Wigan Album

It looks as though the Commercial Yard, Old Arcade, and north side of Market St between Market Place and Woodcock St have all been demolished, which would date this photo to about 1973, immediately before the Centre Arcade was built in their place.

Would agree with Mick in being the early 1970s as the new shops between the cut through where Mitchinson's florists was and the then Electricity showrooms have been built.

ah a town with interest and character,before smiffy turned it in to Milton Keynes,or any other overspill town..

baker. I made a similar point on another post recently. as townscape I think the The Galleries probably would have been OK - Yes I regret the loss of the Old/Little arcade as much as anyone but a lot of the buildings around it were in a very poor condition. The real crime was the failure to properly refurbish the Market Hall and the bus station to make more of that area The redevelopment ie the Morrisons "new market etc. was just a plug ugly development that did not add in anyway to the character of the town. Unfortunately I suspect when we "oldies" look back in anger we also forget that many of us would also have abandoned going into the town centre in the 1970's 80's etc at all unless there was plenty of car parking. And this is the problem unless you can provide the multi storey car parks associated with shopping malls people will not come in but go to the Robin Park's of this world to shop, eat etc.