Wigan Album

How I've missed the old market square..was it May and October when the Wigan came..I can smell the black peas that added to all the fun of the fair so to speak,the candy floss..the waltzer..always hoping that you'd see your favourite lad and go on the caterpillar with him.Then walking day was a great thrill to finish the walk on the square with all the other Schools..all start off singing Faith of our Fathers which when I think of it now must have sounded beautiful to everyone in Wigan..they're the most beautiful memories of the good old Market Square..all gone now for progress..but we can look back with tears in our eyes..and just be glad that we experienced what I think were the best years of my life.

Maureen, what lovely memories. Thankyou for sharing them with us.

I agree wholeheartedly Maureen, it's a fact that we had the best of times. I cannot identify the precise moment that it occurred, if in fact there was a precise moment, but the fact remains, the whole world appears to be sliding into an abyss. But I dare say they were saying something similar in Roman times, and even before that no doubt. Anyway, what on earth are black peas for Heaven's sake. Mr. Pyke mentioned them previously. Black peas? If ever I find any black peas, I chuck them out....There's another candidate for the ' Webster's dictionary of Wigan Words ' ' Chuck ',...
Just having a bit of fun Maureen, hope you don't mind. Cheers. Eddie.

Eddie,do you know I haven't had any black peas since then..I have been told that they're pigeon peas,but that sort of puts me off..mind you it wouldn't have bothered me in my youth..
Irene,I have been reading your memories on Ince and enjoyed them,as you know I have a bit of a kinship with Ince..and have no idea why..isn't it great seeing these old photographs.

Black peas better known as black peys! You can still get them at Stalybridge station buffet.

Next time you go to the Stalybridge station buffet John, I daresay they'll still have plenty left because It's a racing certainty that I won't have cleared the shelves. All the best mate.

You can still get them outside Leigh Bus Station, John! A few years ago, my hubby and I went to the station at Stalybridge as we had heard that the pub on the station was olde-worlde with many original features but it was HEAVING, and seemed a bit rough. Perhaps we went on the wrong day?

If you'd have gone out of the station Irene, turned right and gone under the bridge, you would have come out directly facing the pub with the shortest name in the country. ' Q '. Check it out next time you're up that way.

Great photo...you can just see the terraced houses at the start of Frog Lane, now long gone....must have walked past them loads of times on way to Bluecoat School and town.

Maureen and Eddie, I agree with a lot of your remarks about living in the best of times - I often look back and wish we could go back to how things were. But I think we are remembering with a big element of rose tinted glasses involved. Even with all the social ills and general uncertainty about so many aspects that living today involves, there is so much that is better - the advances in medicine comes to mind. Still share your sentiments about many things though!

Coaches parked up in the background. First Saturday of Wigan Holiday weeks in July the car park used to be full of coaches waiting to take local people on their holidays throughout the United Kingdom.

Chuck them out Eddie? That was rather upmarket in belle green lane.. We would clod them out

Like it Gerry. Clod, that one's definitely going into the revised edition of Webster's dictionary of Wigan Words. Clod. The more I say it, the better it sounds. Clod. Clod...

I was in the black pea tent the day that the rugby team went past on an open top bus i think Billy Bostn was holding the cup, o those black peas, bloody great