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New Springs

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The Packet House
The Packet House
Photo: winder
Views: 8,432
Item #: 20306
Here is the Packet House at Bark Hill bridge New Springs. This was a former Inn and I think, the place where you could purchase tickets for the Packet Boats. If anyone can give give more information on this, please feel free.....
The Packet was also a temporary mortury for the unfortunate victims of nearby mine explosions.
In the background are the miners cottages, built by the Earl of Balcarres.
Picture probably taken in the 1950s

Comment by: Tom Walsh on 31st March 2012 at 21:31

The Packet House ,later became a Labour Club ,unfortunately ,I'am unable to give dates.

Comment by: Scholes Malc on 1st April 2012 at 08:17

did'nt a rail line run between Packet House & canal to the nearby saw mill & pits?

Comment by: Freda on 1st April 2012 at 09:43

Pity I can't see a bit more on the left of the picture.
On the 1871 Census, My great grandparents - Adam & Margaret Monks lived somewhere near by.
Their address was given as "Behind Packet House, New Springs"

Comment by: winder on 1st April 2012 at 12:51

Forget to mention the railway, Malc.
The New Springs Branch, just off this pic, used to cross the road a bit further up than Woodfield St, it ran down the side of the miners cottages, on to the Saw Mills and then through to Shedfield Bridge, where there was a connection to Lyndsay and Alex and I think the line also went to the Aspull pits.

Comment by: margaret mccormick on 3rd April 2012 at 11:22

the packet house was run by my relatives many years ago it was said that was were they collected their wages when the barges came in this was told to me by a relative that lived in canada

Comment by: Mary Forrester (nee- Regan) on 15th May 2012 at 16:26

I lived at Packet House for a short time in the early fifties.There was a cottage at the back of Packet house. I remember a man that lived their called Sydney. Part of the gable end collapsed, so they had to have it demolished. the family living in Packet House when we stayed there was the Haddock's. One of their children still lives there.

Comment by: Jimmy Austin on 27th July 2012 at 21:15

Remember the packet house very well, I used to live at No 6 woodfield street,used to play football against the big wooden gates shown on the building on the right. someone threw an oil drum out of the top window once and broke my nose ( I think i was only about 6 years old when this happened )woke up in wigan infirmary.I think one of the haddocks's still lives there - Stanley, he used to work on the buses. I used to go to school with Angela Haddock who used to live there in the early 70's.

Comment by: bill winrow on 1st July 2017 at 01:41

I used to swap records with Stanley that was about 58 years ago time slips by to the left was the saw mill. and a short cut to haigh hall

Comment by: I lived in new springs years ago just across from the packet house. and just f on 20th February 2021 at 12:33

Had a good time when we was young ,there was three farms close together, also a pub, my grandma broomhead lived a bit further up on the left at number 200 bark hill terrace. Lovely memories

.Irene Hough Nee Dunn And MY sister Marjorie

Comment by: Mrs louise harrison on 27th January 2023 at 09:34

I'm trying to find out the history of the land behind the packet house, I know there was a cottage on the in the late 50's early 60's,I wonder who owns that bit of land

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