junction with Argyll Street. You can just make out the top of St Marks Church in the top of the picture.
Thanks Jonathan,
Now I remember the park. We used to play there many a time as kids. I once walked through there with a photographer named David Sim who pointed out some places that he had photographed music groups near the railway bridge.
Hi Fred
We always called it Robin Park. Newtown was always called 'Robin' by the old 'delphers' ...Billinge Roaders, where my mum's family lived for generations.
Hi Trish,
Yes, my dear, I remember it being called Robin Park and thst's why I am confused. Wasn't Robin Park where the JJB Stadium is now? My goodness, old age is a terrible thing....
Memories DO play tricks on us old timers...
I know, I know, "Speak for yourself, Fred"
Have fun..
Hi Fred
No, it infuriated me. They hijacked the name Robin Park and rugby fanatic I may be but it made me as mad as a hatter.. however mad a hatter may be.
I've just been looking at some photos of the town centre. What a hotch-potch. Whoever the architect is I think he must have worked on several towns before.. all look the same, no character . Wigan just looks like a bit stuck on here, a bit thrown over there. It was a lovely place when I lived there and every building was interesting. If the little Arcade had been somewhere like York, it would have been restored and cherished. Whoever is planning Wigan needs to move on somewhere else, whilst there is still something left. Phew... there... I've said it......
The name "robin" came from the old name for Ormskirk road, which is called "Robbing Lane" on the old maps of 1865. It must have had a really bad history to be called that.As Trish says, Robin Park was always called that and not the new shopping precinct. When we were kids, if our mums were going into Newtown to shop, they would say "I'm goooin deawn Robin"
Hi Fred
Exactly.. I always wondered where the name originated. Thank you for that. There must have been some characters about in those days. Another story my mum told me concerned the 'Jawbone' pub. That the reason it got its name was that a man once got his jawbone broken in a fight there!!! I never heard it called anything else. In fact I can't remember what it is called (the Price of Wales , maybe????? )It is good to pass all this information on for future generations.
I used to live in little billinge rd number 82., always used to play in robin park the old keeper used to chase us. he must have lived close by when we used to climb the gates he would know and come after us.
He lived at 125, Billinge Road, next door to my Aunt Mary,
Stephen. He was a very pleasant man really.
Hi Steve
Did you live in HILARY AVE if you did my aunt live at bottom her name was WALSH.Alan & sid
loved to see this picture, i lived on worsley hall, and we used robin park a lot, it even had tennis courts. i and my friends spent many happy hours there. thanks for the picture ron.
I believe Pemberton started at the Seven Stars Bridge and Newtown is/was actually in Pemberton.
hi there trish are you trish gaskell of 93/5 billinge road i also had an auntie mary and auntie alice if you are then its your most valued friend alan w.would love to hear from you!!