Wigan Album

Where abouts was/is that in Hondley?

It looks like they didn't bother cutting grass in cemeteries, back in those days too, just like they don't bother today.

This is an older photo, pre nineteen sixties I would think. The church is mentioned in the English Civil war, the first burial in the churchyard was an unknown soldier from a skirmish in the area. The church is situated at the top of George Street, off Atherton Road and near Chapel Green, as it was originally known as Hindley chapel.
Re grass cutting; who is this mythical "they" you mention, if a church congregation cannot afford to pay after all the other commitments they have to find, the grass has to grow. Our church,(not All Saints) would love some youthful volunteers as the crack team of pensioners(two of whom had the nerve to die) gets older by the year and we certainly couldn't afford to pay someone the minimum wage for the hours it would take to keep on top of the job.

Grannieannie

Well 'they' would probably be the ones who were running the church, maybe the vicar or verger, or who ever had the responsibility for cutting the grass, I cannot imagine it being the responsibility of the old Hindley Urban District Council,, but whoever was responsible for cutting the grass and keeping the cemetery looking neat and tidy, clearly wasn't doing their job and 'they' should have been sacked for it ...

Anyone know what the large building on the left background is? It appears to be in the general area of Swan Lane.

Don't know what the building in the distance is - long gone, I think. In the 1950s or 60s they built housing behind the church, where that building was. If you stood in the same spot today, you'd see The Banner pub to the left and All Saints Primary School off to the right of the church. The school was built in mid-1960s.

As Grannieannie said, the church is at the top of George Street, at junction with Chapel Green Road (not near Swan Lane). Stick this location into Google Maps and you'll see the church marked. Take a look at Google Street View and you'll see they've cut the grass!

I think the school you mention, EE, was built a little later than that. I can remember going on All Saints playing field [which was more dirt than grass!] in the mid-sixties kicking a rugby ball around for ages! I don't remember the school then. The original All Saints school was on the corner of George Street and Chapel Fields Lane, opposite Rosbottom's shop. I think it was knocked down some time in the early seventies - but I could be wrong about that!

Alan, I was a pupil at All Saints School. I started in the old school at the top of George Street and we moved from there into the new school when it first opened.

A quick count up on my fingers and thumbs makes me think the new primary school must have opened in 1967 or 68.

Apologies, EE! My memory's not what it was!

Information on the church and some interesting photos of the interior can be found on the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks site:-
http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Hindley/allsaints/index.html

After looking at the old map which Mick has posted,I've confirmed my suspicion that the building is the original Hand and Banner pub which used to stand where the present pub car park is now.

Sorry, Chris, but if you mean the building in the distance behind the church then it can't be the old Hand and Banner, which I remember being knocked down. From the angle of the photograph, it's impossible to see the area to the left where the old Banner was [as you rightly say, it was sited where the car park is now. It had a bowling green behind it.] I reckon the building in the distance is one of the houses in Wooddagger Close. All Saints Grove [behind the Banner] was built in the mid-1950s.

Alan,Surprised you got a little mixed up mate, The building on the left is the original Banner pub was was further back than the one now don't forget there were no houses in All saints grove then and the banner was more or less on the site near our house by the little path that is still there today.All Saints church built in 1641 rebuilt in 1677.All saints school did close in the summer of'77

Seems I'm apologising again! Sorry, Chris. Colin's right - I was looking at the church from the wrong viewpoint! One thing I do remember, though - ripping my brand new jeans when they knocked the old Banner down and we played on the site - as kids do! Must've been around '58 or '59 - but then again with my recent track record it could just as easily have been 2007!

I went to all saints school in 1952 till I was eleven then to argyle st school I remember some of the teachers from all saints school I remember the shop across the road and the woman who lived next to the school she worked in Hindley Woolworth with my mum .

My auntie and uncle use to live behind this church in all saints grove there names were albert and Nellie French lost touch many years ago think Nellie moved into sheltered accomadation think she was in w v at all saints church.