Wigan Album

The building on the far side of the white building. Is that the remains of the Empire Cinema? Saw many a film there,if it was the Empire.

Remember there being ginnels running off that part of Millgate leading to yards where craftsmen had their small businesses in buildings that had probably been there for hundreds of years, Dick Cheetham was one he had a cabinet and French polishing shop there, along the ginnel the stone flags had been worn down in the middle by endless iron soled clogs walking along there over the years.

Albert the Empire building had been completely demolished. That is the back of the building in the Market Place.
Naylors brass foundry had a workshop and offices on this land Went for an interview there when I left school Took one look at the foundry and said to myself, "There's no way I'm coming to work here" What a dirt hole it was <g>

Tom, I believe they found Roman remains up there and tarmaced over them.

Good old Wigan planning department!!

ann21. In 2005, extensive Roman remains were found in this area including a Hypocaust. See 9th August 2008 P-a-D.

See 27th August 2008 P-a-D and :-

http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/newgallery/romanwigan.php

for info on Roman digs etc.

Thank you Ernest. What a scandal.

What year would this be?

I'd hazard a guess at 1978 or 1979, Carol.
I know the shops on Millgate (Jolley's, Ashcroft's fishing tackle etc) were empty and awaiting demolition in Autumn 1977, and the old Empire cinema, which was then a bingo hall, closed shortly after that.

Thanks Mick. I was away at Uni then so wouldn't have picked up on this as I was too busy 'socialising' with my mates on the occaisional weekend back in Wigan, and at an age when local history was not something I was interested in. Thank goodness for the Albums on Wiganworld!

I am sure of the date when the shops were standing empty Carol, because between June and October 1977 I was working in Wigan town centre as a bobby, before getting a transfer a bit closer to home.
During that four month period, the empty shops were plagued by scrap metal thieves, would be arsonists, etc etc.

There was an archaeological dig on this site in the late 70s, I seem to recall the remains of a medieval well were found.

As far as I'm aware this site has never been excavated (although Victorian cellars have probably left very little for future archaeologists). Excavations on the site of the now removed children's library in 1982/3 where the first to be carried out in the town centre (evidence of a Roman settlement and a Medieval well were found).

This photo must have been taken from the top of the Civic Centre which was built on the site of my grandma's shop (Cunliffes) . Does anyone know if there is a photograph looking the other way towards the shop and before it was demolished?