Wigan Album

By the cottas they're wearing, and the crucifix at the head, it's almost certainly a Roman Catholic procession. As you say, most probably a Whit Walk.

Whit Monday. All the Catholic parishes of the original Wigan walked together: St Pat's, St Joseph's, St John's, St Mary's and Sacred Heart.

Days of Yore, very sad to state. So nostalgic.

In 1950s/60s used to play in Rivington& Adlington Band every Whit Monday we played and walked with one of the churches can't remember which one exactly.

Catholics for sure. It can't be St Josephs; their cassocks were black. In the photo they may be blue-- St Marys ?

Ormrods buildings at the back - Isn't that where Dave Whelan opened his first venture, his supermarket? The back of the Ormrods building was on Mesnes Street.

The policeman appears to have his cape across his left shoulder. With the array of buttons on his tunic, it may be the winter dress, when the tunic worn, buttoned right up to the neck, where two clips, fastened the front, of the attached neckband.

My wife has a recollection of there being a procession of the Rosary, when only men participated. Held in the month of October. This was quite a long time ago.